(Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron)
The Blue Angels have selected five new officers to join the team for the 2025 air show season.
The squadron selected two F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pilots, a C-130J Super Hercules pilot, an events coordinator and a flight surgeon to replace outgoing team members. They were selected during interviews last week at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., the team’s home base, during the week of the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
“It’s always a challenge selecting new officers for the team because we have so many highly qualified applicants,” Cmdr. Alex Armatas, commanding officer and flight leader, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to introduce the new officers for the 2025 show season and excited to see what each of them bring to our demonstration team in 2025.”
The selected 2025 officers include:
•The F/A-18E/F Demonstration pilots are Maj. Brandon Wilkins of Beaufort, S.C., and Maj. Scott Laux of Chantilly, Va.
Wilkins is currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 31. He graduated from The Citadel in 2007. Laux currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 125. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012.
•The events coordinator is Lt. Cmdr. Lilly Montana of Vienna, Va. She is currently assigned to VT-86. She graduated from Auburn University in 2010.
•The C-130J Demonstration pilot is Maj. Joshua Horman of Smithville, Mo. He is currently assigned to VMGR-252. He graduated from William Jewell College in 2009.
•The flight surgeon is Cmdr. Jen Murr of Jackson Center, Ohio. She is currently assigned to VR-56. She graduated from Xavier University in 2002.
New team members will report to the squadron in September for a two-month turnover period. Upon completion of the 2024 show season, which concludes in November with the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at NAS Pensacola, the team will embark on a rigorous five-month training program at NAS Pensacola and Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif.
For more news from the Blue Angels, please visit www.blueangels.navy.mil/.