Born: 1956, United States
Died: NA
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Raven
The following is republished from the US Navy. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Lt. Cmdr. Brenda Robinson became the first Black woman to become a U.S. Navy naval aviator when she earned her Wings of Gold in 1980. In 1978, Robinson was one of 10 women in the nation chosen to begin the Navy’s flight program, one of three to graduate from her class and the 42nd to graduate in U.S. history. She then became the first woman to certify for C-1A carrier onboard delivery carrier landings in 1981. She amassed 115 carrier landings while transporting mail, cargo, and passengers to aircraft carriers.
Her entire career is peppered with firsts for Black women in the U.S. Navy: flight instructor, evaluator, and VIP transport pilot to name a few. In 1992 Robinson transitioned to the Navy Reserve and became one of the first Blackwomen pilots at American Airlines, where she flew for 17 years. Robinson retired from the Navy Reserve in 2002 after 25 years of service.