Merryl Tengesdal (born 1971)[1] is an American retired career military officer who is the first and only Black woman[2][3] to fly the United States Air Force's U-2 spy plane used for specialized high-altitude reconnaissance missions.

[5] Tengesdal is a military veteran, aviator, and commander who served in both the US Navy and the US Air Force.

Born Merryl David in The Bronx, New York,[2] she attended local schools and developed an early interest in flying and the space program.

She graduated from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, one of three women to complete the program.

[2] While stationed at Beale AFB the first time, she held the positions of 9th Reconnaissance Wing (9th RW) Chief of Flight Safety and 9th Physiological Support Squadron Director of Operations.

During these years, Tengesdal received advanced training and graduate education through Air Force and private university sources.

In 2005, she took classes at the Air Command and Staff College, Non-Resident Program, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.