Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner

Rosemary Bryant Mariner was the first female accepted into the Aeronautics program at Purdue University, where she completed her studies in 2 ½ years, graduating at age 19 in 1972.   She was then selected as one of 8 women to be the first females to enter US Navy flight training, which she completed 1974.   Rosemary then embarked on many assignments and qualifications to fly numerous aircraft in the US Navy inventory.  

In July 1990, after progressing thru many positions within the Navy, she was assigned as the Commanding Officer of VAQ-34, becoming the first woman to command an Aviation unit in any branch of the US military.   Following Desert Storm, Rosemary served as President of Women Military Aviators Association, successfully leading a campaign on Capitol Hill to repeal the combat exclusion laws which had restricted women’s roles in Desert Storm.

In retirement, Rosemary continued to be active in military and aviation issues.     She also served as a visiting scholar at the University of Tennessee, where she taught military history for 15 years.