Capt. Colleen Nevius graduated and commissioned in May 1977 from Purdue University, as a member of the second group of women (midshipmen) accepted into NROTC. After earning her “wings of gold” in 1979, Nevius joined Lt. j.g. Karen Thornton as the first women assigned to the sea-duty component of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 6 at NAS Norfolk, flying in vertical replenishment missions. Nevius was the first woman to graduate from the Navy’s Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland in 1983, afterwards helping stand up Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HC) 2’s Vertical Onboard Delivery (VOD) Squadron. Nevius retired from active duty in May 1988.

Last Updated: 30 March 2023