Portrait Honoring Reserve Pioneer Unveiled at Women in Aviation Conference

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cierra Presentado
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Air Force Reserve Command’s Office of History and Heritage unveiled a portrait of retired Lt. Gen. Stayce Harris, an Air Force Reservist who most recently served as the inspector general of the Air Force, at the 2020 Women in Aviation Conference, March 6 in Orlando, Florida.

The portrait, created by Senior Master Sgt. Darby Perrin, a heritage and combat artist with the AFRC Office of History and Heritage, shows Harris standing in a flight jacket with flight crew checklists in hand with a KC-135R and C-141-B flying overhead. Harris piloted both aircraft.

“The flight jacket represented her flying career. I put an old-style checklist in her hand with an ‘Okie’ patch to signify when we flew together back in the day. She really liked that addition,” Perrin said. “And of course the aircraft signified her flying career. Much of her career was spent flying KC-135 Stratotankers and C-141 Starlifters.”

Harris was present at the unveiling as a special invited guest of the AFRC History and Heritage Office. Also in attendance were Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and Maj. Gen. John Flournoy, AFRC deputy commander.

A member of the historian’s office said it was the perfect time for this unveiling.

“During the research process, we had to brainstorm the most effective way to celebrate our Air Force Reserve heritage with a trailblazing pioneer in aviation to be honored at this conference.” said Master Sgt. Evan Stroumpis, AFRC Office of History and Heritage superintendent. “We wanted to present a piece that would inspire our Airmen and build esprit de corps Air Force wide. When we realized General Harris just retired and was familiar with one of our artists’ work, it was a no brainer. We knew we found the perfect subject.”

The team made the decision to highlight Harris, who had an extensive career as a pilot and leader in the Air Force Reserve. In addition to her aviation background, Harris is also the first African-American woman to soar to the rank of lieutenant general in the Air Force.

Perrin, a former boom operator at a wing Harris once commanded, shared how she came to know and like his work.

“General Harris was the vice commander at my wing when I was a boom operator. I did a lot of the art work around the squadron, and every time she would come through before her flights she would mention how much she liked my work,” he said. “I ended up flying with her a lot as the senior boom operator. She was a colonel at the time. She was a genuinely nice person. It was always a pleasure to fly with her. Long after she left, she continued to stay in touch and comment on my artwork on social media. I knew she would be a great choice for a portrait for this event.”

After selecting Harris, Perrin began working on creating a portrait. His main goal is to ensure others are able to recognize her.

“The painting doesn’t just have to look right to me and the team; it has to look right to people that know her,” he said. “When I would show the painting to people, they would immediately ask if it was General Harris. That’s the goal. That’s what I want to hear.”

Harris recently retired from the Air Force Reserve after 37 years of service.

She explained her feelings of excitement after getting the news she was chosen to be the subject for the portrait.

“I was initially surprised, incredibly humbled and blessed that the Air Force Reserve Command would want to do this for me and about me,” Harris said. “I was absolutely excited when I saw the portrait for the first time. This picture is really not a representation of Stayce Harris, it’s a representation of our Department of Defense and our Air Force. It shows the Air Force commitment and how much it values the contributions of 100% of those who serve regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or religious preference. That made me very proud – and also to be a representation to women and to people of color of what they could aspire to be because it is absolutely possible.”

The AFRC Office of History and Heritage plans to participate in future art presentations at Women in Aviation conferences.

“I am very happy with my painting. If the subject is happy then that makes me feel great,” Perrin said. “I look forward to presenting more portraits and representing the Air Force Reserve in the future.”