Nancy E. Sheppard is a writer and historian of her native Hampton Roads, Virginia. She received her education in history from American Military University and Old Dominion University. Over the past four years she has been devoted to discovering and telling the story of the U.S. Army Air Service dirigible ROMA and her crew. Aside from her research and writing, Sheppard is a tireless advocate for the awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders and special needs family members in the military community.