Barrington Irving is a Jamaican-born American pilot who previously held the record for the youngest person to pilot a plane around the world solo, a feat he accomplished in 2007. He is also the first black person and first Jamaican to accomplish this feat.

Born November 11, 1983, Barrington is a you g man with so much to accomplish in this life. He has traveled to 50 countries and conducted more than 30 STEM expeditions, and successfully challenged middle school students to build a car faster than a Ferrari 430. Barrington then challenged high schoolers to build a plane which he flew on its test flight. In 2007, he set two world records—at age 23.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica and brought up in inner-city Miami, Barrington was inspired to pursue aviation at age 15, when a Jamaican airline pilot offered to mentor him.  He rejected college football scholarships to pursue a career in STEM and never looked back. 

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Florida Memorial University, Barrington was the recipient of a Congressional Resolution acknowledging his pioneering work in aviation education. He received the Guinness World Record as the youngest person to fly solo around the world and was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2012.

A little know but important fact is Trayvon Martin participated in his Build and Soar program for four (4) years. Trayvon even was a passenger in the plane with Barrington. What an amazing mentor he was and continues to be.

Black History is not just the people who lived and died. Black History is being made every day by the incredible who live, work, and mentor NOW!