Summary
Theresa M. Claiborne was the first African-American female pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF).[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Theresa Claiborne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1959  |
| Employer |
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| Branch | United States Air Force (1982–2003) |
Education edit
Claiborne came from a military family and she went to University of California, Berkeley where she joined the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).[8][5] She realized she wanted to be a pilot while in the ROTC program.[5] She completed her Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in 1982.
Career edit
On June 20, 1981, Claiborne was commissioned as second lieutenant in the USAF.[8] She became the first African-American female pilot in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Laughlin Air Force Base on September 16, 1982 with the class 82-08.[8][5] Claiborne flew KC–135 Stratotankers for Strategic Air Command for seven years.[3][9] She left active duty in 1988.[9] She served as an instructor pilot on the KC-135E and a flight commander for the USAF Reserves where she rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[9][8] Claiborne also began working for United Airlines as a first officer in 1990.[8] She would later be promoted to captain. She retired from the military on January 6, 2003 with over 3000 military flight hours.[8]
In 2016, Claiborne co-founded the organization Sister of the Skies with pilots Christine Angel Hughes and Nia Wordlaw. Sisters of the Skies' mission is to support and build a more diverse next generation of aviation professionals by offering workshops, mentorships, and scholarships.[1][8]
Awards edit
Claiborne was inducted into the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Hall of Fame in 2017.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b "Where Are All the Black Women in the Flight Deck?". Bloomberg.com. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ Staff reports. "Air Force's first Black female pilot to attend United-ECSU partnership event". dailyadvance.com. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b "More than words: Aviation industry professionals discuss racial injustice". www.aopa.org. 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ "African American Aviation Pioneers Honored At Nut Tree Airport". 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b c d Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company.
- ^ "The 747 flies into the sunset". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ Kenney, Ciara. "Pali Pilot Soars on The Kelly Clarkson Show". Tideline. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g Boney, Jeffrey L. (2018-03-21). "Sisters of the Skies: Celebrating African American Women Leading the Way in Aviation". Houston Forward Times. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b c "Women Air Force pilots say rules block advancement". UPI. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ "HOF". ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS. Retrieved 2021-11-01.