The world of aviation has seen remarkable progress in diversity and inclusion, with several African American women breaking barriers and achieving milestones in military aviation. This article highlights the inspiring journeys of Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour and Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell, two pioneering women who defied expectations and became the first African American female combat pilots in their respective branches of the U.S. military.
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour: From Police Officer to Marine Combat Pilot
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour's life has been a series of tests, from her childhood to her groundbreaking military career. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume includes an impressive collection of “firsts,” most notably as America’s first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine and was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps.
Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. She received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day following her fourth birthday and her dream quickly started to have a foundation in reality. In 1993, she enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program while at Middle Tennessee State University. It was during an Army ROTC career day that the seed of becoming a pilot was planted when Vernice saw the image of a young Black female in an Army flight suit.
In June of 1996, after a brief stint as a Nashville Sheriff’s Department correctional officer, Vernice took a break from college to accept an invitation to the Nashville Police Academy. She graduated in December 1996 and later became the first woman of color on the Nashville Police Department’s motorcycle squad. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S.
With the aviation seed in full bloom, Vernice was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998 and on her way to flight school. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. 1 out of both her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate. After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter.
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Deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Vernice was recognized by the Department of Defense as America’s first African American female combat pilot.
Upon leaving the military after the completion of two tours in Iraq, Vernice launched VAI Consulting and Training, LLC. Gutsy Leaders create Gutsy Teams that make Gutsy Moves. Be proactive - not reactive; that’s how the best organizations create the future. It begins by summoning the courage to change tactics and align.
As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her “Zero to BreakthroughTM” Success Model - a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat.
Her incredible journey - from police department to the Marines and becoming America’s first Black female combat pilot - was filled with challenges, adventures, successes, and ultimate triumph. She translates those lessons for audiences, drawing from her book Zero to Breakthrough - The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter.
“How you respond to personal and professional obstacles, adversity, and disappointment is a choice. It also determines your future.”
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FlyGirl not only fires up an audience - in-person and virtually - with her energy and memorable stories, she punctuates hard-learned lessons with tactics that can be used to quickly adapt to the forces of change impacting your organization. This presentation is perfect for audiences navigating uncertainty, new regulations, unparalleled market forces, or looking to accomplish audacious goals. As a gay, Black woman she brought valuable personal experience to her work, driving diversity policy for a 200,000 personnel organization.
Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell: Breaking Barriers in the Air Force
Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell, born on April 20, 1976, is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force and the first female African-American fighter pilot in the history of that service. She flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon during combat missions in Operation Northern Watch.
Kimbrell was born in Lafayette, Indiana, to Guyanese parents who moved to America for education and opportunities. "(Education) was the thing that opened doors," Kimbrell said. "If you got your education, you could do whatever you wanted to do. On top of that family modus operandi, Kimbrell had a goal-driven personality from an early age.
As a kindergartner, Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell dreamt of becoming an astronaut-so much, she wrote a letter to NASA asking how she could join. Her space travel dream transformed into a dream of flight, and as a fourth grader, she decided she would be a fighter pilot when she grew up. She loved stepping outside her Parker, Colorado home and watching jets fly overhead. At age 14, she had her first flight lesson. Soon, she was enrolling in the Air Force Academy.
Following graduation from high school, Kimbrell attended the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Engineering. Kimbrell received her commission in 1998 after graduating from the USAF Academy, later she attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB (Val Verde County, Texas) and was awarded her pilot wings in August 1999. She then completed Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals training at Randolph AFB (Bexar County, Texas) in November 1999.
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She was assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa, Japan for her first operational assignment. During this time she was deployed to Turkey and Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Northern and Southern Watch. Her flights in Operation Northern Watch marked her as the first female pilot to fly combat missions for Misawa's 35th Fighter Wing.
In July 2004, she graduated from the Joint Fire Control Course and was assigned to the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron. Later she deployed as the 2nd Brigade Air Liaison Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, Kimbrell relocated to 6th Combat Training Squadron, Nellis AFB where she served as the Course Manager for the Air Liaison Officer Qualification Course and an instructor.
During her career she has flown combat sorties in Operation Northern Watch.
Kimbrell graduated from the Academy in 1998 and was accepted into pilot training. "I was in constant competition with myself, trying to do better, to make the grade," the F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot said. "There were times when I didn't think that I was going to make it through.
"I think what kept me on the straight and narrow is that I didn't give myself any other options," Kimbrell said. "I think sometimes you lull yourself into thinking, 'OK, I have that plan, and if it gets hard I'll go to the back-up plan,'" she added. And push through she did.
Using her own advice has allowed the major a successful career: She has earned an Air Medal with one device, an Aerial Achievement Medal and an Army Commendation Medal, among others. She has been stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan; Kunsan Air Base, South Korea; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Fort Stewart, Ga.; and now Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
"It's really hard to build a road if you don't know where you're going," Kimbrell said. "A lot of people have goals, but don't really put them into context."
While off duty, though, she manages to find time to speak to children about dreaming big. "I literally see the lights turn on in kids' eyes when I talk to them when they realize that someone like me can go do something as cool as (being a fighter pilot)," Kimbrell said.
Paving the Way for Future Generations
The achievements of Vernice Armour and Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell have paved the way for future generations of African American women in aviation. Their stories serve as a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and the importance of representation in breaking down barriers and achieving one's dreams.
Other notable figures include Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle, who made history in July 2020 as the US Navy’s first Black female fighter pilot. She completed Tactical Air Strike pilot training and received her Wings of Gold on July 31. Additionally, Brenda E. Robinson became one of only 10 women to attend the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1977-just one year after the Naval Academy started accepting women. In 1981, she became the first Black female Navy pilot ever.
These women, along with others like Theresa Claiborne, the first African American female pilot in the Air Force, have demonstrated that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
Notable Achievements of African American Women in Aviation
| Name | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour | First African American female combat pilot in the Marine Corps |
| Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell | First African American female fighter pilot in the Air Force |
| Madeline Swegle | First Black female fighter pilot in the US Navy |
| Brenda E. Robinson | First Black female Navy pilot |
| Theresa Claiborne | First African American female pilot in the Air Force |
