Karen Fuller Brannen | |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Pilot |
Known for | First female 'Wings of Gold' recipient. |
Karen Fuller Brannen (née Tribbett)[1] was the first United States Marine Corps female strike fighter pilot.[2][3]
She joined the armed forces in 1994 and left active duty in 2007, but remains a reserve Colonel in the Marine Corps.[4] During her career she attained the rank of major, then progressed to Lt. Col.[5][6]
After leaving active duty, she started working for Gulfstream.[7][8][9]
She was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2013, becoming the first marine inducted. She was a USMC F/A-18 pilot for 3 years, before being the first woman to be awarded 'wings of gold'.[10][11]
She married Matt Brannen in 2010.[12]