Theresa Claiborne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1959  |
| Employer |
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| Branch | United States Air Force (1982–2003) |
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 |
|
| Branch | United States Air Force (1982–2003) |
Theresa M. Claiborne was the first African-American female pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
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.
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]
Claiborne was inducted into the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Hall of Fame in 2017. [10]
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