Trailblazing in the Skies: Brenda Robinson’s Journey to Becoming the First Black Female Navy Pilot
When Charlotte resident Brenda Robinson was a girl, she never dreamed one day she’d land in the history books as the first black female Navy pilot.
“It is a mystery to many of us where we are going in life, where we will end up,” Robinson said. “But it is important to just keep going. I tell young people, you are capable of so much more than you know.”
From Childhood Dreams to Soaring Achievements
Brenda Robinson’s path to becoming a pioneering naval aviator began in her youth. As a student at North Penn High School, she attended a career study program and spent half-days at Wings Field in Bluebell, Pennsylvania.
Encouraged by the head air traffic controller at the North Philadelphia Airport, she applied to Dowling College, one of the best aviation schools on the East Coast.
At Dowling, Brenda was one of just five women studying aeronautics. After her first semester, she learned that MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York, offered flying lessons at a 10% discount to Dowling students.
Despite the financial challenges, Brenda persisted, earning her private pilot certificate during her senior year. She became the first black woman in Dowling’s history to graduate with a degree in aeronautics.
Breaking Barriers and Inspiring the Next Generation
In 1977, Brenda was selected as one of 10 women nationwide to attend the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, launching her on a path to become a naval aviator. She made history as the first African American female graduate from Aviation Officer Candidate School.
Brenda earned her wings of gold on June 6, 1980, at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. As call sign “Raven,” she became the first African American female certified for C-1A aircraft carrier landings on the USS America in January 1981.
Throughout her distinguished naval career, Brenda flew a variety of aircraft, including transport missions to the Pacific Micronesia Islands, Philippines, and Japan. She also participated in the Gulf War, flying throughout the Middle East and Europe.
In 2002, Brenda retired from the Naval Reserves as a Lieutenant Commander. She continued her flying as a commercial pilot, retiring from American Airlines after 34 years in the sky.
Brenda’s trailblazing accomplishments have earned her numerous accolades. In 2016, she became the first female military aviatrix to be inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Brenda has also authored two books and is currently working on her autobiography, “The Very First Raven.”
In 2014, Brenda founded the Aviation Camp for the Carolinas to encourage young people, especially those from underrepresented communities, to pursue careers in aviation.
