Col. Conley was a 1980 distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy and the Academy’s first female graduate. She received her pilot wings in 1982 and served as an aircraft commander at Norton AFB, a squadron operations officer at Charleston AFB and commanded the 86th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin AFB. Her final Air Force assignment was as Chief, Special Air Missions, HQ USAF. She is rated Command Pilot with over 3,200 flying hours in T-1, T-41, T-37, t-38, C-141 & C-17 aircraft.