Deal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace flight technology from Kent State University in 1992.

When U.S. military policy was changed to allow women to fly combat aircraft in 1993, Deal requested to become an aviator.

She began her flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in the T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft.

Deal completed her active duty service in 2004 and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve.

[3] Deal is married to Philip M. Burrow, a former Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot she met while in flight school.