Colonel Gail Benjamin Colvin, USAF (Ret)

Colonel Gail Benjamin Colvin was among the first 157 women allowed to join the military and be admitted to the Air Force Academy’s cadet wing. As a black woman, she was a trailblazer for women and minorities both in and out of the military. 

Gail Benjamin arrived at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976 as a recent graduate of Vassar. Through a journey of trials and acceptance, her 30-plus year Air Force career led her to four critical firsts in the military breaking barriers for other women. As an officer, she commanded the 5th Mission Support Squadron, the 5th Services Squadron, and the 49th Mission Support Group. As she rose to the rank of Colonel, she has also held several positions at the Joint Staff, the United States Air Force Headquarters, and other major commands. 

She served as Chief of Joint Doctrine for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this position, she was head of the U.S. delegation to NATO’s subcommittee of Allied Joint doctrine and chaired NATO’s Joint Warfighting Interoperability subcommittee.

Gail’s services go beyond the military where she is the recipient of New York’s 2007 USO Military Leadership Award, the Academy’s 2008 Roy Wilkins NAACP Award and 2021 Air Force Academy Distinguished Graduate  Award. She was also the Lead Director in 2018 for the $23M Department of Defense Warrior Games showcasing USAFA as host site in a special partnership between Department of Defense, Air Force, USAFA and the City of Colorado Springs.

Gail is also a member of the El Pomar Foundation’s Pikes Peak Regional Council where she has helped to identify assistance for veterans and early childhood and post-secondary education across the Pikes Peak region.

Mrs. Colvin has made significant contributions to the nation and the community by leading the nation’s largest college peer mentor program and creating a nationally hailed sexual assault response program. She has also served on the advisory board for the American Council of Education and was key to implementing the Academy’s Strategic Diversity Plan. She continues to serve as a senior mentor to the Diversity office where she ensures diversity, equity and inclusion for every cadet at the Academy.

Gail’s story also serves as an inspiration for other American citizens and women in a display at the National Museum of African American and History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

During both her military and civilian careers, Gail has pushed through tough barriers to reach seemingly insurmountable goals. She endured mistreatment, disrespect, and disparagement. She persevered and shattered the obstacles in her way to become a highly respected, awarded and stand-out Air Force officer, senior executive director and outstanding community leader for Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado.