<Tr> <Th> Awards </Th> <Td> Air Medal Meritorious Service Medal Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korean Defense Service Medal </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Relations </Th> <Td> Dr. Norman Ng A Qui (father) Eve Blackman Ng A Qui (mother) </Td> </Tr> <P> Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, and the first female African - American fighter pilot in the history of that service . She flew the F - 16 Fighting Falcon during combat missions in Operation Northern Watch . She is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base where she is a member of the 78th Attack Squadron and serves as an MQ - 9 Pilot and Mission Commander . </P> <P> Kimbrell was born in Lafayette, Indiana, the youngest of four children, to Guyanese parents . Her mother and father, Eve Blackman Ng A Qui and Dr. Norman Ng A Qui migrated to the United States for education opportunities and became naturalized U.S. citizens by the time she was born . The family moved to Parker, Colorado and it was there while attending fourth grade Kimbrell decided she wanted to become a fighter pilot . She had her first flight lesson at age fourteen, then later joined the Civil Air Patrol, worked at air shows and earned her private pilot's license . She graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Engineering . She earned her pilot wings a year later in August, 1999 . In addition Lt Col Kimbrell holds a Masters in Business Administration from Touro University . </P>

Who became the first air force african american female fighter pilot