- Adams Earley, Charity EdnaFirst Black woman commissioned as an officer in the Women's Army Corps; commanded the only Black women's unit to serve overseas in World War II1918-2002
- Anderson, C. Alfred 'Chief'Founded and directed the Civilian Pilot Training Program that produced the Tuskegee Airmen1907-1996
- Archer, LeeFighter combat operations; flying ace credentials1919-2010
- Augusta, Alexander T.First African-American physician commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army1825-1890
- Baker, Vernon JosephReceived the Medal of Honor in 1997 for valor at Castle Aghinolfi, Italy, in April 1945 — one of seven Black WWII veterans whose Distinguished Service Crosses were upgraded after a 1990s Army-commissioned study found systemic racial discrimination had denied Black soldiers fair consideration for the medal during the war1919-2010
- Bowen, Clotilde DentFirst Black physician to hold a U.S. military commission; first woman to command a U.S. military hospital1923-2011
- Brown, Roscoe C. Jr.Fighter escort combat missions; downed a German jet aircraft1922-2016
- Bullard, Eugene JacquesThe first African American military pilot to fly in combat, flying for France's Aéronautique Militaire and Lafayette Flying Corps during World War I after the U.S. military refused to accept Black pilots1895-1961
- Carney, William HarveyBecame, for an 1863 act of valor, the first African American whose military service merited the Medal of Honor — though due to a 37-year delay in his award, he was not literally the first Black recipient to receive the medal1840-1908
- Carter, Edward Allen Jr.Received the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1997 for extraordinary heroism near Speyer, Germany, in March 1945 — one of seven Black WWII veterans honored after a 1990s Army-commissioned study confirmed systemic racial discrimination had denied Black soldiers fair consideration for the medal1916-1963
- Dailey, Phyllis MaeFirst African-American woman commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer1919-1976
- Dammond, William HunterColor-coded railway signal system indicating track conditions1873-1956
- Davis, Benjamin O. Jr.Commanded the Tuskegee Airmen's 99th Pursuit Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group1912-2002
- Davis, Benjamin O. Sr.Became, in 1940, the first African American to be promoted to general officer in any branch of the U.S. military, after 42 years of service that began as an enlisted private1877-1970
- Flipper, Henry OssianBecame, in 1877, the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Army's first Black commissioned officer1856-1940
- Fox, John RobertReceived the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1997 for deliberately calling artillery fire onto his own position to repel a German attack near Sommocolonia, Italy, in December 1944 — one of seven Black WWII veterans honored after a 1990s Army study confirmed racial discrimination had denied Black soldiers fair Medal of Honor consideration1915-1944
- Greenaugh, KevinNuclear weapons stockpile stewardship and nonproliferation research1956-2023
- Hall, CynthiaNuclear research, Manhattan Project (Argonne National Laboratory)1922/23-unknown
- Harris, Marcelite JordanBecame, in 1990, the first African American woman to be promoted to general officer in the U.S. Air Force, and in 1995 the first to reach the two-star rank of major general, retiring as the highest-ranking woman in the Air Force and highest-ranking Black woman in the Department of Defense1943-2018
- James, Daniel 'Chappie' Jr.Combat aviation leadership across three wars1920-1978
- James, Willy Frederick Jr.Received the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1997 for scouting under fire and dying while going to the aid of his wounded platoon leader near Lippoldsberg, Germany, in April 1945 — one of seven Black WWII veterans honored after a 1990s Army study confirmed racial discrimination had denied Black soldiers fair Medal of Honor consideration1920-1945
- Jefferson, William ThomasThe first African American dentist to provide dental care to U.S. Army soldiers -- treating Black regiments in Cuba during the Spanish-American War (1898-99) as a line officer of the 8th Illinois Infantry; recognized as an early pioneer of Army dentistry, though the first commissioned Black Army dental officer is undetermined1864-1925
- Johnson, HenryFought off a German raiding party of some two dozen soldiers in hand-to-hand combat while defending his post in the Argonne Forest in May 1918, earning France's Croix de Guerre and, 97 years later, a posthumous Medal of Honor1892-1929
- Johnson-Brown, Hazel W.First African-American chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps1927-2011
- Leftenant-Colon, NancyFirst African-American admitted to the Regular Army Nurse Corps1920-2025
- McGee, CharlesCombat fighter pilot across three wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam)1919-2022
- Miller, Doris 'Dorie'First African American to receive the Navy Cross, the Navy's third-highest decoration for valor1919-1943
- Quarterman, Lloyd AlbertFluoride chemistry research, Manhattan Project1918-1982
- Rivers, RubenReceived the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1997 for repeatedly refusing evacuation after a severe wound to continue leading his tank platoon in combat near Guebling, France, in November 1944 — one of seven Black WWII veterans honored after a 1990s Army study confirmed racial discrimination had denied Black soldiers fair Medal of Honor consideration1918-1944
- Robinson, James H.Lifesaving net device for rescuing people from the path of speeding locomotivesunknown
- Robinson, Roscoe Jr.Became, in 1982, the first African American promoted to four-star general in the U.S. Army — only the second Black officer of any U.S. military branch to reach that rank, after Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. in the Air Force, already profiled in this collection1928-1993
- Smalls, RobertCommandeered the Confederate steamship CSS Planter in Charleston Harbor in May 1862, freeing himself, his family, and twelve other enslaved people and delivering the ship to the Union Navy, becoming the first African American captain of a U.S. military vessel1839-1915
- Spikes, Richard B.Automatic safety brake system for vehicles; multiple automotive safety devices1878-1963
- Stowers, FreddieBecame the only African American awarded the Medal of Honor for World War I service, posthumously recognized in 1991 — 73 years after his death — for leading his depleted squad in a successful assault after German troops feigned surrender and ambushed his company1896-1918
- Taylor, Susie KingBecame the first African American Army nurse in U.S. history, serving four years unpaid with the 1st South Carolina/33rd U.S. Colored Troops, and the only Black woman to publish a Civil War memoir1848-1912
- Thomas, Charles LeroyReceived the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1997 for volunteering to ride in the lead vehicle of an assault on Climbach, France, in December 1944, drawing enemy fire onto himself and directing his platoon's counterattack despite severe wounds — one of seven Black WWII veterans honored after a 1990s Army study confirmed racial discrimination had denied Black soldiers fair Medal of Honor consideration1920-1980
- Tubman, HarrietServed the Union Army as a nurse, scout, and spy, then became the first woman in U.S. history to plan and lead an armed military expedition — the June 1863 Combahee Ferry Raid, which liberated more than 700 enslaved peoplec. 1822-1913
- Watson, GeorgeReceived the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1997 for repeatedly risking his life to pull drowning soldiers to safety after his ship was sunk by Japanese bombers off New Guinea in March 1943, until exhaustion cost him his own life1914-1943
- Williams, CathayFirst Black woman to enlist in the U.S. Army; only documented woman to serve as a Buffalo Soldier1844-c.1893
- Winters, Joseph R.Wagon-mounted fire escape ladder, with later improvements including a version that could be affixed to buildings1824-1916
- Young, CharlesBecame the third African American to graduate from West Point (1889), the first Black U.S. national park superintendent, the first Black military attaché, and the highest-ranking Black officer in the Regular Army until his death — reaching colonel decades before the next Black officer would1864-1922