Hi, I am iLMA Vallée

I’m an Air Force veteran, commercial airline pilot, storyteller, speaker, mountaineer, and adventure athlete. I believe life is meant to be fully lived.

Born in Lithuania under Soviet rule, I immigrated to the United States as a child. I fell in love with aviation on my very first flight across the Atlantic Ocean. I had no idea then where that first flight would take me.

At 18, I enlisted in the Air Force as a cook. Soon after, I earned an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy and went on to become a KC-135 air-refueling pilot, flying combat missions. Along the way, I served in aviation leadership, led approximately 200 airmen, trained future aviators, and supported operations at an Afghan refugee camp. Today, I fly for Alaska Airlines while continuing to serve as a Major in the Air Force Reserve.

But the flight deck is only one part of my story. I’ve completed more than a dozen marathons, summited peaks over 20,000 feet, and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Motion Pictures and Television, blending my love of storytelling with adventure and inspiration.

As a speaker, I’ve shared my story on the Ignite Seattle stage and delivered a keynote for Girls in Aviation Day. My work and story have also been featured in San Antonio Magazine, Women in Aviation International Magazine, and AviNation.

My journey has taught me that living fully isn’t just about chasing big goals or pushing harder. It’s about staying connected to the person behind the accomplishments, embracing the unexpected, and making room for the things that make us feel alive.

That belief led me to create Don’t Ration Passion™, a movement and speaking platform centered on stepping into discomfort, embracing what makes us unique, and unlocking human potential through intentional play.

Through storytelling, speaking, and practical mental fitness tools, I help people navigate pressure, adversity, and life’s inevitable turbulence without losing themselves along the way. Because high performance and a fulfilling life don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

My mission is to help people make room for more purpose, passion, and play.

Life is too short to ration the things that make you come alive.