Meet the First Black Woman to Become an Officer in the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

Captain Remoshay Nelson has sealed her place in history as the first African American woman to become an officer in the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the official Air Force flight demonstration squadron.

According to Because Of Them We Can (BOTWC), the Thunderbirds’ elite squadron has only had 332 Officers since its founding in 1953 and Captain Remoshay is the first Black woman to join the ranks.

Captain Remoshay is an alumna of the prestige HBCU, Howard University, and has served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years. She credits her experience at Howard University and her Georgia upbringing in her historic success.

“Even when people tell you no to your face, but your work shows where you should be, I think if you continue to work hard and go after what it is you want, you will achieve your dream. To be around people who look like me and instill a self-confidence in who I am, and walk into the world knowing where I come from and where my people come from, and where we can go, is invaluable,” Nelson told NBC Washington.

According to BOTWC, Captain Nelson currently holds one of only twelve officer positions.

“I know a small percentage of African-American officers, specifically female officers in the Air Force. So to be in a position that is visible, to show little girls that this is attainable, to let them know they can do anything they put their mind to, is an absolute honor,” Captain Nelson explained to NBC Washington.

The Thunderbirds recently performed flyovers across the country to honor frontline workers during the pandemic in efforts to give hope to the citizens of America.

“Where people can look up and have some type of hope during this time, to know we can get through this. The Thunderbirds are with them,” Nelson told NBC Washington.