Tuskegee University Relaunches Aviation Program With $12M Investment
A popular university in Alabama is leaving their mark in history once again.
According to an article from UNCF, Tuskegee University officially launched a new aviation science program last fall after receiving $6.7 million in federal funding in 2025 and an additional $5.2 million in 2026, bringing the total investment to $12 million. The funding appropriation was championed by U.S. Senator Katie Britt.
As the UNCF article notes, “The university is once again training a new generation of Black pilots, more than 80 years after the Tuskegee Airmen made their mark on history.” During World War II, the country’s first Black military pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, becoming the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.
Decades later, students are back on the runway. According to the UNCF article, “Dozens of students are earning their pilot licenses at Tuskegee through the new program. The next generation of Red Tails will become commercial and private pilots.”
Last year, Kembriah Parker became the first woman in the inaugural class to receive her license through the program. The UNCF article highlights that she is “making history as the first Tuskegee Airwoman.” While Black women did not fly in combat as part of the Army Air Forces during WWII, they were essential in training, recruiting and supporting the Tuskegee Airmen, with some serving in ground support roles.
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