Mikie Sherrill was inspired to become a military pilot by her grandfather, who was also a military pilot. Her father suggested the U.S. Naval Academy, which had just begun accepting women, as a path to achieve her goal. She graduated from the Naval Academy and became a Navy helicopter pilot, flying an H3 Sea King. She ran support missions out of Bahrain and Naples, Italy, and flew training and search-and-rescue missions. She also served as an adviser on Russia policy and worked on nuclear treaties.