LOS ANGELES – Lt. j.g. Lashanda Holmes stands in front of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter at Air Station Los Angeles. Holmes, from Fayetteville, N.C., is the first female African-American helicopter pilot in the Coast Guard. “It never crossed my mind to go aviation,” said Holmes, “but after meeting Lt. Jeanine Menze (the first female African-American Coast Guard pilot) I knew I had to be a part of the aviation community.” U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Eggers
