Captain Jan Thomas Martin
Jan Christensen
Captain Jan Thomas Martin was born in Charlotte, N.C., and graduated from The University of North Carolina in Charlotte with a BSN degree in nursing in 1971. At this time during the War in Vietnam, the military needed medical personnel and since Jan had always been interested in flying, she investigated the possibility of joining the United States Air Force (USAF). In 1972, because of her degree in nursing, she was able to enlist as a First Lieutenant.
She served as a staff nurse for one-and-a-half years at Carswell Air Force Base (AFB) in Fort Worth, Texas. When the opportunity arose to serve at the RAF (Royal Air Force) base in Lakenheath, England, she was pleased to do so. It turned out to be her favorite place because it gave her the opportunity to travel in Europe while she served there, and because she also had joined the Aero Club there. This was where she was able to begin flying lessons. Taking flying lessons turned out to be a great experience. She discovered that flying indeed was her calling in life! While in England she was promoted to Captain and served there for three years. From there she served one-and-a-half years at F.E.Warren AFB (a strategic missile AFB) in Cheyenne, Wyo. During her time in Cheyenne, she completed her private and commercial flying lessons. When she left the USAF in 1978, she had a Multi-Engine Commercial rating and a Flight Engineer License rating.
Jan received her Flight Instructor License in El Cajon, Calif. She taught flying and flew charter for three years In Lexington, Ky. She also put in her flying hours in Ohio piloting Boeing 727s for Emery Air Freight for an additional three years.
In 1985, after Jan had had enough flying experience, she began a career at Federal Express based out of Memphis, Tenn. During this time, she loved flying all over the world.
She retired from Federal Express in 2008 and started looking for a place to retire. It had to have mountains but no snow to shovel. And she also wanted an active community. She visited friends in SaddleBrooke and later became a Preferred Guest (at that time the guest houses were at SaddleBrooke) for SaddleBrooke Ranch. Later she and friends from Federal Express bought lots here at the Ranch. Jan was house No. 7. After moving here she volunteered at both the Golder Ranch Fire Department and the Oro Valley Hospital. She is presently the leader of the Singles Club here at the Ranch and has been for 12 years. She is also an active member of Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (OVCN) here at the Ranch. Last year, in 2022, her brother, David, and his wife, Kathy, moved to SaddleBrooke Ranch. They love to travel as Jan does. So Jan is still flying, but now as a passenger!