Mary Jennings Hegar von Stein, born March 16, 1976, is an American politician, United States Air Force veteran, and a teacher as well. Hegar has published a memoir that describes her service in Afghanistan, titled ‘Shoot Like A Girl’. Further, Mary Jennings is also known for suing the US Air Force for the removal of the Combat Exclusion Policy.
Quick Facts and Information on MJ Hegar
| Full Name / Real Name | Mary Jennings Hegar von Stein |
| Birthday / Date of Birth | March 16, 1976 |
| Age | 44 |
| Birth Sign | Pisces |
| Born Country | The United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | Fairfield, Connecticut |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Profession | Politician |
| Education (High School / College / University) | University of Texas |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife / Husband | Brandon Hegar |
| Children (Son, Daughter) | 2 Sons, 3 Stepchildren |
| Social Media | Facebook / Twitter / Instagram |
| Net Worth & Salary | $1 million |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
M J Hegar’s Parents / Family
Mary Jennings Hegar, age 44, was born in Fairfield, Connecticut. When Hegar was 7 years of age, she moved from Connecticut to Cedar Park, Texas. Hegar’s mother, Grace, moved her entire family because she was leaving her abusive husband who was also Hegar’s biological father.
Unfortunately, there’s no name available on Hegar’s biological dad. After moving to Texas, Hegar’s mother remarried David Jennis when Hegar was 10 years of age. Mary Hegar also has a sister.
M J Hegar Educational Background
As for her education, Mary Jennings Hegar attended the Fabubion Elementary School in Cedar Park but moved to Leander High School after moving to Texas. While in Leander High, Hegar was on the cheerleading squad, played various sports, and was class president.
Eventually, Hegar graduated from high school and pushed her education forward by joining the University of Texas at Austin. Hegar graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 by studying criminology, sociology, philosophy, and world religions.
While she was an undergrad, Hegar was the Vice Wing Commander and Deputy Commander of the Arnold Air Society. 6 years later, in 2015, Hegar graduated from Leadership Austin Essential Class then in 2016 she received an Executive MBA from the University of Texas.
M J Hegar Awards & Career Achievement
M J Hegar’s Career took flight in 1999 after she was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force through ROTC at the University of Texas. For 4 years from April 2000, Hegar served on active duty as an aircraft maintenance officer.
Initially, Hegar was stationed at Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa, Aomori, Japan. Afterward, she was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Noster, Missouri. Because of her dedicated work, she was named the Company Grade Officer of the Year for 2003.
In 2004, the Air National Guard selected Hegar for pilot training. Upon completion of her training at the top of her class, she served two deployments to Afghanistan, flying Combat Search and Rescue on over 100 missions as well as Medevac missions as a helicopter pilot.
Additionally, Hegar flew marijuana eradication missions, suppressed wildfires with buckets of water on cargo slings, performed pilot duties in evacuating survivors from hurricane-devastated cities, and rescued civilians on civil search and rescue missions in California and at sea.
All her military work was exceptional. Hence, Hegar was awarded the Purple Heart in December 2009. Her actions on certain missions also earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device, awarded in 2011. She was one of the few women to receive this medal after Amelia Earhart. Besides the awards that she has received, Hegar has also presented a TEDTalk.
M J Hegar’s Book
In March 2017, M J Hegar released her book titled ‘Shoot Like A Girl’ which was published by Penguin Books. Senator John McCain read her book and was publicly quoted saying,
“A must-read about an American patriot whose courage and determination will have a lasting impact on the future of our Armed Forces and the nation.”
In Shoot Like a Girl, MJ takes the reader on a dramatic journey through her military career: an inspiring, humorous, and thrilling true story of a brave, high-spirited, and unforgettable woman who has spent much of her life ready to sacrifice everything for her country, her fellow man, and her sense of justice.
M J Hegar Husband / Married Life
M J Hegar is currently married to her husband of 9 years Brandon Hegar. The couple has known each other since high school. However, they only got married in 2011. Hegar has two sons with her husband, as well as three stepchildren from her husband’s previous marriage. Hegar even wrote about Brandon:
” My husband, Brandon, is an extraordinary partner, and together we’re raising our family in District 31, where we first met as kids.”
Meanwhile, it isn’t just MJ’s husband who was previously in another married relationship; as MJ too was married to another man in the past.
It has been revealed from the sources that M J Hegar was first married to an anonymous man with whom she resided in Japan. Mary got married and moved with her first husband to Japan, where she oversaw Air Force aircraft, maintenance workers.
MJ Hegar Net Worth
Typically, a military pilot’s salary averages out to $80,000 annually. Since M J Hegar has ventured into other businesses and movements other than just being a pilot, her estimated net worth is somewhere around $1 million.
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