Though Black women have mastered every field they have ever entered, their numbers, percentage-wise, are still small when it comes to piloting. That’s why it’s big news to learn that of the three Houston-area high school students chosen to participate in the elite U.S. Navy Summer Flight Academy, one of them is a Black female.
Leanna Johnson, a student at Dayton High School in Dayton, TX, along with Vilius Bagdzevicius (Memorial Senior High School, Houston) and Andy Chang (Stephen F. Austin High School, Sugarland), are among just 28 students nationwide selected to attend the prestigious U.S. Navy Summer Flight Academy.
Johnson and her cohorts will complete the intensive eight-week aviation program at Delaware State University from June 9 – Aug. 2. Each will achieve his/her FAA Private Pilot’s license upon completion of the training.
Again, Johnson’s presence in this program is a big deal considering that as of 2022, there were only 150 Black women professional pilots, which equates to 0.1% of all professional pilots in the country according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics and a Sisters of the Skies 2022 report.
More recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FAA (2024) shows that women make up 7% (or 33,531) of the nation’s active-rated pilots, 8% (11,224) of active certified flight instructors and 15% (49,286) of all student pilot certificate holders.
But in terms of Houston-area high schoolers, Johnson’s presence marks 33% for Black female representation.
Johnson, Bagdzevicius and Chang are three of just 28 high-performing 11th and 12th graders throughout the U.S. selected for the elite program, which was established in 2021 by the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) to increase exposure to Naval Aviation.
The Navy partners with select universities throughout the country to provide the flight training to the participating students. The cost of the program is approximately $28,000/student but is offered at zero cost to the student and with no obligations. Upon completion of the program, each student earns a private pilot certification/license and five college credits.
The Department of the Navy sponsors the Summer Flight Academy program for students participating in Navy and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The program is a STEM initiative that was selected for funding by the Naval STEM Coordination Office – located at the Office of Naval Research – which oversees investments in STEM education, outreach and workforce initiatives.
“The goal of the scholarship program is to inspire and expose exceptional young talent from communities across the nation to a career path in Naval Aviation,” says Tamara Graham, deputy director, CNAF Flight Academy program manager. “Vilius Bagdzevicius, Andy Change and Leanna Johnson have demonstrated incredible potential, and the Navy is honored to play a part in their personal and professional journeys.”
During the eight-week Summer Flight Academy, each student will receive a minimum of 32 hours of classroom aviation academics and more than 40 hours of flight training in either a Vulcanair V.10 single-engine aircraft or Piper Warrior (PA-28). As part of the certification process, each will be required to complete 17 hours of solo flights.
