Vernice Armour, Speaker | Combat Pilot, Ex-Marine

Vernice Armour

Overcome obstacles, embrace change, and unlock your full potential with Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour, speaker, author, and leadership expert.

Vernice Armour | Speaker Biography

America's first black female combat pilot

Served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine

Author of Zero to Breakthrough and founder of VAI Consulting

Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour is an exceptional trailblazer with an impressive track record. She is America's first black female combat pilot and has proudly served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine.

In addition to her military achievements, she has worked as a Diversity Liaison Officer at the Pentagon for Marine Corps Headquarters.

As a highly sought-after speaker, FlyGirl empowers individuals and organisations to cultivate inner strength and reach their goals.

She has authored the book Zero to Breakthrough, which outlines a 7-step method for accomplishing meaningful objectives.

Furthermore, FlyGirl is the visionary behind VAI Consulting & Training, LLC, where she guides individuals and organisations in making bold moves and attaining breakthrough results.

FlyGirl is a regular speaker at prestigious events and conferences worldwide, and she is honoured to serve as a mentor for senior executive women in the tech industry.

Her remarkable story has been featured in various media outlets, and she is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move.

During her speeches, FlyGirl covers many topics, including leadership, teamwork, resilience, diversity, and creating high-performing cultures.

She inspires her audiences, empowering them to overcome obstacles, embrace change, and unlock their full potential.

Featured Sessions

Who Needs A Runway? Take Off From Where You Are

Helicopter pilots spring into action from where they are. They don’t need a runway. It’s their edge in battle. Marine chopper pilot Vernice “flygirl” Armour believes this metaphor is perfect for uncertain times where speed and agility are survival skills. FlyGirl fires up audiences with her energy and storytelling – relating hard-learned lessons with tactics for quickly adapting to the forces of change. This presentation is perfect for audiences navigating uncertainty or looking to accomplish audacious goals. FlyGirl will spark their courage and enthusiasm. — Recognize and take decisive action to capitalize on defining moments — No situation is ever perfect – gain momentum from where you are — The three-step plan: Decide, Commit, and Execute…at speed — Recognize and harness the talents of everyone around you

Get Gutsy: Harness A Breakthrough Mindset

How you react to personal and professional obstacles, adversity, and disappointment is a choice. It also determines your future. Black, female, gay, and a child of divorce, Vernice “flygirl” Armour learned this early in her pioneering journey from motorcycle cop to the Marines to becoming America’s first Black female combat pilot. FlyGirl’s energy rocks the house as she recounts for audiences her challenges, adventures, and ultimate triumph. Her authenticity, enthusiasm, and positivity inspire people to Get Gutsy and finally reimagine what’s possible. — 7-step process to shatter limiting beliefs and unleash breakthroughs — Replace a self-defeating “Zero Mentality” with a winning “Breakthrough Mentality” — How to avoid burnout and keep moving forward — Delay is not Denial, and to Retreat does not mean Defeat

Creating An Equitable Culture: Embracing Diversity And Productive Conversations

It’s time! This Is about coming together – working to create an equitable culture for employees, stakeholders, and customers. A place where ALL can feel like they belong and are part of the team. It starts by 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; its liaison to the Pentagon. As a gay Black woman she brought valuable personal experience to her work. She learned: When you bring people together, their differences can result in tension…this IS NORMAL! How you MANAGE that diversity is the key! — Create a culture that values and respects all team members — Why it’s time to turn THE Conversation into a NEW Conversation — Ways to face uncomfortable issues without playing ostrich — How to prevent a counter-productive herd mentality

One Mission – One Goal – One Team

Gutsy Leaders create Gutsy Teams that make Gutsy Moves. They’re proactive – not reactive; and create the future by summoning the courage to adapt and align. Drawing on her trailblazing 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. FlyGirl’s storytelling lights up people’s imaginations – showing them new ways to achieve more than they ever thought possible. — How to build trust: Get everyone to step up, engage, and collaborate — Get personal: Learn each person’s skills, talents & hidden passions — Ways to unleash your diversity to strengthen the bottom line — Disrupt traditional metrics of success (measure more than money)

Featured Projects

Session Feedback

"Vernice was a homerun!! She delivered a terrific presentation, high energy and engaging. The chat was blowing up during her presentation. She was really easy to work with, too!!”

"The level of passion and customization of your message targeting their specific challenges and leadership level, were a pleasant surprise for many.” — Senior Program Manager, Evanta

"Captain Armour’s audience was truly inspired by her courage and tenacity. She is exciting to be around and really represents a woman that young women can aspire to be. Our law students were empowered by Captain Armour. She is a dynamic presence." — Professor of Law and Producer, Massachusetts School of Law at Andover