[3] Van Ovost received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988.

[4] Van Ovost holds master's degrees from California State University, Fresno in mechanical engineering (1996), from Air Command and Staff College in military arts and sciences (1999), and from Air War College in strategic studies (2004).

[4] Van Ovost was commissioned upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988.

[9] Her nomination was originally recommended by then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and General Mark Milley, but Esper later delayed it until after the 2020 United States presidential election due to his concerns of the Trump administration's possible reaction against nominating women to such high leadership positions.

[10][11] Van Ovost's nomination hearings to head TRANSCOM were held before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 23, 2021.