Jeanine Menze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeanine McIntosh-Menze
Coast Guard LCDR Jeanine McIntosh (Lt. JG at the time of the photo)
Born	Kingston, Jamaica
Years of service	2003 - present
Rank	Commander

Jeanine McIntosh Menze is a brave officer in the United States Coast Guard. She made history by becoming the first black woman in the U.S. Coast Guard to earn the special title of Coast Guard Aviator. This means she was the very first black female pilot in the Coast Guard's history when she graduated.

Early Life and Education

Jeanine McIntosh Menze was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her family later moved to Canada and then to South Florida. She graduated from Miami Killian High School in 1997.

She then went to Florida International University, where she earned a degree in international business in 2001. After college, Jeanine had a big dream: she wanted to fly airplanes! She started taking flying lessons at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She even became a flight instructor at Opa-locka Airport.

Coast Guard Career

Jeanine McIntosh Menze joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2003. She first attended the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School. This is where people learn to become officers.

In January 2005, she began her special flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas. She worked very hard. On June 24, 2005, she earned her aviator wings. This is a special badge that pilots wear.

After getting her wings, Jeanine was assigned to fly large airplanes called HC-130 Hercules. She flew these planes from Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii. These planes are often used for important missions.

One of her important roles was flying rescue missions. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Jeanine flew her HC-130 Hercules airplane to help. She was part of the brave Coast Guard teams saving people. As of 2020, Jeanine Menze holds the rank of Commander in the Coast Guard.