Zaloudek earned her beret as a
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) specialist in 2007, the first woman to do so in an eight-year period. She was also the first woman in the Air Force SERE program to qualify as a military free fall
jumpmaster and test
parachutist. On November 1, 2024, Zaloudek became the first woman SERE specialist to earn the rank of
chief master sergeant in the United States Air Force. Zaloudek has spoken out publicly about sexism she faced in her field, particularly as an SERE specialist.
Awards On June 28, 2025, Zaloudek was presented with the
Margaret Cochran Corbin Award for distinguished military service by President General
Pamela Rouse Wright during National Defense Night at the 134th Continental Congress of the
Daughters of the American Revolution at
DAR Constitution Hall in
Washington, D.C. == Personal life ==