Women who make you say Wow!: Stephanie Johnson; Delta Air Lines first African-American female captain.

Women in aviation fill my heart with pride. The first time I met a female pilot I was literally star struck. As someone that works in the travel industry, I know how few and far in between it is to see women and even more rare, women of color. That's why the story of Stephanie Johnson two time airline trailblazer is so inspirational. 

Stephanie Johnson made history in 1997 as Northwest Airline's first female AND first African American pilot. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Technology, she displayed an unwavering work ethic and focus by earning her her Private, Commercial, Flight Instructor, and Flight Engineer Certificates with Instrument and Multi engine ratings while working as a Flight Instructor in the Aviation program. 

Stephanie Johnson Delta Air Lines first African-American Captain

By 1993, Johnson was hired as an Airport Operations Agent at Burke Lakefront Airport, in Cleveland, Ohio where she continued to flight instruct as a second full-time job on her days off. She went on to become a charter pilot and in 1995 earned her Airline Transport Pilot certificate and landed a position as a commercial Airline pilot with Mesa Airlines. In October 1997 Stephanie was hired by Northwest Airlines making history as it’s first African American female pilot as Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727.

Johnson earned qualifications as First Officer on the 727 and the Airbus 320 and served as First Officer on the Boeing 757/767 now with Delta Air Lines before making history a second time in 2016 by becoming Delta air Lines first African-American female captain.

According to Johnson, ""I feel a great sense of responsibility to be a positive role model. There are so few women in this profession and too many women who still don't think of it as a career option," Johnson said. "When I was hired by Northwest Airlines, there were 12 African-American women airline pilots in the country at the major airlines, and I knew all of their names."
Johnson's legacy continues to inspire the next generation of female pilots including myself! Thank you Ms. Johnson for paving a path for women to dream above the clouds.Here are few photos from my first flight in the left seat as I flew over Pearl Harbor in Hawaii!