Woman to make history as US Navy’s first Black female fighter pilot
One woman is about to make history in the U.S. Navy.
Chief of Naval Air Training announced on Twitter on Thursday that Lt. Madeline Swegle is set to be the Navy's first known Black female fighter pilot.
“BZ to Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle on completing the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator syllabus,” Naval Air Training tweeted. “Swegle is the @USNavy’s first known Black female TACAIR pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold later this month. HOOYAH!”
“BZ” is Bravo Zulu, an abbreviation for “well done.”
BZ to Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle on completing the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator syllabus. Swegle is the @USNavy’s first known Black female TACAIR pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold later this month. HOOYAH! @FlyNavy @NASKPAO #ForgedByTheSea #CNATRA #CNATRAgrads pic.twitter.com/FKSlURWQhJ
— Naval Air Training (@CNATRA) July 9, 2020
Navy Times reported Swegle finished the undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus on Tuesday, the Navy said.
The Navy's vice chief of information, Rear Adm. Paula Dunn, also sent her congrats to Swegle on Twitter.
Very proud of LTJG Swegle. Go forth and kick butt. https://t.co/Fmleo7Ajd3
— RDML Paula Dunn (@ViceCHINFO) July 9, 2020
Swegle, of Burke, Virginia, is assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron (VT) 21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville in Texas, according to the Navy. She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2017.
She will earn her wings in a July 31 ceremony.
About the Author
Kelcie Willis is a writer and online content producer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Georgia. At the AJC, she covers state, regional and national news with the Content Curation Desk.
