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Combat pilot & leadership strategist

Vernice Armour

Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour helps organizations build resilience, embrace diversity, and create high-performing cultures. A motivational speaker and America's first Black female combat pilot, she flew two tours in Iraq as a US Marine and wrote Zero to Breakthrough.

Trusted by Evanta

Vernice Armour
Vernice Armour

Vernice Armour

Atlanta, United States

Typical fee range

$51k–75k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Vernice Armour

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Atlanta, United States

Starting from

$51k–75k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Vernice Armour's biography

At a glance

  • America's first black female combat pilot
  • Served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine
  • Author of Zero to Breakthrough and founder of VAI Consulting

Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour is an exceptional trailblazer with an impressive track record. She is America's first black female combat pilot and has proudly served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine.


In addition to her military achievements, she has worked as a Diversity Liaison Officer at the Pentagon for Marine Corps Headquarters.


As a highly sought-after speaker, FlyGirl empowers individuals and organisations to cultivate inner strength and reach their goals.


She has authored the book Zero to Breakthrough, which outlines a 7-step method for accomplishing meaningful objectives.


Furthermore, FlyGirl is the visionary behind VAI Consulting & Training, LLC, where she guides individuals and organisations in making bold moves and attaining breakthrough results.


FlyGirl is a regular speaker at prestigious events and conferences worldwide, and she is honoured to serve as a mentor for senior executive women in the tech industry.


Her remarkable story has been featured in various media outlets, and she is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move.


During her speeches, FlyGirl covers many topics, including leadership, teamwork, resilience, diversity, and creating high-performing cultures.


She inspires her audiences, empowering them to overcome obstacles, embrace change, and unlock their full potential.

Topics, sessions and talks

Get Gutsy: Harness A Breakthrough Mindset

How you react to personal and professional obstacles, adversity, and disappointment is a choice. It also determines your future. Black, female, gay, and a child of divorce, Vernice “flygirl” Armour learned this early in her pioneering journey from motorcycle cop to the Marines to becoming America’s first Black female combat pilot. FlyGirl’s energy rocks the house as she recounts for audiences her challenges, adventures, and ultimate triumph. Her authenticity, enthusiasm, and positivity inspire people to Get Gutsy and finally reimagine what’s possible. — 7-step process to shatter limiting beliefs and unleash breakthroughs — Replace a self-defeating “Zero Mentality” with a winning “Breakthrough Mentality” — How to avoid burnout and keep moving forward — Delay is not Denial, and to Retreat does not mean Defeat

One Mission – One Goal – One Team

Gutsy Leaders create Gutsy Teams that make Gutsy Moves. They’re proactive – not reactive; and create the future by summoning the courage to adapt and align. Drawing on her trailblazing career as a U.S. Marine combat helicopter pilot, Vernice “flygirl” Armour unloads valuable lessons learned under the most stressful of circumstances – about leadership, teamwork, resilience, communication, execution, and building a culture of unshakable trust. FlyGirl’s storytelling lights up people’s imaginations – showing them new ways to achieve more than they ever thought possible. — How to build trust: Get everyone to step up, engage, and collaborate — Get personal: Learn each person’s skills, talents & hidden passions — Ways to unleash your diversity to strengthen the bottom line — Disrupt traditional metrics of success (measure more than money)

Who Needs A Runway? Take Off From Where You Are

Helicopter pilots spring into action from where they are. They don’t need a runway. It’s their edge in battle. Marine chopper pilot Vernice “flygirl” Armour believes this metaphor is perfect for uncertain times where speed and agility are survival skills. FlyGirl fires up audiences with her energy and storytelling – relating hard-learned lessons with tactics for quickly adapting to the forces of change. This presentation is perfect for audiences navigating uncertainty or looking to accomplish audacious goals. FlyGirl will spark their courage and enthusiasm. — Recognize and take decisive action to capitalize on defining moments — No situation is ever perfect – gain momentum from where you are — The three-step plan: Decide, Commit, and Execute…at speed — Recognize and harness the talents of everyone around you

Creating An Equitable Culture: Embracing Diversity And Productive Conversations

It’s time! This Is about coming together – working to create an equitable culture for employees, stakeholders, and customers. A place where ALL can feel like they belong and are part of the team. It starts by establishing rules of engagement for civil, productive conversations that find solutions – not fault. Vernice “flygirl” Armour was a diversity officer for U.S. Marine Corps HQ; its liaison to the Pentagon. As a gay Black woman she brought valuable personal experience to her work. She learned: When you bring people together, their differences can result in tension…this IS NORMAL! How you MANAGE that diversity is the key! — Create a culture that values and respects all team members — Why it’s time to turn THE Conversation into a NEW Conversation — Ways to face uncomfortable issues without playing ostrich — How to prevent a counter-productive herd mentality

Why we recommend booking Vernice

Vernice offers your team inspiration from a trailblazer in resilience and leadership. Her proven 7-step method and real-world experience in overcoming obstacles will empower your organization to embrace change, foster diversity, and achieve breakthrough results, unlocking the full potential of every member.

Testimonials

Vernice was a homerun!! She delivered a terrific presentation, high energy and engaging. The chat was blowing up during her presentation. She was really easy to work with, too!!

The level of passion and customization of your message targeting their specific challenges and leadership level, were a pleasant surprise for many.

Senior Program Manager, Evanta

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.

Professor of Law & Producer, Massachusetts School of Law at Andover

Featured Projects

Vernice Armour - Zero To Breakthrough book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Vernice Armour for my next event?

To book Vernice Armour, email vernice.armour@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Vernice's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.

What is Vernice Armour's speaking style like?

Vernice Armour draws on her career as a US Marine combat helicopter pilot to deliver first-person storytelling, framing personal and professional challenges through direct parallels to combat scenarios. She structures her presentations around a 7-step framework from her book Zero to Breakthrough, guiding audiences from a self-defeating “Zero Mentality” to a “Breakthrough Mentality” with a three-step action model: Decide, Commit, and Execute.

What topics does Vernice Armour specialise in?

Vernice 'FlyGirl' Armour speaks on breakthrough mindset, leadership and team cohesion, and adapting to change and uncertainty. She is America's first Black female combat pilot, having served two tours of duty in Iraq as a US Marine.

Does PepTalk charge a booking fee?

No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.

What happens after I send a brief?

Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.

What does the typical fee range mean?

The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.

Have all the speakers on the website worked with PepTalk before?

Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.

How far in advance should I book a speaker?

Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.