Threatened, condescended to, vilified—many women faced big obstacles yet rose to the top of the transportation world. “Boots on the Ground, Flats in the Boardroom” (Levin/Crunican) may appear to be a niche book aimed at a specific audience. But the stories of 18 women, including former Federal Highway Administration chief Mary Peters and former Federal Aviation Administration chief Jane Garvey, are innately compelling.

Through WTS International, authors Grace Crunican and Liz Levin contacted and interviewed the subjects. Often, the stories are dramatic: LaVerne Francis Reid lost an air-traffic-control job due to injuries from domestic violence; her two sons died in a traffic accident. Fighting grief as well as sexism and racism, she reaches the top ranks of the FAA.