Louis Freeman is a commercial airline pilot

Aviator

An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...

. In 1980 Freeman became Southwest Airlines'

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...

 first black

African American

African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 pilot, and, in 1992 he became the first black chief pilot

Pilot in command

The pilot in command of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the "captain" in a typical two- or three-pilot flight crew, or "pilot" if there is only one certified and qualified pilot at the controls of...

 of a major United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 airline

Airline

An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...

.

Education

Freeman attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas. In 1967 Freeman and his brother, along with 8 others, were the first African American students to integrate the school. They were also the first African American assistant drum majors for the Wilson High School. Freeman became the first African American cadet corps commander at the school's ROTC, prior to graduating in 1970.

Thereafter, he enrolled at the East Texas State University. Here, once again, he was the first African American ROTC cadet corps commander. Freeman first attempted the Air Force Officers' Qualifying Test

Air Force Officer Training School

Officer Training School is a United States Air Force commissioning program held at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It is the Officer Candidate School for the U.S. Air Force, analogous to the OCSes operated by the other branches of the U.S. Military. It is a part of Jeanne M...

 (AFOQT) in his Freshman year at East Texas. Though he failed the pilot aptitude section of the test, he passed the AFOQT in his subsequent attempt, the following year. In 1974, he graduated with a bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 in sociology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

 and psychology

Psychology

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...

.

Air Force Career

Freeman was the first African American trainee to attend the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

 Undergraduate Pilot Training

Air Education and Training Command

Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....

 program at Reese Air Force Base

Reese Air Force Base

Reese Air Force Base was a base of the United States Air Force located 6 mi west of Lubbock, Texas, about 225 mi WNW of Fort Worth...

 outside of Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...

. After completing his training, Freeman was assigned to the 454th Flying Training Squadron

454th Flying Training Squadron

The 454th Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 323d Flying Training Wing, stationed at Mather Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 October 1993.-History:...

 at Mather Air Force Base

Mather Air Force Base

Mather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....

 in California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. While at the 454th he flew the T-43's, and was one of the first Lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

s to become a flight instructor

Flight instructor

A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...

 and supervisor of flying. He remained at the Mather Air Force Base until 1980, before resigning his commission and moving to Commercial Aviation

Commercial aviation

Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...

.