Swegle, Madeline – United States Navy Pilot
By
John C Abercrombie
History is supposed to be an accurate depiction of events, people, and places that we can study in order to assess the entire scenario to learn from it. People are often mentioned because they have a story that people can relate to and dream about, opening the world of the possible. In this case we are focusing on people who have an additional benefit in that they open that world not only to the majority of members but to those excluded from history and have to contend with a history that strongly discourages them. This breaks a circle of success. We encourage and provide opportunities to all and all benefit. When we do not, we all lose.
Madeline Swegle was born in Burke, Virginia. Burke is an unincorporated section of Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, traditionally defined as the area served by the Burke post office. Burke includes two census-designated places: the Burke CDP, population 42,312 in 2020 and the Burke Centre CDP, population 17,518 in 2020.
Without additional information, we often believe that successful people come from somewhere else, but they come from everywhere. Large towns, small towns, unincorporated areas, and everything in between.
Swegle graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School and the United States Naval Academy.
The United States Naval Academy is a federal service academy located in Annapolis; Maryland established in 1845. It is the Navy in Army v Navy that compete against each other with fierce competition in many sports, including the popular Army Navy football game.
Athletic, Swegle participated in track and field through her time in school, both high school and the Naval Academy.
Swegle became the first Black female tactical jet pilot in the United States Navy when she completed the Tactical Air Strike pilot training syllabus, July 7, 2020.
Few people are labeled “the first” at much in the U.S. military, but Navy Lt. j. G Madeline G. Swegle is not your average sailor. As of July 31, 2020, she is officially the Navy’s first Black female tactical air pilot, marking a significant milestone for naval aviation.
As we look at firsts, we are looking at accomplished individuals. This does not always mean that they are the first to be capable, but they are capable and, in many cases, the first to be given the opportunity. This is not intended in any way to degrade the accomplishment.
After completing her final undergraduate TACAIR training flight in a T-45C Goshawk jet, Swegle and twenty-five of her classmates received their wings of gold during a small ceremony at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. The Virginia native was assigned to the “Redhawks” of Training Squadron VT-21 under Training Air Wing 2.
Swegle is part of a new generation of TACAIR pilots to qualify on the state-of-the-art aircraft launch and recovery equipment unique to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford: the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced arresting gear. She completed carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.
Swegle has been assigned to be an EA-18G Growler pilot and reported in September to the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, where she will be trained in electronic warfare tactics, techniques, and procedures in preparation for her assignment to the fleet.
Looking at her journey we see.
- A 2017 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Swegle initially reported to the Naval Aviation Schools Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, where she completed initial flight screening and aviation preflight indoctrination.
- She then did primary flight training with the “Boomers” of Training Squadron VT-27 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.
- After selecting the TACAIR — or strike — pipeline, she progressed to intermediate and advanced training with Training Squadron VT-21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville.
“I was super excited but also really intimidated,” Swegle said. “I remember driving down here for the first time, and it just seemed really daunting. It was crazy to be in such a higher performance aircraft. I was really excited on takeoff — feeling the exhilaration and getting thrown back in the seat a little bit. That was awesome.”
The training is not easy, but Swegle said the difficulty is what made it fun for her.
“I know that I had to work to get it to behave, and it took a lot of fighting the aircraft and figuring out how it was going to perform. That was exciting,” she said. “It’s really rewarding to have the plane do whatever you want it to do.”
It took time, but she said she noticed her improvements.
“Looking back, it’s amazing to think about where I started,” Swegle said. “I’d never been in an airplane before, so it’s just one step at a time. And it’s really cool to think of all the things that I’ve done now, which I never thought that I’d be able to do.”
Swegle said being the first at anything was never her goal. Her interests just took her in that direction.
“It would’ve been nice to see someone who looked like me in this role; I never intended to be the first,” Swegle said. “I hope it’s encouraging to other people.”
She credited her parents with letting her dream big.
“They told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be,” Swegle said. “We would go see the [Navy] Blue Angels when they were in town. I don’t remember specifically how old I was, but they were just so cool. I love them. I just love the fast planes.”
Big Shoes to Fill
Swegle follows in the footsteps of Brenda E. Robinson, the Navy’s first Black female naval aviator. Robinson earned her wing of gold on June 6, 1980, and was the 42nd woman to be designated a naval aviator.
“Swegle has proven to be a courageous trailblazer,” said Navy Vice Adm. DeWolfe Miller III, commander of Naval Air Forces. “She has joined a select group of people who earned the wings of gold and answered the call to defend our nation from the air. The diversity of that group — with differences in background, skill and thought — makes us a stronger fighting force.”
“This profession is open to anybody with drive and motivation who wants to put in the work and the sacrifice that comes along with it,” said Navy Cmdr. Matthew Maher, VT-21 commanding officer. “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like or where you came from.”
“I think that representation is important because we are a very diverse nation,” Swegle said. “So, I would like everyone to believe that they can achieve whatever they want.”
This is NOT the end of the post. Continue to scroll for the 5 videos and books all to aid you and the depth of your enlightment.
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As we enter the section where you can dive deeper into the fantastic of these posts, you will find videos and books. The books are available on Amazon, a partnership of ours, you can click on the book and sample it. Many are available in several forms, paper back, soft cover, Kindle or Audible.
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Navy Pilot
LTJG Maddy Swegle • U.S. Navy’s First Black Female Tactical Jet Pilot
In this provided interview, LTJG Madeline “Maddy” Swegle talks about what it took to become the U.S. Navy’s first black female tactical jet pilot as she prepares to officially graduate from the Navy’s undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. (U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)
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Book
One Woman’s Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC (Texas A & M University Military History Series, #12) (Volume 12)
When America entered World War II, the surge of patriotism was not confined to men. Congress authorized the organization of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later renamed Women’s Army Corps) in 1942, and hundreds of women were able to join in the war effort. Charity Edna Adams became the first black woman commissioned as an officer.
Black members of the WAC had to fight the prejudices not only of males who did not want women in their “man’s army,” but also of those who could not accept blacks in positions of authority or responsibility, even in the segregated military.
With unblinking candor, Charity Adams Earley tells of her struggles and successes as the WAC’s first black officer and as commanding officer of the only organization of black women to serve overseas during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion broke all records for redirecting military mail as she commanded the group through its moves from England to France and stood up to the racist slurs of the general under whose command the battalion operated. The Six Triple Eight stood up for its commanding officer, supporting her boycott of segregated living quarters and recreational facilities.
This book is a tribute to those courageous women who paved the way for patriots, regardless of color or gender, to serve their country.
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Flight Simulator for PC
Take a look at these offerings from Amazon
ABH – Flight Sim ulator for PC
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As you see books in this post, be aware that they can be sampled. One of my favorite ways to access these books is with Audible. I have hundreds of books from several gendre wth me on my cell phone that I can listen to at anytime. Try it with the link below. Note: no special device is necessary to use Audible.
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Navy’s First Black Female Tactical Fighter pilot: Lt. j. G Madeline Swegle
Madeline Swegle becomes US Navy’s first Black female fighter pilot in its 110-year history:
Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle made history by becoming the U.S. Navy’s first Black female tactical fighter pilot.
The chief of Naval Air Training congratulated Swegle Thursday on Facebook for completing her training and said she will receive her “Wings of Gold” this month.
“BZ to Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle on completing the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator syllabus,” the post read, using the abbreviation for Bravo Zulu, which means “well done.”
Swegle also earned praise from Rear Adm. Paula Dunn, the Navy’s vice chief of information, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and tennis legend Billie Jean King.
“Very proud of LTJG Swegle,” Dunn tweeted. “Go forth and kick butt.”
Swegle graduated the U.S. Naval Academy in 2017 and is assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron (VT) 21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville in Texas, according to the Navy Times.
The news of Swegle’s achievement came the same day a female soldier graduated from the Army’s elite Special Forces course, becoming the first woman to join a Green Beret team.
Swegle’s milestone comes more than 45 years after Rosemary Mariner became the first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet in 1974, The Associated Press reported. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Brenda Robinson became the first African American woman to earn her Wings of Gold and become a Navy flight instructor, evaluator and VIP transport pilot, according to Women in Aviation International.
An investigation in 2018 from Military.com found that out of 1,404 F/A-18 Hornet pilots, just 26 were Black and 33 were female. Less than 2% of all pilots assigned to jet platforms were Black, the outlet reported.
First female Green Beret: Soldier becomes first woman to join Green Berets after graduating from Special Forces training
Last month, the Navy announced the formation of “Task Force One Navy” to address the issues of “racism, sexism and other destructive biases and their impact on naval readiness.”
“As a Navy – uniform and civilian, active and reserve – we cannot tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind. We must work to identify and eliminate individual and systemic racism within our force,” Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday said in a statement.
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Book
A Pair of Wings: A Novel Inspired by Pioneer Aviatrix Bessie Coleman
A Pair of Wings is a novel based on the life of pioneer aviatrix Bessie Coleman. Arriving in Chicago in 1915 from Waxahachie, Texas, Coleman is among the first wave of African Americans to take part in the Great Migration, the largest movement of Black people fleeing the oppression of the agricultural South for greater freedom and the promise of jobs in the industrialized North.
Because no one in the United States will teach an African American woman to fly, Coleman learns to speak French and travels to France where she learns from some of the best flyers and designers of Great War aeroplanes. After her initial training she is awarded the French civilian aeronautic brevet, which entitles her to pilot a plane anywhere in the world. As the 1920s progress, both aviation and the Great Migration continue in parallel, and Coleman becomes the only woman in the world to contribute to both. She returns to Europe a second time for training in aerobatic maneuvers. And just as Coleman translated deftly between French and English, once home she converts the aerial life-saving and death-dealing tactics of the dogfighters of the Great War into daring and graceful barnstorming performances that dazzle and amaze her audiences.
Through her tenacity and resilience, this fearless woman overcame cultural, racial, and economic obstacles in order to learn to fly. A full century after her accomplishments, Bessie Coleman continues to inspire. Her story is brought to life by author and pilot Carole Hopson. It is Coleman’s bold determination and courage that lifted an entire people, and Hopson as well, upon A Pair of Wings.
In order to support others in the pursuit of their dreams of flight, Hopson has created the 100 Pairs of Wings Project, which aims to send one hundred Black women to flight school by 2035. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale of each book will support this cause.
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U.S. Navy’s First Black Woman Tactical Jet Pilot Graduates
Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle will move on to a post-graduate training for about a year before preparing for deployment.
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Book
Shatter the Sky: What going to the stratosphere taught me about self-worth, sacrifice, and discipline
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Merryl Tengesdal, has become one of the most interesting and compelling maverick women in aviation.
In this inspirational memoir, retired Colonel Merryl Tengesdal shares her Life Lessons on everything from her career in the military, being the first and only black woman to pilot the U2 aircraft, to marriage and motherhood – and everything in between.
This book is a deep reflection on life in the military, with mesmerizing storytelling. Merryl invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her – from her childhood in the Bronx, to her years deployed in the Middle East, South America, and Asia, to her experience on the hit reality show Tough As Nails. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her life as she lived it – in her own words and on her own terms. With wisdom and warmth, Shatter the Sky is the deeply personal story of a woman of substance who has steadily defied expectations – and whose story inspires us to do the same.
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Interview clips with Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle and Cmdr. Matthew Maher
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Book
Willa Brown: & The Challengers
“Perez’s debut historical novel fictionalizes the story of three pioneering black aviators who changed the face of aeronautics. When one thinks about America’s aviation heroes, the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart come to mind. Lesser known are Cornelius C. Coffey, John C. Robinson and Willa B. Brown, real life AfricanAmerican historical figures who revolutionized aviation from the late 1920s through World War II.” …
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How one group is inspiring more Black women to take flight l GMA
Sisters of the Skies is working to increase the number of Black women who become professional pilots.
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Other posts you may find interesting
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Voting – Gerrymandering Explained, This post
For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. These posts focus on the reality of Black life in America after the Civil War culminating in the landmark Brown v Board of Education that changed so many of the earlier practices. To see the posts, click here
For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists. To see those posts, click here.
For Black History Month 2022 we focused on “Health and Wellness”. To see the entire series, click this link.
For Black History Month 2023 we focused on “Race Massacres and Riots.
For Women’s History Month 2022 we introduced you to 31 amazing Black women we should all know. To see the entire series, click this link.
For Women’s History Month 2023 we introduced you to an additional 31 amazing Black women we should all know.
We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. To see the posts, click here.
We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. To see this mini-series, click here
The Schomburg Center
A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Nothing of value. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection.
Schomburg – The man who built a library
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It has taken so long for Black women to fill many of these posts because they are Black and women. America did not have any Black pilots in WWI because of the stereotype of Blacks being unqualified and untrainable. However, there was at least one, Eugene Bullard who was a fighter pilot for France. After the war, all of the Americans who flew with the French were accepted by America. All except one, who by the way was invited to France for a memorial by none other than Charles De Gaulle past president of France. Bullard won the Croix de Guerre, France’s highest award he was inducted into the American Airforce posthumously.
While Whites of any stripe could become a pilot, Blacks had to be college graduates. Seeing the discriminatory practices of America, makes it seem a miracle that Black women were ever given a chance, but they accepted the challenge and excelled. You too can take whatever challenge and succeed if you stick to your resolve to do so. NEVER let anyone steal your dream!