Merryl Tengesdal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colonel
Merryl (David) Tengesdal
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | The Bronx, New York |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1994–2017 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held | Det 2/WR-ALC Plant 42 |
| Battles/wars | Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War |
| Awards |
|
| Spouse(s) | Kjell Tengesdal |
Merryl Tengesdal is an amazing American hero. She is a retired military officer who made history. She is the first and only Black woman to fly the United States Air Force's U-2 spy plane. This special plane is used for high-altitude missions.
Merryl Tengesdal is one of only five women to ever be part of the U-2 program. She was also the fourth Black person to join this program back in 2004. The U-2 plane is often called "The Dragon Lady," and Merryl shares that cool nickname!
She served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. She was a commander and an aviator, which means she flew planes. Merryl retired in 2017 as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. She also served during the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.
Contents
About Merryl Tengesdal
Her Early Life and Dreams
Merryl David was born in The Bronx, New York, in 1971. As a child, she went to local schools. She became very interested in flying and space. Her big dream was to become an astronaut one day.
She went to the University of New Haven. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. She was one of only three women to finish that program. While in college, she also played on the basketball team. She was part of the ROTC, which helps train future military officers.
After college, Merryl joined the Navy. She was accepted into Officer Candidate School. She became an officer in 1994 after she graduated. Merryl started her career as a Naval Aviator. She flew the SH-60B Seahawk Helicopter. Her base was at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
During her time flying helicopters, she went on two long trips. She also took many shorter trips. These missions took her to the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean. After three years of flying helicopters at sea, Merryl became an instructor pilot. She taught others to fly the T-34C and T-6A planes.
She was one of four Navy T-6A Instructors. She trained both Navy and Air Force students. This training happened at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Her Navy flight instructor, Commander Ron Robinson, said she was one of his best students. He was not surprised by her success.
Flying for the Air Force
After her time in the Navy, Merryl decided to continue her military career. She transferred to the Air Force. Her new mission was to fly the Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady. This plane was based at Beale Air Force Base in Northern California. In 2004, she was promoted to Major. She began flying the U-2, becoming the first African-American woman to do so.
She continued to fly the U-2 on many missions. These missions supported important operations. They included Operations OLIVE HARVEST, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and HORN OF AFRICA. While at Beale AFB, she held important jobs. She was the Chief of Flight Safety for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing. She also directed operations for the 9th Physiological Support Squadron.
Merryl later married and took the name Tengesdal. After her time at Beale AFB, she became a Detachment Commander. She was in charge of flight tests and maintenance for the U-2S aircraft. Later, she worked at NORAD and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). She helped develop plans for the military.
She returned to Beale AFB and held more leadership roles. She was the Deputy Operations Group Commander. She also served as the Inspector General for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.
Advanced Training and Education
During these years, Merryl Tengesdal kept learning. She took advanced classes and earned more degrees. In 2005, she studied at the Air Command and Staff College. In 2008, she earned a Masters of Aeronautical Science. This degree was from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. She continued her studies in 2011 at the Air War College.
Her final job began in October 2015. She was promoted to Colonel. She became the Director of Inspections for The Inspector General (TIG) of the Air Force. This important role was at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Her team made sure the Air Force followed rules. They checked on readiness, efficiency, and discipline.
In 2017, Colonel Tengesdal retired from the Air Force. She had flown for more than 3,400 hours. Over 330 of those hours were in combat missions. More than 1,000 hours were spent flying the U-2 spy plane.
Her Flight Experience
Merryl Tengesdal is a Command Pilot. This is a very high flight rating. She flew many different types of aircraft during her career. These included the T-34C, TH-57 B/C, SH-60B, T-6A, T-38A/B/C, and the U-2S.
Awards and Badges
Merryl Tengesdal received many awards and badges for her service.
She earned medals such as:
- Legion of Merit
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
- Air Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Navy Achievement Medal
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
- Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
- Air Force Longevity Service Award
- Air Force Training Ribbon
She was also named the ACC Aerospace Physiologist of the Year in 2008.
Her Education Journey
- 1994 – Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of New Haven, Connecticut
- 2005 – Air Command and Staff College, Non-Resident Program, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- 2008 – Masters of Aeronautical Science, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida
- 2011 – Air War College, Non-Resident Program, Maxwell AFB, AL
- 2021 – Doctor of Engineering (honorary), University of New Haven, Connecticut
Her Life Outside the Military
Merryl Tengesdal is married to Kjell Tengesdal. They have two children. Besides her military career, she is also a personal trainer. She is an author, a leadership consultant, and a motivational speaker. She inspires many people with her story.
In 2013, her old college, the University of New Haven, gave her a special award. It was the Distinguished Alumni award.
In 2021, Merryl Tengesdal was a contestant on the TV show Tough as Nails. This is a reality series on CBS. She was part of Team Savage Crew.
See also
