Test & Trials are what Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has confronted the whole life. Being a voracious pioneer, her resume shows a great collection of ‘’first’’ including America’s first Black woman combat pilot. As a Marine, she positioned two tours in Iraq. And also served as a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps.
Besides her military service, FlyGirl initiated her career in the p the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter.
She experiences great adventure from the battlefield & business, which she shares in her speeches with her audience and giving a striking piece of advice.
She also pitch-in organizations and individuals to be a go-getter and create a sustainable inner force and belief that resulted in significant achievements. She trains them to apply her “Zero to Breakthrough” Success Model, an approach that assisted to drive her career and kept her safe in air combat.
FlyGirl founded the VAI Consulting & Training, LLC in 2017. FlyGirl is famously known as Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech, and she frequently conveys the message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide.
In 2020, FlyGirl undertook a new business venture by starting FlyGirl Construction, a General Contracting Firm in the Atlanta, GA area. Being a single parent and a black woman, she contributes crucial wisdom to her role as a member of the Forbes School of Business & Technology Board of Advisors and NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council.
She has been honored with many awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She also received two honorary doctorates.
The leading media outlets namely, CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey, and much more have covered Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour’s story.
She is currently writing her next book, The Gutsy Move.
VERNICE “FLYGIRL” ARMOUR – HISTORICAL FLIGHT PATH
Born in Chicago, IL, in 1973. Then moved to Memphis after her parents parted their way. At that time, she was just three.
At the age of four, she longed to be a cop that drove a horse downtown. Before her fourth birthday, she received her first pony as a gift on Christmas day, and it seemed her dream found some real foundation.
She graduated from John Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts in 1997.
Other than the class vice president, she was very active in extra curriculum activities, such as the music program, a member of Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics honor society), and The National Honor Society.
While she was still at Middle Tennessee State University in 1993 when she recruited in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program. Meanwhile, the thought of becoming a pilot strike to her mind when she came across the image of a young Black female in an Army flight suit during an Army ROTC career day.
After finishing the assignment as a Nashville Sheriff’s Department correctional officer, Vernice decided to take a break from college to join Nashville Police Academy. She graduated in December 1996. Later on, she became the first woman of color on the Nashville Police Department’s motorcycle squad.
She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. in Physical Education: major in Exercise Science.
With a passion for aviation, Vernice was appointed as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998, and started her flight school.
When she finally made it flying in July 2001. She has positioned herself at the top rank out of both her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate.
She then appeared in Naval Air Station’s prestigious Commodore’s List and was also awarded the Academic Achievement Award.
She remained the top graduate in her class and took off to make history as the Marine Corps’ first African American female pilot.
Vernice was posted at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in the proximity of San Diego, CA, after completing flight school. Where she was piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. While there, she earned the title of “Strongest Warrior” twice and remained Camp Pendleton’s “Female Athlete of the Year.”
Vernice’s military expedition includes floated above the deserts of Iraq in her missile-equipped attack helicopter, Keeping the enemy engaged and patrol over the roads and ensure they were safe for her fellow Marines and soldiers on the ground.
The Department of Defense recognized Vernice as America’s first African American female combat pilot during deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
After the completion of two tours in Iraq, she said goodbye to her military career. Then, Vernice established VAI Consulting and Training, LLC. She now lives in Atlanta, GA, with her daughter Noah her gutsiest move yet.
