Mary majored in mechanical engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy. While at USAFA, Mary earned a U.S. patent for a technologically advanced cane and completed research on autonomous quadrotors at Air Force Research Labs. She was also in charge of the Air Force Academy’s National Character and Leadership Symposium, an annual event where dozens of speakers present to over 6,000 attendees. Mary is pursuing an MA in Science and Security at King's College London for her first year. Following the Marshall Scholarship, she will enter pilot training as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.