René Locklear White
Lumbee
This Mother’s Day, we honor Lumbee Indian women, of the 575th federally recognized tribe, who have climbed through glass ceilings to lift up their families, communities, and nation. Their stories echo across the tribe and remind us that Indigenous women have long served in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces at higher rates than any other ethnic group. Lumbee Indian women warriors of the sky, land, and sea exemplify leadership, service, and healing with dignity and grace.
Here are two Lumbee generations who stood tall in the U.S. Air Force: retired Lt. Col. René Locklear White and her daughter Staff Sgt. Kara Frances Stockwell.
A life of leadership, service, and healing for Indigenous communities René Locklear White, a Lumbee from Saddletree, earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring after 25 years of military/civil service to the now Department of War. A 1983 Magnolia High School, University of North Carolina of Pembroke, and Hawaii Pacific University graduate, René now pursues a path that blends military discipline with Indigenous health and cultural preservation through ceremony and food.
Service at the highest levels, with dignity and grace, René’s daughter, Kara Frances Stockwell has forged an extraordinary path in the Air Force. Kara is a Flight Aircrew Member with 665 flight hours in C-32A, C-37A/B, and VC-25 aircraft. Her top secret assignments include attending Air Traffic Control School’s Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) and tower managing air traffic for the 20th Fighter Wing’s F-16s and surrounding airspace at Shaw AFB, SC; then serving as a Special Missions Flight Attendant with the 99th Airlift Squadron and as a C-37 Flight Attendant and Special Operations Center Assistant for a private military C-37 Gulfstream, transporting worldwide executive government officials and leaders around the globe from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
René’s military service was in senior management at the Unit, Squadron, Wing, Major Command, Joint Task Force, Numbered Air Force, Headquarters Air Force and Department of War levels during 13 assignments and numerous overseas operations and activities supporting all military branches. René has extensive skills in leading top secret missions in 14 countries (South Korea, Korean DMZ, England, South Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Germany, Italy, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Sarajevo, and Turkey) and multiple states including Hawai’i. She worked with people of influence fostering critical interagency partnerships including the White House, State Department, Secretary of War, national and international news reporters and embassies. She has served at the Pentagon in cyber operations and public affairs, contributed to U.S. Pacific Command, and supported operations around Korea, Europe, and the Middle East.
Since enlisting in 2016 and with her extra college credits, Kara entered immediately with two stripes to rank of Airman First Class. Today, as Staff Sgt. Kara’s most recent role is Presidential Flight Attendant assigned to the Presidential Airlift Group Joint Base Andrews MD on Air Force One, a military version of a Boeing 747 airliner valued at $5.5 billion dollars. She managed in-flight safety, comfort, and protocol for two presidents, First Lady and First Gentleman, and dignitaries aboard Air Force One stationed at Joint Base Andrews.
As flight attendant she prepared tens of thousands of meals for more than 200 sorties (missions) enabling President Joe Biden, now President Donald J. Trump to travel to multiple states, countries, and global summits. She supported President Biden during visits to France and Italy for the 80th D-Day Anniversary and the G7 Summit. She directly led 27 members to prepare 360 meals enabling President Biden’s trip to Milwaukee where he signed a historic $2.6 billion bipartisan infrastructure regulation solidifying her team receiving best of the quarter. She delivered services to President Trump’s U.S. tech summit for a $2 trillion U.S. investment and updated AF1 travel for the Russia/Ukraine ceasefire. When President Trump and AF1 flew over Super Bowl 2026, the president presented Kara with a rare 24-Karet gold military challenge coin for her exceptional work.
One of Kara’s mother’s most memorable assignments was investigating, recovering and repatriating U.S. remains from the Vietnam War; another was serving as the Air Force Intellectual Properties manager for the new Air Force symbol. In René’s GS-14 civil service capacity she managed the Department of War’s joint service recruiting websites (TodaysMilitary.com and MyFuture.com) for the Joint Advertising, Market Research & Studies office.
Today, René lives in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountain, near the Shenandoah River, where she and her husband Chris are turning a shared vision into a way to strengthen leaders and recognize Indigenous contributions to reduce suffering and uplift wellness. Their Indigenous non-profit is called Sanctuary on the Trail.
René’s work centers on leadership, health, and cultural preservation. She serves as an Indigenous advisor and is a founding partner of The Shenandoah a new nature resort set to open in 2027 in Star Tannery, VA. The 640-acre, 120-room nature and hospitality destination will award 10,000 impact grants across initiatives in venue development, wellness, and internships. René also maps America’s Native Food Trail, believing that our “First Foods” are medicine and a key to closing health gaps by reconnecting people with traditional Indigenous foods.
Beyond in-flight duties, Kara safeguards significant assets as Finance Office NCO protecting more than $1 million in White House and State Department accounts. She supported FEMA disaster-relief efforts, and coordinated logistics that kept the President’s travel on track. Kara’s leadership also extends to training, records management, and mission package updates, reflecting a poised, precision-driven approach to national service. Her work involves hundreds of specialized training tasks and checklists, including attending culinary schools in Miami and Fort Lauderdale FL and underwater egress training in Washington State and Miami where she learned to manage emergencies over and under water.
Soon, together René and Kara will be competing in a Forest, Food and Fire Indigenous Chef Challenge at the REED Center for Ecosystem Reintegration in Maryland on June 13. Being a chef runs in both René and Kara’s DNA; René’s paternal Lumbee grandfather Army Private Frank Locklear (1894-1977) served in World War I as a chef. René is one of the featured three chefs along with Oneida Chef Juan De La Cruz and Diné Chef Justin Pioche who recently won “Chopped” during the special episode “Indigenous Inspiration,” which aired April 21 on the Food Network.
For the competition, René is the chef and Kara is her sous chef to help forage and plate the food. René is a private Lumbee chef at her family’s Virginia-based non-profit Sanctuary on the Trail and The Shenandoah nature resort leadership, shaping menus for those attending Native ceremonies and for the founding leaders of Virginia’s new Shenandoah Nature Resort. Her meals honor Indigenous communities and advance her nonprofit’s vision to help leaders first and elevate Indigenous global contributions to reduce suffering. She works hard to be present with every ingredient, listening to the land and the stories foods carry so each dish expresses Indigenous wisdom. Her meals nourish body and spirit, highlighting health benefits and restorative flavors. Through careful technique and reverence for tradition, she empowers guests and partners to see the value of Indigenous knowledge in everyday nourishment.
René’s career includes distinguished honors such as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Air Force Meritorious and Commendation Medals, as well as Robeson Community College Phenomenal Women award, Distinguished Women American Indian Women of Proud Nations award, and President Barack Obama’s Call to Service Award for volunteerism at the White House.
Kara’s decorations including two aerial achievement medals, multiple Air and Space commendations and achievements, several Meritorious and Outstanding Unit Awards, speak to her 10 years of dedication, teamwork, and mission-focused excellence. Kara’s role embodies the dignity, care, and resilience that Lumbee women bring to some of the world’s most demanding professions.
A tireless advocate for Indigenous health, René remains active with the national Native American Women Warriors Association and the Lumbee Warriors Association as a lifetime member. She is a mother to three grown children — Kara (veteran), Emily (nurse), and Jacob (fireman) —and a grandmother to five: Maddy (nurse), Valley Dawn, Isaac, Avery, and Ellie.
A legacy of service, a community lifted – René and Kara remind us that Indigenous women have long stood at the forefront of service. Their stories show how mothers and daughters can rise together to lift their people and their nation. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate René Locklear White and Kara Frances Stockwell — Lumbee women warriors of the sky — whose courage, leadership, and healing continue to inspire our communities.