During her twenty-six years in the United States Air Force, Cassie B. Barlow earned the rank of Colonel, and she is one of a handful of women who has commanded at multiple levels of the Air Force. Barlow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Georgetown University and went on to receive multiple Masters degrees in clinical psychology, national security policy and strategy, and air power strategy from Chapman University, National Defense University, and the Air Command and Staff College, respectively. She also has a PhD in industrial psychology from Rice University.

Clarenda Sue Norrod received a BS in industrial technology education from Ohio State University. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Epsilon Pi Tau, an honorary fraternity for industrial technology. After working as a technical illustrator, she became a teacher of fifth grade history and, later, of art. Norrod is also actively involved in STEM education in the hopes of inspiring future engineers. She lives in Jamestown, Ohio, with her husband and children.