CAPT Findlay grew up in Weymouth, Massachusetts and accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy to join the Class of 2003 and study Astronautical Engineering.  After graduation, CAPT Findlay attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida and Meridian, Mississippi.  She subsequently selected F/A-18 Hornets and joined VFA-125, the “Rough Raiders.”  After training, she joined the Vigilantes of VFA-151 where she made her first deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM onboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72).  

After completing her tour with the “Vigis,” CAPT Findlay graduated from Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in 2010, and became a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor at Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific.  In the fall of 2012, CAPT Findlay returned to the “fleet” for her “Training Officer” tour with VFA-146, the “Blue Diamonds.”  In March 2013, the Diamonds deployed on USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) to continue support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and extended in 5th Fleet during heightened tensions in Syria.  

CAPT Findlay moved onto her Department Head tour with VFA-113, the “Stingers” in March of 2014.  The squadron deployed onboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in August 2014 to join Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Iraq and Syria.  Post deployment, CAPT Findlay and the Stringers transitioned from the last operational West Coast FA-18C Hornets to the FA-18E Super Hornet.

Leaving the Stingers in December 2016, CAPT Findlay joined Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) as the Air Wing Training Officer at STRIKE.  There, CAPT Findlay and her staff ensured high-end, relevant training was delivered to deploying air wings.  

Departing STRIKE, CAPT Findlay joined VFA-25, the Fist of the Fleet, in May 2020 and took command in June the following year.  During her time with the Fists, the squadron concentrated on fleet support and accepted the first operational Block III Super Hornets.  CAPT Findlay turned over in September 2022 and in April 2023 assumed command of the Flying Eagles of VFA-122.

Combined, CAPT Findlay has accumulated over 2,700 hours of flight time, 66 combat sorties over Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, and just under 500 carrier landings.  She completed her Master’s Degree in Project Management through Boston University in 2016, loves to ski, hike and participate in triathlons.