Merryl Tengesdal

Merryl Tengesdal (born 1971) is an American retired career military officer who is the first and only Black woman to fly the United States Air Force's U-2 spy plane used for specialized high-altitude reconnaissance missions. She is one of five women and only the fourth Black person (in 2004) to be in the U-2 program. She shares the plane's nickname, The Dragon Lady.

Tengesdal is a military veteran, aviator, and commander who served in both the US Navy and the US Air Force. She served as Director of Inspections for The Air Force Inspector General from October 2015 through August 2017,

Navy service She entered the Navy and was admitted to Officer Candidate School, where she was commissioned in 1994 after graduation.

Flight rating Rating: Command Pilot Flight Hours: more than 3,400 with over 330 combat hours

Assignments

Officer Candidate School, NAS Pensacola, Florida, June 1994 – September 1994 Aviation Pre-Flight Indoctrination, NAS Pensacola, Florida, September 1994 – March 1995 Primary Flight Training, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, Squadron VT-27, March 1995 – September 1995 Helicopter Flight Training, NAS Pensacola, Florida, September 1995 – August 1996 SH-60B Fleet Replacement Squadron, NS Mayport, Florida, September 1996 – September 1997 SH-60B Pilot, NAS Mayport, Florida, September 1997 – June 2000 T-34C Pilot Instructor Training, NS Corpus Christi, Texas, June 2000 – December 2000 T-6A Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas, December 2000 – October 2001 T-6A Instructor, Moody AFB, Georgia, October 2001 – March 2004 U-2 Student Pilot, Beale AFB, California, March 2004 – April 2005 U-2 Instructor Pilot/Sq Chief of Safety, Beale AFB, California, April 2005 – June 2006 U-2 Instructor Pilot/ Wing Chief of Flt Safety, Beale AFB, California, June 2006 – July 2007 U-2 /T38-A Instructor Pilot/9 PSPTS Director of Operations, Beale AFB, California, July 2007 – November 2008 Commander Det 2/WR-ALC Plant 42, Palmdale, California, November 2008 – December 2010 NORAD/NORTHCOM J8 Staff, Peterson AFB, Colorado, December 2010 – August 2013 Deputy Operations Group Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California, September 2013–2014 Inspector General, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California, September 2014 – October 2015 Director of Inspections, Office of the Air Force Inspector General, Washington, October 2015 – August 2017

Awards and decorations

Legion of Merit MedalDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersAir MedalAir Force Commendation MedalNavy Achievement MedalJoint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf clusterAir Force Meritorious Unit AwardAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Recognition RibbonNational Defense Service Medal with bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalNuclear Deterrence Operations Service MedalSea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze service starAir Force Longevity Service Award with two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Training Ribbon

ACC Aerospace Physiologist of the Year 2008

Education 1994 Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering, University of New Haven, Connecticut 2005 Air Command and Staff College, Non-Resident Program, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 2008 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida 2011 Air War College, Non-Resident Program, Maxwell AFB, AL 2021 Doctor of Engineering (honorary), University of New Haven, Connecticut

In 2013, her alma mater, the University of New Haven, Connecticut, gave her the Distinguished Alumni award. She was on Team Savage Crew.