The Example Set For Her Was All She Needed To Dream Big

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PushBlack
April 1, 2019

Andrea Lewis knew the sky was never the limit. Her father was a Marine Corps pilot for 14 years and a commercial pilot for 22, while her mother enjoyed a 40-year career as a flight attendant.

“Aviation and serving others is in my DNA,” she confesses. But following in their footsteps would be a long journey worth making.

As an 8-year Delta flight attendant herself, Lewis made a career shift that would make her parents proud.

Her flight experience and collegiate language studies made her a prime candidate for the role of U.S. Air Force Reserves flight attendant. But she wanted a seat at the front of the plane.

Climbing higher, she found herself on the path to make history.

This is why representation is so critical. Lewis’ parents set the bar high for what their daughter could achieve if she dedicated herself to her studies and said yes to amazing opportunities.

Now, the Georgia National Guard is deploying 1st Lieutenant Andrea Lewis as the first Black woman pilot ever named by their military branch!

To say she’s breathing rare air is an understatement. According to the nonprofit Women in Aviation International, barely 6.9% of licensed pilots are women.

Yet, Andrea Lewis did it - and is in good company with other cloud skimmers, including Bessie Coleman and Stephanie Johnson!

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