Capt. Anthony Holder

Captain Anthony “Tony” Holder is a Howard University alumnus and aviation pioneer, whose career spans more than a 50-year legacy of military and commercial flight leadership. In fall 1967, a determined 17-year-old from the Bronx arrived at Howard with no STEM background or aviation experience. Initially accepted on substitute status as an English major, Holder’s path shifted when he followed his roommate, an engineering scholarship student and enrolled in the same courses with the exception of Air Force ROTC. In June 1971, he graduated with a degree in civil engineering and a commission in the U.S. Air Force and a coveted selection for pilot training. Prior to reporting for pilot training, Captain Holder attended the University of Pittsburgh enrolled in the MBA program on scholarship. In Fall 1972, Captain Holder reported to Reese Air Force Base for pilot training as the only person of color in his class of sixty. Despite being the only officer with no aviation background, he completed the demanding program, earned his wings as a jet pilot in Fall 1973, flying the B-52 bomber with eight jet engines and four nuclear weapons at the age of twenty-three. While stationed in California, he earned a Master of Science in Systems Management Engineering from the University of Southern California with the intent of becoming an astronaut. But at 6’4” he found out that he was too tall to be accepted as an astronaut so he changed his career goals to become an airline pilot. In 1979, Tony joined FedEx as the company’s fourth African American pilot. Over a distinguished 35-year career with FedEx, he captained the Boeing 727, DC-10, MD-11, and Boeing 777 jumbo jets, accumulating over 22,000 flight hours and 3,000 landings.

His involvement in community service began upon graduation from USAF Pilot training in 1973. Captain Holder has frequently been called especially to elementary, high school and colleges to come and speak as a role model/mentor. Captain Holder on several occasions have been requested to the campuses of several HBCUs, i.e. Howard, North Carolina Central University, Morehouse and Florida Memorial University to speak to the students about his career and encourage advancement in aerospace and STEM. Captain Holder has served on the Aviation Curriculum Advisory Board at the HBCU Florida Memorial University in Miami, Florida for two years and actively participated in a two-day STEM program on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) working with students and neighborhood youth in building and flying drones. Captain Holder has consistently promoted the aspirations of young aviators to get them employed by writing letters of referral and mentorship for their career. The National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC has requested him to conduct aviation and STEM career program on the main floor of the museum for visitors of all ages.

Upon retirement Captain Holder has voluntarily served as Director of the Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airman Aviation and STEM (TAAST) Program. This program available to ages 14-18, exposed the youth during the summer to career fields in aviation and STEM in a fully immersive all-day program. The highlight of the program was the “first flight” for many of the kids as they had the opportunity to be at the controls of an airplane in flight with certified flight instructors. As part of his service commitment to the community, in order to expose and instruct youth about drones in disadvantaged areas, Captain Holder paid for and studied volumes of difficult material to get an FAA license in record time in 2019. With a score of 99% his certification led to the ability to properly expose those youth that did not necessarily want to fly an airplane but still have a career choice involving aerospace. Captain Holder also volunteers to go to predominately inner-city schools to award high school ROTC students with certificates and medals of achievement from an organization that he is a member. The Daedalians is an organization comprised of former military pilots since WWI that promotes aviation and the legacy associated with their achievements.

Since graduation from Howard, Captain Holder has supported his alma mater with both time and money. He has given to both the university general fund and directly to the School of Engineering. As a member of the Howard Alumni Association, he has returned to the university on several occasions and talked in ROTC classes encouraging students in aviation and STEM as a career field. His financial support of the HU Swim Team has helped the team to reach two Division One Championships in the North East Conference (NEC), 2023 again in 2025 marking their second title in three years. Howard is the only HBCU with a Division One swim program. In fall of 2017, Captain Holder was prominently involved with the renovation and refurbishment of a prominent edifice on the main campus quadrangle—The Sundial or simply known as “The Dial.” This landmark has been on the main campus since 1929 given to the university by members of Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Along with his financial support, Captain Holder did the mathematics based on the calculations of scientist Benjamin Banneker and the National Sundial Society to correctly install the gnomon atop the edifice so that the correct time is permanently displayed and the sundial registered as an historical landmark in Washington, D.C.

In 2023, he received the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award honoring 50 years of safe, professional accident-free flying. This award is the most prestigious and highest honor the administration issues to pilots. Amongst his honors and awards are: Past President of Delta Boule (Memphis, Tennessee), 2011-2013; HU Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee, 2018; Howard University Golden Bison Award, 2014; Cobb County SCLC and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity: Unsung Heroes, 2019; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Lifetime Member and 55-year Awardee, 2025.

• Graduated Howard in civil engineering and earned his Air Force wings. Arriving in 1967 at 17 as an English major on substitute status, he graduated in June 1971 with a commission and a pilot-training slot. At Reese Air Force Base he was the only person of color in a class of sixty, earned his wings in Fall 1973, and flew the B-52 at twenty-three.
• Became FedEx’s fourth African American pilot. After a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, he joined FedEx in 1979 and spent 35 years captaining the Boeing 727, DC-10, MD-11, and Boeing 777, with over 22,000 flight hours and 3,000 landings.
• Received the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. In 2023 the FAA honored 50 years of safe, professional, accident-free flying, its highest honor for pilots.
• Directs the Atlanta Tuskegee Airmen Aviation and STEM program. He leads TAAST for ages 14–18, earned an FAA drone license in 2019 with a score of 99%, and speaks at HBCUs, the National Air and Space Museum, and inner-city ROTC programs through the Daedalians.
• Supports Howard with time, gifts, and the campus sundial. His support of the swim team coincided with NEC titles in 2023 and 2025. In 2017 he helped restore “The Dial,” using Benjamin Banneker’s calculations to set the gnomon. Honors include the HU Athletic Hall of Fame (2018), the Golden Bison Award (2014), and 55-year Omega Psi Phi membership (2025).