Nationwide — Theresa Claiborne, who once made history as the first African American female pilot in the United States Air Force, is making history again as she retires from United Airlines after an impressive 34 years of service.In 1982, Theresa became the first Black female pilot in the United States Air Force when she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. She served as a command pilot and instructor for the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker for 7 years. She also served in the Reserves for 13 years, becoming a flight commander before getting promoted to lieutenant colonel.
In 1990, Theresa also joined United Airlines as a first officer, steadily climbing the ranks to captain. Completely transitioning to civilian aviation, she officially retired from the military in 2003, with over 3,000 military flight hours under her belt.
Alongside her aviation feats, she mentored aspiring women of color, co-founding Sisters of the Skies in 2016 with fellow pilots Christine Angel Hughes and Nia…
