Military

Madeline Swegle Becomes US Navy’s First Black Female Tactical Jet Pilot

July 21, 2020Shana McInnes
KINGSVILLE, Texas (July 7, 2020) Student Naval Aviator Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle, assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron (VT) 21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, stands by a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft following her final flight to complete the undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus, July 7, 2020. Swegle is the Navy's first known Black female strike aviator and will receive her Wings of Gold during a ceremony July 31. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Luke Redito/Released)

200707-N-N0436-1027 KINGSVILLE, Texas (July 7, 2020) Student Naval Aviator Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle, assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron (VT) 21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, stands by a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft following her final flight to complete the undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus, July 7, 2020. Swegle is the Navy’s first known Black female strike aviator and will receive her Wings of Gold during a ceremony July 31. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Luke Redito/Released)

Student Naval Aviator Lieutenant junior grade Madeline Swegle has made history as the U.S. Navy’s first black female tactical jet pilot. She will receive her Wings of Gold at a ceremony on July 31 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, according to a press release.


“Swegle, a Virginia native, completed her final undergraduate TACAIR training flight in a T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft and was ‘soft winged’ at NAS Kingsville, July 7,” wrote Lieutenant Michelle Tucker, Public Affairs Officer for Chief of Naval Air Training, in an email to Coffee or Die. “Her success is a stunning personal accomplishment but also represents a great milestone for Naval Aviation.”


Student Naval Aviator Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle, assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron (VT) 21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, exits a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft following her final flight to complete the undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus, July 7, 2020. Swegle is the U.S. Navy's first known Black female strike aviator and will receive her Wings of Gold during a ceremony July 31. Photo by Anne Owens/U.S. Navy, Released.
Student Naval Aviator Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle, assigned to the Redhawks of Training Squadron (VT) 21 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, exits a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft following her final flight to complete the undergraduate Tactical Air (Strike) pilot training syllabus, July 7, 2020. Swegle is the U.S. Navy’s first known Black female strike aviator and will receive her Wings of Gold during a ceremony July 31. Photo by Anne Owens/U.S. Navy, Released.

In the same release, Commander, Naval Air Forces Vice Admiral DeWolfe “Bullet” Miller III said, “Lt. j.g. Swegle has proven to be a courageous trailblazer. She has joined a select group of people who earned 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.”


The Chief of Naval Air Training tweeted the news as well, saluting her with “BZ,” or “Bravo Zulu,” a naval term for “well done.”


Rear Admiral Paula Dunn, the U.S. Navy’s vice chief of information, also celebrated Swegle’s achievement on Twitter, telling her to “Go forth and kick butt.”



The first Black female naval aviator, Brenda E. Robinson, earned her Wings of Gold in 1980. According to the Navy press release, there are currently 15 Black female naval aviators serving in the U.S. Navy — four pilots and 11 naval flight officers — and 10 Black female student naval aviators in flight training.


Swegle’s groundbreaking accomplishment comes on the heels of a June 30 announcement from the Navy that they created a special task force “to address the issues of racism, sexism and other destructive biases and their impact on naval readiness.” The press statement states that Task Force One Navy “will seek to promptly address the full spectrum of systemic racism, advocate for the needs of underserved communities, work to dismantle barriers and equalize professional development frameworks and opportunities within the Navy.”



Shana McInnes
Shana McInnes

Shana McInnes is a contributing writer for Coffee or Die. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Radio-Television-Film and French. Since then, she spent 10 years as a news producer for organizations such as E! News, Fuse News, and Revolt TV. For the past five years, she has directed and produced digital, short-form documentaries for brands such as Honda, Coors, Google, and Black Rifle Coffee Company, which have received a total of over 300 million views. She likes her coffee black.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved