Meet Sarah

Biography

Sarah Zabel was born in California, and moved with her family to Arizona and then to Texas. She graduated from Devine High School in Devine, Texas, and entered the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the class of ’87. On graduation and commissioning, she began an active duty Air Force career of more than 31 years, serving all over the U.S. and the world. Sarah’s military specialty – communications and computer systems – grew over time to encompass cyber operations and cyber security.

Sarah served in numerous leadership and staff positions. In addition to leading military and government civilians in squadron, group, and wing commands, she led policy development and budgeting at the highest levels of the Air Force and the Department of Defense. Sarah retired from active military service as a major general in 2018.

Following her retirement, Sarah made her home in Idaho. She became a full-time caregiver to her aged father, researched and wrote a book on the science of depression, and became an Adjunct at RAND Corporation. She continues her lifetime of service in her community in Bayview.