Capt. Brandy Shirley, a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer from Chattanooga who is serving in Iraq, stands in front of a jet that Iraqi pilots use for training.
Contributed photoU.S. Air Force Capt. Brandy Shirley grew up in Chattanooga, graduating from Lookout Valley Middle/High School and later the University of Tennessee before joining the service.
She has spent the last year in Iraq working as an intelligence officer for pilots who are training Iraqis as the fledgling military builds its own air force. Her husband, Erick Shirley, and two children, 7-year-old John and 5-year-old Georgia Ann, have awaited her return home at Goodfellow Air Force Base near San Angelo, Texas.
Shortly after returning home in early June, Shirley and her family will head to their next duty station in Germany.
She spoke with the Chattanooga Times Free Press from Iraq recently to share her experiences.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your job as intelligence officer.