The Long Blue Line (Winter 2021)

U.S. Coast Guard Photo
LCDR
La’Shanda Holmes
La’Shanda Holmes is no stranger to prevailing
against adversity. After growing up in the foster care
system, she put herself through college, became
a pilot, and amassed over 1,600 flight hours
conducting search and rescue, counter-drug, law
enforcement, and Presidential intercept missions.
In 2015, she was appointed by President Barack
Obama to be a White House Fellow.
After two years, at Spellman College, Holmes enlisted
through one of the Coast Guard’s many scholarship
programs. La’Shanda finished basic training and
later graduated with her bachelor’s degree. She then
travelled to places like Alaska and Japan, meeting
inspiring people everywhere she went.
During this time, La’Shanda took her first helicopter
ride in Clearwater, FL. In the cabin of that MH-60
Jayhawk, she realized what she wanted to do next.
Holmes knew going into flight school that there had
never been an African American female helicopter
pilot in Coast Guard history. But uncharted territory
never intimidated her before so she completed flight
school and made the record books. LCDR Holmes
has since led countless rescue missions and served
her community through her passion for aviation.
To learn more about the stories to be told in the National Coast Guard Museum, visit
coastguardmuseum.org/insideexhibits
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