Determined and Extremely Capable: FedEx Captain Tahirah Lamont Brown is Poised to Set an Example Every Day

February 11, 2019

[Attachment] While Captains Carroll Waters and Albert Glenn certainly set the stage for other minority aviators at FedEx, Airbus Captain, Tahirah Lamont Brown, truly set the aviation world alight back in 2002 as the first female African-American pilot for the express delivery giant. And when she's not delivering the World on Time, she guiding other pilots as a Line Check Airman for the company, quick to acknowledge the importance of giving back to the industry she credits for opening up so many opportunities.

Additionally, the Captain reminds us that it's imperative to never forget where you came from so you can better navigate the skies ahead.

Growing up in Brooklyn, via Flatbush, the FedEx pilot of nearly 16 years will be the first to tell you that while she and her five siblings grew up in an extremely disciplined household, it paid dividends in a variety of ways.

'My father started out as a correctional officer and worked his way through the ranks to become warden at Rikers Island,' Brown said. 'Then he became chief - he was one of the people in the white shirts.'

Suffice it to say, Wayne Lamont's management style carried over into the home, and as Tahirah will assert, he was not looking to win any popularity contest. Instead, he was intent on raising successful children, who looked out for one another. As the second eldest of the Lamont children, Tahirah readily admits she's definitely her father's daughter - driven to succeed, with a heavy dose of 'rebel spirit' inside of her.

'When I originally began researching careers in secondary school, I really thought I'd like to be a judge, because I enjoy listening to people and trying to help solve problems,' added Brown. 'But neither my family nor I were politically connected, so I started checking out other professions that matched my personality as well.'

Luckily for the Purple and Orange, Tahirah ultimately focused on a career that fit her to a tee.

'I knew I wasn't an office person, so I knew if I pursued that, it would be solely for a paycheck,' Brown said. 'After more research, I came across aviation, and the more intrigued I became about the possibilities in the field. I actually went to college not knowing that I wanted to be a pilot. In fact, I started studying aerospace technology and then it just came to me. It was like an epiphany when God said, 'This is what you're going to do.''

And so the journey began.

Tahirah fondly recalls her father in the rear seat during her first time in the cockpit in 1992-taking off out of Long Island, New York, and flying to Greenwich, Connecticut. She was on top the world-literally. The maiden flight would be a momentous occasion for any pilot, but especially for an African American woman entering an industry dominated by men. And it was this realization that drove her to help minority youths who are also interested in flying careers, but may not know where to begin.

Flash forward to the present, and those who know Tahirah will readily inform you when she's not flying, she's most likely wearing her 'mentoring hat.' Whether she's speaking to a group at the annual OBAP (Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals) conference or leading a discussion during the Women in Aviation International conference, Tahirah wants anyone aspiring to become a pilot to realize that it comes down to connections, and more importantly, the willingness to seek out those relationships that help take you where you wish to be.

'Forming bonds has been key to my journey. As a result, mentoring is so important to me,' Brown added. 'Speaking with men and women who are coming up in the field and letting them know some of the pitfalls, giving them guidance from what I learned and connecting them with people who can help them along provide me as much joy as I get from flying.'

Thank you, Captain Brown, for helping make FedEx the best airline in the business and for forging a brighter future for the aviators of tomorrow. Your story is truly a testament to the power of hard work, following your dream, and paying it forward.

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