Sara A. Joyner

Sara Annette Joyner is a United States Navy officer. She is notable for being the first female strike fighter pilot to command a Navy fighter squadron and a carrier air wing.[1] Her promotion to rear admiral (lower half) was authorized by the U.S. Senate on 25 May 2017.[2]

Sara A. Joyner
Birth nameSara Annette Applegarth
Nickname(s)Clutch
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1989–present
Rank Rear Admiral
Commands held

Early life and education

Sara Annette Applegarth was born on Hoopers Island in Maryland.[3] She is one of four children of Samuel Hubert Applegarth, Jr. (1929–1998) and Sara Jane (McClaran) Applegarth.[4] Her father Cmdr. Hubert Applegarth retired from active duty in the Navy in 1977, having graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1951.[4] The family property in the village of Honga on Upper Hoopers Island was purchased by Sara's great grandfather William Applegarth in 1891.[5]

Sara also attended the United States Naval Academy. She graduated with a B.S. in Oceanography[1] in 1989 and was commissioned as an ensign.[6] Sara then attended flight school and earned her naval aviator wings in July 1991.[1]

Career

Sara Joyner became a fighter pilot in 1996, flying an F/A-18 Hornet with VFA-147.[3] She assumed command of Strike Fighter Squadron 105 from Cmdr. Douglas C. Verissimo on 2 March 2007.[7] She turned over command to Cmdr. Thomas R. Tennant on 9 June 2008.[8]

Sara Joyner later became deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing Three, assuming full command from Capt. Michael S. Wallace on 4 January 2013.[3] The air wing embarked on a deployment aboard USS Harry S. Truman on 22 July 2013.[9] She commanded the air wing until relieved by Capt. George M. Wikoff on 22 December 2013.[9]

In June 2018, Joyner became Director for Manpower and Personnel, J1 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[10][11] In August 2019, she assumed command of Carrier Strike Group 2.[12] Joyner was succeeded by Rear Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman at the end of April 2020.[13] Joyner is now Chief of legislative affairs for the US Navy.[14]

Personal

Sara Joyner is married to James Mitchell Joyner IV, her Naval Academy classmate[6] and fellow naval aviator.[15] They have two children.[3][15] Her husband Cmdr. James Joyner retired from active duty in the Navy in 2014.

References
  1. "Talking with Capt. Sara A. "Clutch" Joyner". Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  2. "PN111-1 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. Hixenbaugh, Mike (5 January 2013). "First female commander of carrier air wing takes reins". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  4. "Obituaries". The Washington Post. 27 January 1998. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  5. Hedberg, Jacqueline Simmons (2016). Hoopers Island's Changing Face. Arcadia Publishing. p. 24.
  6. "PN151 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 1989. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  7. Comerford, Tim (30 March 2011). "Women change Navy roles through effort, dedication". The Flagship. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  8. Heimer, Cathy (12 June 2008). "Historic change of command for 'Gunslingers'". The Flagship. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  9. "CVW-3 Changes Command". U.S. Navy. 22 December 2013. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  10. "Flag Officer Assignment". U.S. Department of Defense. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  11. "Rear Adm. Sara Joyner". Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  12. Vazquez, Joseph C. (29 August 2019). "CSG-2 Conducts Change of Command". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  13. "Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 Changes Command". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  14. "Flag Officer Assignments JUNE 2, 2020". defense.gov. US Department of Defense. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020. Rear Adm. (lower half) Sara A. Joyner is currently serving as chief of legislative affairs, Washington, D.C. Joyner previously served as commander, Carrier Strike Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.
  15. Heimer, Cathy (28 January 2011). "Naval aviator's career includes many 'firsts' for women". The Flagship. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
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