Katelyn van Dam

Katelyn van Dam is a Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot currently assigned to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, where she leads the testing and development of curriculum for the Marine Corps’ newly commissioned officers.  Captain van Dam is also a member of the Women In International Security’s Combat Integration Initiative where she is involved in the effort to strengthen the military by creating opportunities for women to lead and serve across all specialties.

Prior to her current assignment, Captain van Dam flew for Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, based out of Camp Pendleton, CA. During that time she deployed to conduct combat operations in Afghanistan and counter-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa/Gulf of Aden.

Captain van Dam is a 2005 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in International Relations. She earned her naval aviator “wings of gold” in 2007. She is a native Californian who loves to surf, play beach volleyball and go hiking with her husband David.