Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour is America’s first Black female combat pilot, a former United States Marine, former police officer, and one of the most electrifying leadership speakers in the country. She flew combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has since become a powerful voice for breakthrough leadership, diversity, and fearless action.

From the Streets to the Skies

Armour’s remarkable journey took her from being a beat cop in Nashville to becoming a Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot. She flew the AH-1W Super Cobra in combat during two tours in Iraq, becoming America’s first African American female combat pilot. Before joining the Marines, she served as a police officer and competed as a Division I athlete. Her diverse experience across law enforcement, military combat, and entrepreneurship gives her a rare perspective on leadership across high-stakes environments.

Zero to Breakthrough Leadership

Armour is the author of Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals That Matter. She has spoken to organizations including NASA, Deloitte, Under Armour, and major associations. Her keynotes deliver high-energy, battle-tested strategies for breakthrough leadership, creating diverse and inclusive cultures, taking bold action, overcoming barriers, and developing the fearless mindset that drives extraordinary results in any organization.

One Mission – One Goal – One Team

Gutsy Leaders create Gutsy Teams that make Gutsy Moves. Be proactive – not reactive; that’s how the best organizations create the future. It begins by summoning the courage to change tactics and align. Drawing on a distinguished career as a U.S. Marine combat helicopter pilot, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour unloads valuable lessons learned under the most stressful of circumstances – about leadership, teamwork, resilience, communication, execution, and building a culture of unshakable trust. A compelling storyteller who commands attention – in-person or virtually, FlyGirl inspires audiences and shows them the key steps to achieving more than they ever thought possible.

Get Gutsy – Harness a Breakthrough Mindset

How you respond to personal and professional obstacles, adversity, and disappointment is a choice. It also determines your future. Black, gay, and a child of divorce, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour learned this early. Her incredible journey – from police department to the Marines and becoming America’s first Black female combat pilot – was filled with challenges, adventures, successes, and ultimate triumph. She translates those lessons for audiences, drawing from her book Zero to Breakthrough – The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. FlyGirl is a force who will rock the house! Her energy, enthusiasm, and positivity inspire people to Get Gutsy and reimagine what’s possible.

Who Needs a Runway? Take Off From Where You Are

Helicopter pilots can spring into action from where they are. They don’t need a runway. Being nimble gives them an incredible edge in battle. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour thinks this metaphor is perfect for uncertain times where speed and agility are survival skills. FlyGirl not only fires up an audience – in-person and virtually – with her energy and memorable stories, she punctuates hard-learned lessons with tactics that can be used to quickly adapt to the forces of change impacting your organization. This presentation is perfect for audiences navigating uncertainty, new regulations, unparalleled market forces, or looking to accomplish audacious goals. Give your group the necessary boost to come together as a team and innovate quickly and confidently.

A New Conversation: Actively Transforming a Company, Culture and Country

This isn’t about politics; this is about being proactive. This is about coming together and deciding what we can do as an organization to create an equitable culture for employees, stakeholders, and customers that serves all involved. Where ALL can feel like they belong. Where all feel like they are part of the team. This is about establishing rules of engagement for civil, productive conversations that find solutions, not fault. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour was a diversity officer for U.S. Marine Corps HQ and liaison to the Pentagon. As a gay, Black woman she brought valuable personal experience to her work, driving diversity policy for a 200,000 personnel organization. When you bring people together, you will have differences and similarities that result in tension and complexities…THIS IS NORMAL! How you MANAGE diversity is the key!