The Longest Shortest Time

EPISODE #244: There’s No Bell in Motherhood

Maia Molina-Schaefer started at the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall of 2001 — just weeks before September 11th. She quickly realized she wasn’t just pursuing a degree; she was preparing for war. To train herself mentally and physically, she joined the boxing team and competed in the Academy’s first-ever female championship match.

Maia has been to combat. She’s been an intelligence officer in the Marines and a diplomat in the Army. But she says nothing has exhausted her quite like motherhood.

Maia gave birth to her son in Germany, where she faced a lot of the same challenges as moms in civilian workplaces. She struggled to find childcare and a place to pump. She faced weird, discriminatory questions in job interviews.

When her son was two, Maia landed a coveted post in Niger, where she and her family lived for three years. Then she got a call from West Point inviting her to teach. Maia was thrilled, especially for the chance to mentor female cadets and share her perspective on being a mother in the military — something she had been told was impossible when she was a cadet.

Last year, Maia retired from the military in a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy. She’s continued mentoring girls and women at the Amplify Her Foundation, empowering them to become change-makers in New York City.

Tune in for Maia’s remarkable story of making history in the military… and pumping in a closet like any working mom.

Top image: Maia with her son Thomas at the U.S. Naval Academy for her retirement ceremony.