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Los Angeles Chapter,
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, INC.
Coming Soon
Board Member Profiles
Sheila Chamberlain, J.D.
Sheila Chamberlain
On December 18, 2020, the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen (TA), Incorporated elected Dr. Sheila L. Chamberlain, President; its First Woman Pilot and TA Heritage Member. “We are excited that Dr. Chamberlain is our new President because of her leadership qualifications and commitment to the TA Legacy. She brings the experience and knowledge needed to increase the chapter membership and has made it her mission to get the Tuskegee Airmen story in California elementary, secondary schools and higher learning textbooks.“ said Joycelin Tomlin, Immediate Past President of Los Angeles Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (LACTAI).
Dr. Sheila L. Chamberlain is the First U.S. Army African American Woman Combat Intelligence Aviator/ Pilot, Past President of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) South Florida Chapter, a Charter Member and one of the Senior Advisors to Sisters’s of the Skies, Inc. (SOS) and currently the Official National Chair of Bessie Coleman’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1921-2021).
She is a graduate of Fort Knox High School, in Kentucky, Magna cum Laude graduate from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA with postgraduate Public Administration studies at the University of Oklahoma, and earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Miami School of Law in Miami, Florida to name a few.
Chamberlain serviced in the United States (US) Regular Army and in the US Army Reserves, serving the majority of her career overseas in Central and South America and the Caribbean, Asia to include Four Hardship Tours in Korea and is a Persian Gulf War Veteran. “Such a lonely road of back-to-back hard duty stations, but I’m still standing.” She said. “Just so honored by the vote of confidence given to me, humbled t serve and grateful to be following in the footsteps of another one of my favorite mentor Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen ( DOTA) Roger “Bill” Terry, to lead this historic chapter at such a time as this in our Nation’s History” said Chamberlain.
Chamberlain made history again in 1998, as The First Woman Pilot to be elected at the National Level of the Tuskegee Airmen (TA) Incorporated as National Parliamentarian. Further, she is also a National Aviation Pioneer and Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Hall of Famer and in several National Museums.
She grew up a Military Brat in West Germany. Her father was a US Army Combat Engineer, and her mother was a Nurse and Entrepreneur. Mentored by Pioneer Aviatrix, Willa Brown Chappell, Chamberlain paid close attention to the TA comportment, their character, and their contributions and service to America, civil rights, all of which makes her an asset to this chapter the Los Angeles community and the State of California!” said Tomlin. Her other mentors include: Chamberlain’s cousin, LT. Col (USAF) Luke Weathers Jr. also a Distinguished (Documented) Original Tuskegee Airman (DOTA; Dr. Nancy Leftenant- Colon (DOTA), The Honorable Judge Earl E. Strayhorn (DOTA), Thomas Allen, Aviation Pioneer, and many more.
For over 38 years Chamberlain has been a member of various Aviation and Aerospace Organizations where she continues to mentor young people who desire careers in aviation and the aerospace industry. She is the recipient of numerous military, national, state and local municipalities and community awards/recognition! Her name appears in the United States Congressional Records twice.
Sunnye Simpson
Lynda “Sunnye” Simpson
Member of Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. since 1994
LACTAI Chapter Secretary 1994 – 2001
Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Fund Board of Governors 1995 - 2001
National Executive Recording Secretary, TAI 2002 – 2006
Editor and Publisher of !TFAM 2008 – Present
LACTAI 1st Vice President 2025 - Current
Monica Isabell
Monica Isabell
Joycelin Tomlin
Monica Isabell began her specialization in the field of Senior Services in 1995 when she partnered up with a Alliance For Mature Americans, a company that specialized in setting up Revocable Living Trusts and Estate Plans for Senior Americans. Besides from being a Real Estate Consultant for Keller Williams Realty, she is also a Certified Living Trust Consultant and Estate Planner. Monica is the Co-Founder and Project Director for Positive Aging and Wellness Network, a program that is designed to increase Civic engagement and Community Resources among Mature Adults and Elders that can enhance their lives with a vibrant Life Force of passion-driven activity and Life Long Learning Programming.
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Monica is a resident of Los Angeles, California and is very active in the community and in her work place. Monica joined the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc in 2012 after being invited to attend their General meeting by a long term member ( Bobbee Zeno) and she is also an active Board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated. Since joining the organization, she has become a very active member in sharing and educating others about the Tuskegee Airmen. Currently she sits on the Board of Directors. She is the Phone Tree Director and she works directly with the Membership Chairperson.
Monica is also the Chief Operating Officer for the West Athens / Westmont Community Task Force as well as a volunteer for the South Los Angeles Sheriffs Clergy Council; She sits on the board of the Zoe Christian Fellowship Endowment Committee, in which her plan for providing long-term care services for our seniors was adopted and embraced.
Monica has been providing consultation services for over 20 years in the areas of Real Estate, Estate Planning, Retirement and Long-term Care Planning; She hosts workshops and seminars at Senior Centers, churches, businesses and in the homes of her clients. She has made it her mission to provide education and information that is both vital and essential for Positive Aging and Progressive Wellness in all areas of life.
Monica utilizes her consulting and planning skills in implementing and developing new programs and to assist in bringing needed services and resources to those individuals, families and businesses that are in need. Monica’s passion is to help our community in any way that she can.
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Joycelin Tomlin
As a Los Angeles native, Joycelin Tomlin joined the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. in 1993—after the passing of her uncle, DOTA LT Colonel John L Whitehead (Mr Death), of the 332nd fighter wing, 100th Fighter Squadron. She has served in various offices, providing leadership on both national and local levels of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) organization. She has provided leadership as
TAI - Western Regional President, TAI - National Election Inspector, and as
National Elections Inspector. She has served on Chapter Scholarship Selection Committee, Nominating Committee, National Website Committee, and National Scholarship Board of Governors. Other areas of contribution include Newsletter Editor and Chapter Historian.
Mrs. Tomlin is a past President of the Los Angeles Chapter, and a currently board member. It is her mission to provide support and leadership carrying on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Robert Higginbotham
Robert M. Higginbotham II
Robert M. Higginbotham II is a grateful man, proud of his academic and professional accomplishments: a graduate of Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a graduate of Howard University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree; appreciative of twenty-three years of business, financial and managerial experience in the public and private sector serving state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and major corporations; pleased with his work advising and directing clients, private corporations and associations on financing, proposal & grant writing, solicitations and procuring state and federal contracts; and deep pleasure having served as Executive Director of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. between 2004 and 2005, as Chief Administrative Officer his responsibilities included the day-to-day operations of the national office, supervision of staff, administrative management and support for 48 Chapters throughout the United States. Robert coordinated all fundraising activities for Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. He was responsible for planning and supporting all national board meetings and executive committee meetings.
Proud of his parents and extended family, Robert remembers the contributions made during WW II by his father, Robert Higginbotham, M.D., DOTA, and his uncle Mitchell Higginbotham, DOTA, both LATAI stakeholder members. Sharing Tuskegee Airmen history and their good works is both fulfilling and rewarding.
Franklin Henderson
Larry McElroy
Col. (USA Retired) Franklin Henderson
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"While in the army I performed investigative and administrative tasks and command of a unit. As an engineer, I was part of several technical teams engaged in the design, testing, and evaluation of many airborne radar systems and air-to-air guided missiles.
As a military veteran, I am very familiar with the history and achievements of
the Tuskegee Airmen. In 1988, I was chairman of a reunion of Buffalo Soldiers held in Los Angeles. I visited the local chapter of TAI and requested their participation in the reunion. My request was accepted, and I was invited to join the chapter. One member, Edward Gleed, had served in the 10 th US Cavalry. He provided several items of memorabilia for display and ten members of the chapter participated in the closing banquet.
The ranks of Tuskegee airmen are getting thin. It is imperative that the
younger generation keep alive their sterling reputation. This can be achieved by joining local chapters and studying their history.
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I am a military veteran who achieved the rank of a colonel. I am also a member of four veterans organization. In one of the veterans organization (9th and 10th
(Horse) Cavalry Association), I was the National President for six consecutive years. Under my watch, twelve chapters were chartered in twelve different locations, and national membership increased from 100 members to 1000 members. I have demonstrated leadership and administrative skills in veterans organizations and in the aerospace industry. One example is being chairman of six reunions of veterans held in locations from California to New York."
Larry McElroy
Larry McElroy is a Tuskegee Airmen heritage member and son of Clenan C. McElroy who received his wings as a member of the 477th Bombardment Group. Larry joined the Los Angeles Chapter in 2024 and was elected to the board of directors in 2025.
He has over thirty years of experience in technology commercialization and innovation enterprise management. He is a cofounder of Performigence Corporation which develops intelligent systems, conducts advanced computing collaborative research with major universities and provides information technology and operations consulting services to business and government customers. Before cofounding Performigence, Larry held various management positions with technology companies and consulting firms providing services to technology ventures.
Larry received an MBA and an M.S. degree in industrial and systems engineering from Stanford University. He received his B.S. degree in engineering from America’s oldest technological university, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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