Page 21 - Appendix A

1991 Black Female SUPT student

What would you say was the percentage of blacks was in your training class?

I had 3/25 blacks in my training class. All were from my USAFA class. 12%

Describe how the number of minorities in your pilot training environment compared to your

high school, college and home environment (growing up).

For me, it was an increase to have three African Americans in my training class. In elementary
school, I had 3 blacks in the entire school. In high school, there might have been 10 or so AA
students in my graduating class of 300+. The Seattle area is more diverse now, but it was not
when I was growing up in the suburb of Bellevue, WA in the 70s and 80s. Other contributing
factors for me were having 5/25 women in my class (not black besides me) and a mostly USAFA
class (my commissioning source).

If there was a significant difference describe what impact it had (if any) on your success in

training and why?
It had a tremendous impact! I’m still friends with these classmates today. For example, the

morning of my UPT checkride, my classmates woke up at the crack of dawn and made my
navigation charts for me, and encouraged me during my ground eval. They supported me and
believed in me when some of my other classmates did not. They invited me to their family
homes, and I met their parents and had a hot meal along with some other classmates. This
positive encouragement made a big difference for me!

In your opinion, does it make a difference, regarding your success, how many other black
pilots are going through training at the same time as you? Why or why not?

I think that it certainly can. For me, it was key (if there were not other AA students, which I

only had that one time) to have AA mentors guiding me along overall, and especially focused
direction during the training programs. I learned to actively reach out for guidance and
support. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have other AA students in class on a
regular basis. The support and encouragement would be invaluable!

In your opinion, does it make a difference what the racial demographic of your training cadre
or leadership team is? Why or why not? Please share any specific examples from your
experience?

It makes a big difference! Even though it is not a training example. When I worked at AMC HQ,
the AMC/CC and the Reserve IMA two star were AA (one was AA and female!). It reached me
to my core—the fact that they were AAs and such good leaders. It was a big boost! In the
training environment, it would have the same effect. I encountered, but rarely flew with the AA