Her Story
About Rebekah
Rebekah Seifer is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Coast Guard currently serving as the MH-60T Systems Manager in Washington, D.C., where she leads airworthiness, logistics, and modernization efforts for the Service’s $1.8 billion Medium Range Recovery fleet. She oversees a complex portfolio spanning 50+ aircraft across multiple air stations, managing a $290 million annual depot maintenance program while aligning engineering, acquisition, and operational priorities to sustain mission readiness.
Operating at the intersection of aviation engineering and enterprise strategy, Rebekah plays a key role in fleet growth, Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) execution, and the conversion of former Navy H-60 aircraft into operational Coast Guard assets. Her work requires navigating competing constraints in cost, schedule, and performance while coordinating across DHS, DoW, and industry stakeholders.
She is recognized for translating technical complexity into actionable decision space for senior leaders, enabling informed tradeoffs that impact long-term fleet sustainability and operational capability. Her leadership approach emphasizes systems thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and aligning people to purpose in high-stakes environments.
Beyond her formal role, Rebekah is deeply committed to developing the next generation of aviation professionals. She serves as a nationally credentialed Victim Advocate with over 11 years of experience, providing support in high-trust, confidential environments, and contributes to the aviation community through mentorship and active engagement across professional organizations. She is driven by a passion for building high-performing teams and advancing aviation excellence by creating environments where individuals can understand and contribute their unique strengths.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rebekah
01What do you attribute your success to?
Rebekah attributes her growth and resilience to the strength of her “village”—a network of family, friends, and colleagues who believe in her and have helped her navigate challenges while staying grounded in authenticity and purpose—and to the grit required to keep going when things get tough.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your passions—you’ll do your best work in areas that genuinely excite you. At the same time, keep doors open; doing so creates space for new opportunities and new areas of interest.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to never stop learning and stay curious. Ask questions, seek out new experiences, and don’t be afraid to step into spaces where you’re not the expert yet. Follow what genuinely interests you—because when you care about your work, you’ll put in the effort to grow and succeed. And when it gets hard—and it will—don’t walk away. That’s usually where the most growth happens.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in aviation right now is managing increasing complexity while maintaining mission readiness. We’re balancing aging systems, modernization efforts, and evolving operational demands, all at the same time. The new normal is operating in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment where the rate of change is high and difficult to keep up with. It requires not just technical solutions, but strong collaboration across teams and disciplines to move forward effectively.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect for others, following through on your commitments, and showing you care through your actions—not just your words. That’s what builds trust.
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