1 00:00:00,615 --> 00:00:03,140 (radio chatter) 2 00:00:03,140 --> 00:00:05,340 (stirring music) 3 00:00:05,340 --> 00:00:07,870 - My name is Maddie Swegle and I'm the U.S. Navy's 4 00:00:07,870 --> 00:00:10,123 first black female tactical jet pilot. 5 00:00:11,530 --> 00:00:14,400 I don't think a goal in my life is to necessarily be the 6 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,120 first at anything. 7 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,210 That was never something that I set out to do, 8 00:00:18,210 --> 00:00:19,527 it was just something that I was interested in, 9 00:00:19,527 --> 00:00:21,428 and I found out later. 10 00:00:21,428 --> 00:00:24,261 (jet engine roar) 11 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,690 My parents raised me and they told me that I could be 12 00:00:27,690 --> 00:00:28,880 whatever I wanted to be. 13 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:30,930 We would go see the Blue Angels when they were in town. 14 00:00:30,930 --> 00:00:33,160 I don't remember specifically how old I was, 15 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:35,830 but they were just so cool, I love them. 16 00:00:35,830 --> 00:00:37,788 Yeah, I just love the fast planes. 17 00:00:37,788 --> 00:00:38,621 (chuckles) 18 00:00:38,621 --> 00:00:40,120 (jet engines roar) 19 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,149 - When you show up here at this, at this level, 20 00:00:43,149 --> 00:00:45,950 you need to be a top performer and then you have to 21 00:00:45,950 --> 00:00:47,570 continue to perform while you're here. 22 00:00:47,570 --> 00:00:48,920 These are the best pilots in the world 23 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,430 that are trained here, the very best. 24 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:53,710 - Oh, I was super excited, but also really intimidated. 25 00:00:53,710 --> 00:00:56,020 I remember driving down here for the first time 26 00:00:56,020 --> 00:00:58,210 and it just seemed really daunting. 27 00:00:58,210 --> 00:01:01,160 It was crazy to be in such a higher performance aircraft. 28 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:02,480 I was really excited on takeoff, 29 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,770 like feeling the exhilaration and getting thrown back in the 30 00:01:04,770 --> 00:01:06,760 seat a little bit, that was awesome. 31 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,510 It's fun because it is difficult at the same time, you know, 32 00:01:10,510 --> 00:01:14,140 like I know that I had to work to get it to behave, 33 00:01:14,140 --> 00:01:16,950 you know, and it took a lot of fighting the aircraft 34 00:01:16,950 --> 00:01:20,170 and figuring out how it was going to perform. 35 00:01:20,170 --> 00:01:22,823 So yeah, that was exciting. 36 00:01:23,730 --> 00:01:26,020 It's really rewarding to have the plane do 37 00:01:26,020 --> 00:01:28,980 whatever you want it to do, and that takes time 38 00:01:28,980 --> 00:01:31,190 and you definitely notice yourself improving. 39 00:01:31,190 --> 00:01:35,025 Looking back it's amazing to think about where I started 40 00:01:35,025 --> 00:01:37,530 I'd never been in an airplane before, 41 00:01:37,530 --> 00:01:39,630 so it's just one step at a time. 42 00:01:39,630 --> 00:01:42,290 And it's really cool to think of all the things 43 00:01:42,290 --> 00:01:43,970 that I've done now, which I never thought 44 00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:46,070 that I'd be able to do. 45 00:01:46,070 --> 00:01:49,140 - It takes long hours, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, 46 00:01:49,140 --> 00:01:52,120 and a commitment to excellence day in, day out. 47 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:53,740 Every instructor here knows that we have 48 00:01:53,740 --> 00:01:56,920 a very high standard, the standard doesn't change. 49 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,433 That is to be excellent in everything that you do. 50 00:02:00,350 --> 00:02:03,290 And she, just like all of her fellow wingies 51 00:02:03,290 --> 00:02:05,450 met that standard of excellence 52 00:02:05,450 --> 00:02:08,113 They're going to go out and make all of us very proud. 53 00:02:09,530 --> 00:02:10,864 - Congrats. - Thank you. 54 00:02:10,864 --> 00:02:13,540 (applause) 55 00:02:13,540 --> 00:02:16,150 - [Lt. Swegle] After three years, that was a long journey, 56 00:02:16,150 --> 00:02:17,580 and there were times when I didn't think 57 00:02:17,580 --> 00:02:18,600 that I would make it. 58 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,230 So that was kind of scary, but I'm glad that I kept pushing 59 00:02:23,230 --> 00:02:26,240 and we're here and I get to continue. 60 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,470 I am really honored that I get to wear the wings 61 00:02:29,470 --> 00:02:32,823 and get to fly planes and call myself a pilot. 62 00:02:34,490 --> 00:02:39,200 - I've been in the Navy almost 20 years and served with 63 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,410 people from all races, colors, creeds, genders, 64 00:02:42,410 --> 00:02:47,410 and it was surprising to hear that she could be a pioneer. 65 00:02:49,910 --> 00:02:51,440 And once it was confirmed, it was like, well, 66 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:52,480 this is really exciting. 67 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,310 And this was probably with her only having 68 00:02:55,310 --> 00:02:58,410 about three flights remaining in the syllabus. 69 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:00,803 - So I think that representation is important, 70 00:03:02,330 --> 00:03:04,710 because we are a very diverse nation. 71 00:03:04,710 --> 00:03:08,300 So I would like everyone to believe that they can achieve 72 00:03:08,300 --> 00:03:10,080 whatever they want to do. 73 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,900 - This profession is open to anybody with the drive 74 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:15,190 and motivation and wants to put in the work, 75 00:03:15,190 --> 00:03:18,330 and the sacrifice that comes along with it. 76 00:03:18,330 --> 00:03:23,030 I hope that it inspires far more women 77 00:03:23,030 --> 00:03:26,290 and people of all kinds of diverse backgrounds 78 00:03:26,290 --> 00:03:29,320 to look at this as a great career choice. 79 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:30,700 And it doesn't matter who you are, 80 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:33,060 what you look like, where you came from. 81 00:03:33,060 --> 00:03:36,650 Once we have the uniform on, we're all on the same team, 82 00:03:36,650 --> 00:03:39,930 and we all are trying to accomplish the same mission. 83 00:03:39,930 --> 00:03:42,620 - I guess I hope that my legacy will be that there'll be 84 00:03:42,620 --> 00:03:45,720 a lot of other women and minority women 85 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,340 and just different faces that come forward, 86 00:03:49,340 --> 00:03:53,100 and at least give the pipeline a shot, 87 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:56,510 you know, be encouraged and know that they have 88 00:03:56,510 --> 00:03:58,670 all the tools that they need and, you know, 89 00:03:58,670 --> 00:03:59,823 follow their dreams. 90 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:03,420 - There's always going to be a first, at some point, 91 00:04:03,420 --> 00:04:06,573 and here it is in 2020, she's it. 92 00:04:06,573 --> 00:04:10,290 The U.S. Navy's first black female tactical jet aviator. 93 00:04:10,290 --> 00:04:13,750 It may be a long time coming, but here she is. 94 00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:15,900 And there's going to be more to follow now.