Meet the Blue Angel pilots and the rest of the team ahead of the Pensacola Beach Air Show

The Blue Angels team consists of more than just the six demonstration pilots fans will see soaring across the sky during the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show this week.

Believe it or not, the team is made up of more than a dozen officers who voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels team each year and about 100 enlisted sailors and Marines comprise the maintenance and support team.

The 2023 Blue Angel team is made up of 16 officers. Officers will typically serve with the team for two or three years while enlisted personnel serve three to four years before returning to the fleet.

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Blue Angels 2023 officers

The 2023 Blue Angels team has 16 volunteer officers.

Commander Alexander P. Armatas — No. 1

Cmdr. Alexander P. Armatas is a native of Skaneateles, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering and joined the Blue Angels in 2022.

Lieutenant Commander Christopher Kapuschansky — No. 2

Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Kapuschansky was born in Brockton, Massachusetts and in 2002 moved to Yorktown, Virginia where he graduated from York High School in 2007. After graduation, he attended Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, Pennsylvania for one year prior to attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography in 2012 and earned his commission in the U.S. Navy and joined the Blue Angels in September 2021.

Lieutenant Amanda Lee — No. 3

Lt. Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, Minnesota. She graduated from Irondale High School in 2004, where she competed in soccer, ice hockey and swimming. While attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, Lee enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) and reported to her first command, VFA-136 "Knighthawks." She was selected to commission as a Pilot through the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program in 2009. The following year, Lee attended the Naval Science Institute (NSI) for officer training in Newport, Rhode Island, and simultaneously began her studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry. Lee joined the Blue Angels in September 2022.

Lieutenant Scott Goossens — No. 4

Lt. Scott Goossens, born in New York, New York, and raised in San Francisco, California, graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory in 2006. He attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 2010. Following college, he worked in Washington, D.C. in national security and defense policy until 2013, when he joined the Navy and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Goossens joined the Blue Angels in September 2021.

Lieutenant Commander Julius Bratton — No. 5

Lt. Cmdr. Julius Bratton is a native of Woodlawn, Tennessee, and graduated from Northwest High School in 2007, where he lettered in football and track and field. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in oceanography in 2011, and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. Bratton joined the Blue Angels in September 2019.

Lieutenant Commander Griffin Stangel — No. 6

Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from Madison West High School in 2008. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in air traffic control in 2012. Immediately after graduation, he reported to Newport, Rhode Island, where he received his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy after completion of Officer Candidate School. Stangel joined the Blue Angels in September 2021.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas Zimmerman — No. 7

Lt, Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from St. Paul's School in 2004 lettering in football, wrestling and lacrosse. After graduation, he attended the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, for one year prior to attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He lettered in lacrosse at both schools and graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering; earning his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2009. Zimmerman joined the Blue Angels in September 2022.

Lieutenant Commander Brian Vaught — No. 8

Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught is a native of Englewood, Colorado. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2004, where he lettered in Lacrosse. After high school he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. Upon graduation, Vaught worked in professional sports marketing and promotions, eventually attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2011. Vaught joined the Blue Angels in September 2022.

Commander Jon Fay — Executive Officer

Cmdr. Jon Fay is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he lettered in football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in 2000, and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. Fay joined the Blue Angels in September 2021.

Captain Jackson Streiff — C-130 ‘Fat Albert’ pilot

Capt. Jackson Streiff is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Millard South High School in 2010, where he played varsity football. In 2014, he graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a Bachelor's of Science in criminal justice. Upon graduation Streiff earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course program and reported to The Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

Major Joshua Soltan — C-130 ‘Fat Albert’ pilot

Maj. Joshua Soltan is a native of Spokane, Washington, where he graduated from Central Valley High School in 2006. In 2010, he graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in aviation and a minor in business administration. In August of 2010, Soltan earned his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course program. He reported to Officer Selection Office, 12th Recruiting District Seattle, Washington, as an assistant officer recruiter. In 2011, he transferred to The Basic School at Camp Barrett, Quantico, Virginia to complete training. Soltan joined the Blue Angels in 2021.

Captain Samuel Petko — C-130 ‘Fat Albert’ pilot

Capt. Samuel Petko is a native of Osceola, Indiana. He graduated from Penn High School in 2009, where he wrestled and played rugby. After high school, he attended Indiana University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. In 2016, he earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through Officer Candidate School and reported to The Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Petko joined the Blue Angels in 2022.

Lieutenant Henry Cedeño — Maintenance Officer

Lt. Henry Cedeño is a native of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, where he graduated from Luis Llorens Torres High School in 1999. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. He reported to his first command, Naval Air Technical Training Center Pensacola, where he completed Airman Apprentice training.

Lieutenant Commander Gregory R. Jones — Assistance Maintenance Officer

Lt. Cmdr. Gregory R. Jones is a native of Cary, North Carolina. He graduated from Green Hope High School in 2003, where he lettered in baseball and cross country. After high school he attended Elon University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in physics while also lettering in baseball. Upon graduation, Jones attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2009, and was designated an Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer in 2010. He also completed a master's degree in business administration from Liberty University in 2018. Jones joined the Blue Angels in August 2022.

Lieutenant Philippe A. Warren — Flight Surgeon

Lt. Philippe A. Warren is a native of Williamsburg, Virginia. He graduated from Lafayette High school in 2010 where he lettered in swimming. He attended the University of Virginia and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. After graduation, Philippe was accepted into Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he earned his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2014 and graduated with an M.D. in 2018. While in medical school, he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society due to his extensive volunteer work with pediatric cancer patients. Philippe joined the Blue Angels in September 2022.

Lieutenant Paul Kruger — Supply Officer

Lt. Paul Kruger is a native of Scottsdale, AZ. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in quantitative economics in 2017, and earned his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy. Kruger joined the Blue Angels in September 2021.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Who are the six Blue Angel pilots on the 2023 team? Here's a look