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Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot | Author | Business Consultant

Headshot Vernice FlyGirl Armour
Virtual: The New Conversation DEI and Social Justice
Acknowledge Obstacles—Don't Give Them Power
Who Needs a Runway?
Vernice
Headshot Vernice FlyGirl Armour
Virtual: The New Conversation DEI and Social Justice
Acknowledge Obstacles—Don't Give Them Power
Who Needs a Runway?

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour is a gutsy trailblazer, whose resume is an impressive collection of firsts — including being America’s first Black female combat pilot. Prior to that she worked as a police officer, served two tours of duty in Iraq as a marine, and acted as a diversity liaison officer between the Pentagon and Headquarters Marine Corps. Following her military service, Armour revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, business consultant, and author of Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter.

As a speaker, Armour unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations “get gutsy” and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals.

In 2007, Armour launched VAI Consulting & Training. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her “Zero to Breakthrough” success model — a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat. Armour regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a mentor for elite senior executive women in tech.

As a Black gay woman and single mom, Armour brings vital experience to her role as a member of the Forbes School of Business and Technology Board of Advisors and former member of the COMCAST/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council.

Armour was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame in 2025, has three honorary doctorates, and has received numerous awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Armour’s story has been featured in the media including on CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey and many more, along with being a running back for the San Diego Sunfire professional women’s football team and two-time title holder of Camp Pendleton’s Strongest Warrior Competition. She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

  • Own Your Leadership

    You’ve got people sitting on gold — but it’s buried under fear, permission-seeking, or “not yet.” And it’s costing you: innovation, opportunities, engagement, even customers. This isn’t a development issue; it’s an ownership issue.

    You already have the talent. You already have the resources. What you’re missing is activation. That’s exactly what Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour does. Armour brings real-world urgency, unshakable presence, and a message your people can’t un-hear. She cuts through performance posturing, dismantles limiting beliefs, and replaces “safe leadership” with self-led power. “Own Your Leadership” isn’t a motivational moment. It’s a leadership shift — one your people will feel, live, and act on long after the applause ends.

    You’re not just managing a business. You’re managing energy, culture, identity — and the silent cost of untapped leadership potential. Right now, you’re seeing:

    • Talented people staying quiet when it matters most.
    • Teams filled with brilliance but paralyzed by hesitation.
    • Leaders who have the seat but won’t take a stand.
    • Safe conversations that keep your culture stuck.

    “Own Your Leadership” is the keynote that ends the waiting game. Your people will walk away with:

    • A full-body permission slip to stop playing small — and start making noise where it matters. This isn’t mindset fluff. This is about walking into Monday morning ready to move differently.
    • The clarity to stop overthinking and the courage to speak up, especially in rooms that once made them shrink because hesitation is the real performance killer.
    • A leadership identity rooted in ownership, not obligation. They won’t wait to be picked. They’ll lead because they know they belong there.
    • The language and confidence to disrupt groupthink, challenge the status quo, and still be respected for it. This isn’t about being loud. It’s about being undeniable.
    • A new standard for what leadership looks like — from wherever they are, title or not. Because power isn’t granted. It’s claimed.

  • Permission to Lead Differently

    We’ve been trained to follow the rules. To earn our seats. To shrink our truth in the name of strategy. To lead in a way that makes other people comfortable — even when it costs us our voice. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour is here to burn that version of leadership down. It’s not about being louder. It’s about being undeniably aligned with who you are and how you show up in the rooms that matter.

    “Permission to Lead Differently” is an identity-level activation for people who are done checking boxes and ready to lead from power, truth, and presence. It challenges everything we’ve been taught about leadership and gives people the power to choose who they want to be as they lead.

    Your people will walk away with:

    • A sharp, immediate shift in how they see themselves as leaders.
    • Language that breaks the old patterns and reclaims authenticity.
    • Courage to speak truth in spaces that expect silence.
    • Tools to shift team culture by showing up fully and visibly.
    • A new internal standard for how to lead with clarity, not conformity.

  • One Mission. One Goal. One Team.

    In high-stakes environments success isn’t about waiting for the perfect plan. It’s about bold execution, fast decisions, and teams who are locked in and ready to move.

    This keynote is a high-octane call to action for teams (and their leaders) who are done playing it safe and are ready to operate at full throttle. With battlefield-tested strategies, unfiltered truth, and a shot of adrenaline, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour delivers the tools your people need to stop circling the mission and start crushing it.

    Fueled by her trademark energy, unexpected humor, and maverick mindset, Armour brings the heat from the stage and leaves no room for passive listening. She’ll challenge, charge up, and mobilize your people to align quickly, act with purpose, and engage like their impact depends on it — because it does.

    Your people will walk away with:

    • The “Cleared Hot” decision model: Act fast without flying blind.
    • A framework for making bold decisions with limited information.
    • The ability to flip pressure into purpose: Lead with clarity in high-stakes moments.
    • A “no runway needed” mindset: How to move with what you’ve got, right now.
    • Alignment around purpose to reduce friction and boost performance.
    • Permission to engage: Own your role, your power, and your voice.
    • A culture-changing shift from managing people to mobilizing them.

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More great information and resources.

Books

  • Zero to Breakthrough
    Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter

    Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour is a force to be reckoned with and believes that women and...

    → Read More

Client reviews

  • Senior Program Manager, Evanta (VIRTUAL EVENT)

    You are engaging, thoughtful, funny and genuine. Immediately following our virtual session focused on how to actively transform a company, culture and country; C-level executives were raving about how they felt engaged the entire time and felt like they walked away with specific actionable items. The level of passion and customization of your message targeting their specific challenges and leadership level, were a pleasant surprise for many.

  • EVP & Chief People Officer, Element Fleet Management (VIRTUAL EVENT)

    I can’t thank you enough for joining our Senior Leadership Forum and sharing your incredible energy with us! When I reflect on your messages — and there were so many great ones — what really stood out for me — especially given the past year — is ‘Acknowledge the obstacles — do not give them power.’ Pause, be curious and have the courage to overcome those obstacles, without letting them overtake you. It’s a clear, simple and relevant call to action as we continue to live in uncertain times. I was also impressed by your authenticity; despite being online, you created an experience that connected us all — and left us inspired and motivated.

  • Iron Mountain (VIRTUAL EVENT)

    You have been beyond an inspiration! You are so engaging, motivational, unique, and powerful. We all felt your energy through the screen.

  • Stanford Women in Business (VIRTUAL EVENT)

    Your energy and message started the event off on such a high note, and we are so grateful for that! The attendees felt so empowered and motivated after listening to your story—they definitely feel gutsy now!

  • Group Vice President, Evanta, a Gartner Company

    We have worked with many speakers over the years, and Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour is among the absolute best. She was more than efficient and capable, and truly exceeded our expectations, from the pre-event prep call, until she walked off the stage into an audience of freshly motivated and energized employees. She absorbed and addressed their challenges and concerns as if they were her own, and expertly incorporated an impressive command of our internal language, culture, and objectives. All while infusing bits of humor and contagious energy. She’s on top of her game and industry trends and understands our current corporate climate as it parallels with leadership strategies. Her step-by-step breakthrough mentality model is relatable, and what is more, executable. And we’re off to the races getting gutsy because of her. She gave my team permission to engage, and I’m excited and braced for a no limits 2018.

  • Managing Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Americas, UBS Investment Bank

    The audience was absorbed by your stories of grit, determination and your lessons learned; you clearly connected with every individual as I could see how engaged people were…thank you for demonstrating that we can make dreams happen and seize the joy that awaits us in this life adventure.

  • Director, Education & Program Development, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT)

    It was a pleasure working with you on this event. Your professionalism and desire to deliver an outstanding presentation made a tremendous difference in the overall quality of our event. I would highly recommend you as a speaker for other organizations, particularly those who want to provide a ‘real life’ example of leadership in action.

  • Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs

    As the first African American female combat pilot in U.S. history, I am certain your journey has not been an easy one. I am also certain that your presentation will influence VA employees because it speaks to a commitment to succeed. Your focus, your passion, your purpose, and your positive attitude are the necessary tools to handle obstacles and help you overcome any barriers. Your message will inspire all to do his or her personal best.

  • Sr. Vice President & General Manager, Center for Advance Aviation System Development (CAASD)

    Your comments and insights were integral in making the training program kickoff beneficial to all participants. Members of the training committee received many complimentary comments about the Kickoff. In particular, a few of the comments received are:

    • ‘Vernice was so inspiring and enthusiastic. She is awesome. She made us all want to follow our passion and break out of our box!’
    • ‘Vernice was absolutely wonderful! I would highly recommend people to listen to her. You can feel the passion!’

    Again, thank you for being a part of the CAASD Support Staff Training Program Kickoff and making it an enjoyable day for the participants.

  • National President, Federally Employed Women (FEW)

    Your encouragement and enthusiasm regarding leadership really has motivated the attendees and FEW to truly EXCEL. Although, your personal achievements and the powerful woman you are, are inspirational in its own right.

  • Professor of Law and Producer, Massachusetts School of Law at Andover

    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.

  • Director, United States Secret Service

    Your program on ‘EXCELeratedPassion’ was engaging, humorous and energetic and challenged us all to strive for success.

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