Against the backdrop of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, a trio of Black service members have achieved greatness and made their mark in U.S. armed forces history. Notably, all are within the aviation community. This year has seen the first Black female sailor to become a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, the first Black general confirmed to become the Air Force chief-of-staff, and the first Black general nominated to become the superintendent of the Air Force Academy. These fine servicemembers are examples of what one can achieve through hard work and dedication regardless of background or identity.
Lieutenant (junior grade) Madeline Swegle
The U.S. Navy aviation community has found its first Black female tactical fighter pilot in LTJG Swegle. LTJG Swegle, a class of 2017 Naval Academy graduate, completed the Tactical Air (Strike) training program in the T-45C Goshawk jet trainer and will be trained in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler or F-35C Joint Strike Fighter.
The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) tweeted his congratulations:
LTJG Swegle was also congratulated by fellow Navy jet pilot and retired astronaut Scott Kelly, combat veteran and senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Il) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and tennis legend Billie Jean King.
The same week, another woman made history — on July 9, 2020 — when the U.S. Army Special Operations Command announced the first female had graduated from the service’s Special Forces Qualification Course.
Gen. Charles Q. Brown
On June 9, 2020 the Senate confirmed Gen. Charles Q. Brown as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force with a vote of 98-0. Nominated by President Trump in March of 2020, Gen. Brown was previously the commander of Pacific Air Forces and received his commission in 1984 upon graduation from Texas Tech University.
His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2), Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (4), and the Bronze Star Medal.
President Trump took to Twitter to celebrate the confirmation:
Gen. Brown’s confirmation vote was held as the divided Senate grappled to find a solution to the ongoing unrest due to George Floyd’s death. A week prior to his confirmation, Gen. Brown released a video statement via the Pacific Air Force youtube channel. In the video titled “What I’m thinking about”, Gen. Brown discusses his experience as a Black man in and out of the military and the protests sparked by Floyd’s death. Further, he discusses his experiences as being the only Black person in the room, having his qualifications questioned when that of his peers were not, and about how he could help improve the service for all Airmen.
“I’m thinking about protests in my country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, the equality expressed in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution that I have sworn my adult life to support and defend. I’m thinking about a history of racial issues and my own experiences that didn’t always sing of liberty and equality.”
“I’m thinking about some of the insensitive comments made without awareness by others. I’m thinking about being a Captain at the [Officer’s] Club with my squadron and being told by other African-Americans that I wasn’t Black enough since I was spending more time with my squadron than with them.”
Gen. Brown closes the video with a unifying message:
“I just want to have the wisdom and knowledge to lead during difficult times like these. I want the wisdom to lead, participate in, and listen to necessary conversations on racism, diversity, and inclusion. I want the wisdom and knowledge to lead those willing to take committed and sustained action to make our Air Force better […] That’s what I’m thinking about and I want to know what you’re thinking about and how together we can make a difference.”
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark
On July 2, 2020 the U.S. Air Force announced President Trump had nominated the first Black General to become Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. Lt. Gen. Richard Clark is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration at the Pentagon. If he is confirmed by the Senate, he would assume the new role in August.
“I am extremely humbled and honored by the nomination to serve as the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy” Clark said.
Lt. Gen. Clark graduated from the service academy in 1986 and has served in various capacities at the academy throughout his career, most notably as the Commandant of Cadets from July 2010 to August 2012. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Lt. Gen Clark is not the first Black service academy superintendent however, Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams became the first Black superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 2018.
