Dunlop is First Woman Test Pilot Wing Commander

June 10, 2010 — In 1910, Raymonde de Laroche of France became the first woman in the world to receive her pilot’s license. Thirty-two years later, in 1942, the first female pilots were allowed to fly military aircraft. But it took until 1993 before the U.S. Department of Defense opened combat aviation to women. And it took until last week for a woman, Col. Dawn Dunlop, to became the first female fighter test pilot to lead an Air Force wing. Dunlop took command of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base on June 4. In November 2003, Dunlop also is the first woman to fly an F-22. Dunlop graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1988 and went on to the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards in 1997. She began her career as an instructor pilot in the T-38. Her work at Edwards has included test assignments in the F-15E as well as weapons upgrade programs and developmental testing of the F-22. Her service as the operations officer for the F-22 Combined Test Force supported work that led to that aircraft's initial operational capability. She has accumulated more than 3,300 flight hours and has flown more than 25 aircraft models, including the F-22, F-15, and F-16. In addition, she flew the F-15E in support of Operation Provide Comfort. The operation, which began in April 1991, defended Kurds fleeing northern Iraq following the Persian Gulf War.

Col. Dawn Dunlop became the first female fighter pilot to lead an Air Force Wing on June 4, 2010. Photo credit: Air Force

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