Kara Spears Hultgreen

The late Lt. Kara Spears Hultgreen was the first modern-era combat-qualified female Naval Aviator and the first female Navy fighter pilot to die on duty. A Distinguished Naval Graduate of Aviation Officer Candidate School, she flew the EA-6A Prowler and became a fierce advocate for repealing the Combat Exclusion Laws, writing to Congress and meeting with any lawmaker who would listen. After combat aircraft were opened to women in 1993, she was assigned to the F-14 Tomcat and qualified aboard USS Constellation in 1994, joining the Black Lions of VF-213. She was lost in an F-14 accident on October 25, 1994, and laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Her perseverance helped open combat aviation to women in every service.