Navy’s first known Black female fighter pilot graduates

The Navy this week announced the graduation of its first known Black female strike fighter pilot.

Madeline Swegle will receive her Wings of Gold on July 31, according to Naval Air Training Command.

BZ to Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle on completing the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator syllabus. Swegle is the @USNavy’s first known Black female TACAIR pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold later this month. HOOYAH! @FlyNavy @NASKPAO #ForgedByTheSea #CNATRA #CNATRAgrads pic.twitter.com/FKSlURWQhJ

— Naval Air Training (@CNATRA) July 9, 2020

“Go forth and kick butt,” added Rear Adm. Paula Dunn, the Navy’s vice chief of information, on Twitter.

Very proud of LTJG Swegle. Go forth and kick butt. https://t.co/Fmleo7Ajd3

— RDML Paula Dunn (@ViceCHINFO) July 9, 2020

Swegle first graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2017, according to Stars and Stripes. The military news outlet noted that graduates of the grueling tactical air program generally go on to fly the Navy’s flagship fighter jets, including the Super Hornet. 

Rosemary Mariner was the first woman in the Navy to fly tactical jets in 1974 as well as the first to command an operational naval aviation squadron, Stars and Stripes noted.