Our People: Patrice Clarke Washington

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Patrice Clarke is the first black woman to graduate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the first Black woman to serve as captain for a major U.S. airline.

Patrice Francise Clarke was born on 11 September 1961 in Nassau, The Bahamas to Peggy Ann and Nathaniel Clarke. From the age of five, when she took her first flight, Clarke was interested in aviation.

In 1979, Clarke enrolled in the Aeronautical University, despite the fact that she was the only black student and spoke only Bahamian Creole. In April 1982, Clarke graduated as the first black woman in the school’s history with a Bachelors in aeronautical science and her commercial pilot’s certification.

After her graduation, she began her career at Trans Island Airways while continuing her studies and was able to earn her qualifications to fly Boeing 737 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft over the next few years.

In 1984, Clarke became the first woman pilot of Bahamasair, when she was hired as a First Officer by the air service. She faced some discrimination and adversity in her career but persisted.

She was then hired by united parcel service in 1988 as a flight engineer.

Ms. Clarke was one of only 11 African-American female commercial pilots in the U.S. airline industry, and was the first black woman to be promoted to captain with United Parcel Service.

Her and her husband Ray, who also pilots for American Airlines are the only African American couple who both fly for a major commercial carrier.