“I just felt like it was no greater way to serve someone or people than to serve the entire country,” she said, explaining a personal calling she understood as part of her Christian faith.
But her acceptance to the Space Force, confirmed in April, came as a surprise. Darnell was the only cadet to commission into the Space Force this year and was the only one from her class honored at this year’s ROTC ceremony, where there are usually 6 or 10 cadets. Darnell began ROTC among 36 other students.
She’ll be a Space Operations Officer, and will at first be stationed in California. In her role, she’ll be part of a 3-person team working on satellites.