Theresa Claiborne

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Theresa Claiborne
ClaiborneTheresaUnited.jpg
Born1959  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
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Branch United States Air Force (1982–2003)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Theresa M. Claiborne (* 1959) is the first female African-American pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Education

Claiborne came from a military family and she went to California State University, Sacramento 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

Theresa Claiborne having her wings pinned on by her mother Theresa Claiborne Wings.png
Theresa Claiborne having her wings pinned on by her mother

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 Sisters 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] She flew her final flight then retired on May 23, 2024. [10]

Awards

Claiborne was inducted into the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Hall of Fame in 2017. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Where Are All the Black Women in the Flight Deck?". Bloomberg.com. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  2. ↑ Staff reports (25 August 2021). "Air Force's first Black female pilot to attend United-ECSU partnership event". dailyadvance.com. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  3. 1 2 "More than words: Aviation industry professionals discuss racial injustice". www.aopa.org. 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  4. ↑ "African American Aviation Pioneers Honored At Nut Tree Airport". 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. March 1997.
  6. ↑ "The 747 flies into the sunset". www.cbsnews.com. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  7. ↑ Kenney, Ciara. "Pali Pilot Soars on The Kelly Clarkson Show". Tideline. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
  9. 1 2 3 "Women Air Force pilots say rules block advancement". UPI. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  10. ↑ Hardingham-Gill, Tamara (May 23, 2024). "She was the first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force. Now this trailblazing pilot is making her final flight". CNN. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ "HOF". ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
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