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The list of Blue Angels commanders in the United States Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, with aviators from the Navy and Marines. The squadron performs aerial demonstrations in F/A-18 and Super Hornet aircraft, highlighting the capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps. The current commanding officer of the Blue Angels is Captain Eric Doyle.
List Of Blue Angels Commanders
The Blue Angels are made up of 17 police officers who volunteer their time. To replace leaving members, the team normally picks three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers, and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot per year.
LCDR Julius Bratton
Opposing Solo
Lieutenant Commander Julius Bratton grew up in Woodlawn, Tennessee, and attended Northwest High School, where he lettered football and track and field. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in 2011.
Julius joined the Blue Angels in September of this year. He has almost 2,000 flying hours and has made 207 carriers arrested landings. Among his honors are a Strike Flight Air Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and several additional unit and personal accolades.
LT Chris Kapuschansky
Right Wing
Lieutenant Christopher Kapuschansky was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, but relocated to Yorktown, Virginia, in 2002 and graduated from York High School in 2007.
He attended Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, Pennsylvania, for a year after graduating before enrolling in the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He received his commission in the United States Navy after graduating from the Naval Academy in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography.
Christopher joined the Blue Angels in September 2021 and has over 1450 flight hours and 303 carriers arrested landings to his credit. His decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other unit and personal accolades.
Christopher joined the Blue Angels in September 2021 and has over 1450 flight hours and 303 carriers arrested landings to his credit. His decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other unit and personal accolades.
LT Paul Kruger
Supply Officer
Lieutenant Paul Kruger is a Scottsdale, Arizona resident and a 2013 graduate of Desert Mountain High School. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.
In September 2021, he will join the Blue Angels. The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, several units, and personal honors are among his decorations.
LCDR Cary Rickoff
Lead Solo
Lieutenant Commander Cary Rickoff grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Riverwood High School, where he lettered in baseball. In 2009, he graduated from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.
Cary joined the Blue Angels in September of this year. He has over 2,100 flying hours and over 180 carrier arrested landings. Among his honors are a Strike Flight Air Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and several additional unit and personal accolades.
CAPT Brian C. Kesselring
Flight Leader / Commanding Officer
Captain Brian C. Kesselring is a Fargo, North Dakota native. He got a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics, Mathematics, and Business from Concordia College in Minnesota, where he competed in basketball and track and field. After graduation, Brian attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in March 2001.
Brian joined the Blue Angels in September of this year. He has almost 4,600 flying hours and 812 carrier landings under his belt.
The Meritorious Service Medal, six Strike/Flight Air Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and several personal, units, and service honors are among his decorations.
LT Katlin Forster
Events Coordinator
Lieutenant Katlin Forster is a Scottsdale, Arizona native who attended Desert Mountain High School and lettered in badminton. She attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and graduated in May 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.
Katlin is scheduled to join the Blue Angels in September 2020. She has over 931 flying hours and has made 257 carrier-arrested landings. Her accolades include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and several units and personal medals.
LT Scott Goossens
Left Wing
Lieutenant Scott Goossens graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory in 2006 after being born in New York, New York, and reared in San Francisco, California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in 2010. Following graduation, he worked in national security and military policy in Washington, D.C., until 2013, when he joined the Navy and received his commission from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island.
Scott is scheduled to join the Blue Angels in September 2021. He has almost 1,600 flying hours and 348 carrier arrested landings under his belt. The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and several personal and unit medals are among his decorations.
LCDR Monica L. Borza
Flight Surgeon
Lieutenant Commander Monica L. Borza grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and attended Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, where she lettered track and field, cheerleading, and tennis.
Monica will be joining the Blue Angels in August 2020. Her honors include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, several units, and personal accolades.
CAPT Jackson Streiff
C-130 “Fat Albert” Pilot
Captain Jackson Streiff was born in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2010, he graduated from Millard South High School, where he was a varsity football player. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2014.
Following graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps via the Platoon Leaders Course program and reported to The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
Throughout many joint, bilateral, and multilateral exercises in the Pacific area of responsibility, Captain Streiff has accrued over 950 flying hours and has garnered numerous personal and unit accolades.
MAJ Frank Zastoupil
Slot
Major Frank Zastoupil is a 2005 graduate of Kingwood High School in Kingwood, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2009.
Frank was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 2009 after completing the Platoon Leaders Course and reporting to The Basic School (TBS) at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Virginia. Frank was sent to the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL) for Russian language and culture training after TBS.
Frank joined the Blue Angels in September of this year. He has over 1,700 flying hours across four tactical platforms. Ten carriers stopped landings and 90 shipboard vertical landings. Three Strike Flight Air Medals, one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and several personal and unit honors are among his decorations.
CDR Jon Fay
Executive Officer
Commander Jon Fay was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he lettered in football and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 2000 before being commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.
Jon is scheduled to join the Blue Angels in September 2021. He has over 2,900 flying hours and 168 carriers arrested landings under his belt. Two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Strike/Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, and several personal and unit and service honors are among his decorations.
LT Griffin Stangel
Narrator
Who are the pilots for the blue angels? Lieutenant Griffin Stangel is a Madison local who graduated from Madison West High School in 2008. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Control from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 2012.
He proceeded to Newport, Rhode Island, immediately after graduation, where he got his appointment as an Ensign in the United States Navy after completing Officer Candidate School.
Griffin joined the Blue Angels in September 2021 and has over 1200 flying hours and 190 carriers arrested landings. He has three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and several additional unit and personal accolades.
CAPT William Huckeba
C-130 “Fat Albert” Pilot
Captain William Huckeba is a Hoover, Alabama, native who graduated from Hoover High School in 2008, where he served as School President and played football, basketball, and soccer.
He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and reported to The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in 2012.
In 2019, William joined the Blue Angels fat Albert pilot. He has over 1,300 flying hours, including various missions and drills throughout Europe and Africa. His decorations include the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and several personal and unit honors.
LT Brian Abe
Maintenance Officer
Lieutenant Brian Abe is a 1997 Berkner High School alumnus from Richardson, Texas. In February 1998, he enrolled in the United States Navy and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. Brian graduated from Aviation Electronics Technician “A” School in Pensacola, Florida, in June 1998.
Brian joined the Blue Angels in September of this year. Three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and several personal and unit medals are among his decorations.
MAJ Joshua Soltan
C-130 “Fat Albert” Pilot
Major Joshua Soltan is a Spokane native who graduated from Central Valley High School in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aviation and a Minor in Business Administration from Central Washington University in 2010.
After completing the Platoon Leaders Course program, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in August 2010. As an Assistant Officer Recruiter, he reported to the Officer Selection Office, 12th Recruiting District in Seattle, Washington. He moved to The Basic School at Camp Barrett in Quantico, Virginia, in 2011 to finish his training.
In 2021, Joshua joined the Blue Angels. He has over 1,600 flying hours, five combat hours, and countless operations and drills in his areas of responsibility in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and several personal and service support medals are among his decorations.
LT Henry Cedeño
Assistant Maintenance Officer
Lieutenant Henry Cedeo was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, and attended Luis Llorens Torres High School in 1999. Following graduation, he joined the United States Navy and attended Recruit Training Command Great Lakes in Illinois. He reported to his first command, the Naval Air Technical Training Center Pensacola, FL, and finished Airman Apprentice training there.
Four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and several personal and unit medals were bestowed to LT Cedeo.
LT Chelsea Dietlin
Public Affairs Officer
Lieutenant Chelsea Dietlin is a Rochester Hills, Michigan resident, where she attended Rochester Adams High School before graduating in 2008. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in science, technology, and environmental policy from Michigan State University in 2012. Chelsea was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in August 2016 after attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island.
In 2019, Chelsea joined the Blue Angels. Her accolades include a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and unit awards.
FAQ
Who is the commanding officer of the Blue Angels?
Brian C. Kesselring
The commanding officer and flight commander of the United States Navy Blue Angels branch of service are Brian C. Kesselring. Before joining the Blue Angels in September 2019, Brian was the commanding officer of VFA-81’s “Sunliners.” He now has over 4,300 flying hours and 812 carrier-arrested landings.
How much do the Blue Angels get paid?
The average yearly salary for the Blue Angel roster in the United States is $45,160 per year as of July 10, 2022. If you need a quick salary calculator, it comes to around $21.71 per hour.
Are there any female Blue Angels pilots?
Maj. Katie Higgins Cook recalls her maiden flight with the Blue Angels and how she helped pave the path for a subsequent list of blue angel pilots. The United States Navy Blue Angels have been doing air displays since 1946, but it wasn’t until 69 years later that they had their first female pilot. Maj was the first female.
What fuel do Blue Angels use?
Each Blue Angel-type fighter (and its partner plane, the C-130) uses 1,300 gallons of jet fuel per hour. If each group has six fighters (plus one support aircraft), that’s 14 planes or 18,200 gallons of jet fuel every hour.
Conclusion
This concludes our article on the blue angel’s commanders. GuardYourhealth hope you found it informative and helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.
