As the Cold War was taking shape in 1953, the United States accepted Lockheed Corporation’s proposal to build the U-2 spy plane, out of absolute necessity. The program has been such a massive success for the US military and CIA, that the plane remains in service today over 64 years later. However, only one black woman has ever flown the U-2. We are honored to welcome United States Air Force Col. Merryl Tengesdal.

Colonel Tengesdal’s remarkable journey began in the Bronx. Despite facing enormous adversity throughout her Air Force career, Merryl surpassed every expectation. She earned her seat in the cockpit of the most successful spy plane in history, more than 70,000 feet above the earth’s surface.

The significance of the now legendary U-2 spy plane, nicknamed “Dragon Lady”, cannot be overstated. The program was such a priority for American national security that it became operational and first took flight in 1955, only two years after it was initially proposed. 

Since retiring in 2017, Merryl may no longer be flying more than 13 miles up into the sky, but she has hardly slowed down. She now works as a personal trainer and even starred on the hit CBS reality show, ‘Tough As Nails’.

Merryl Tengesdal is a true inspiration and we highly recommend her book, ‘Shatter the Sky: What Going to the Stratosphere Taught Me About Self-worth, Sacrifice, and Discipline’.