The Blue Angels are back for their first hometown air show of the 79th season, and they’re bringing back some new and familiar faces.
Three new Blue Angels pilots will make their Pensacola Beach Air Show debut on Thursday, with two joining the main flight demonstration squad and the third joining the ranks of the team’s beloved support aircraft, “Fat Albert.”
Get to know all of the new and returning Blue Angels pilots below.
#1 | Cmdr. Adam Bryan | USN — Flight leader and commanding officer
A native of Canton, Connecticut, Cmdr. Adam Bryan graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in economics. Following his commissioning, he attended flight school in Pensacola and continued his training at NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Kingsville. In July 2007, he earned his designation as a naval aviator and joined the VFA-106 “Gladiators” for initial fleet training as an FA-18C pilot.
In April 2024, he was selected to command the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, assuming command in November 2024. Bryan was recognized as the George Bush First Tour Naval Aviator of the Year in 2011 and as the Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Pilot of the Year in 2016.
#2 | Cmdr. Jack Keilty | USN — Right wing
Cmdr. Jack Keilty is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School, graduating in 2005. He attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he lettered in football and earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 2010. Upon graduation he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy and reported to NAS Pensacola for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API).
Keilty joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. He has accumulated more than 2,700 flight hours and 484 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include a Strike Flight Air Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, Two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other unit and personal awards.
#3 | Maj. Brandon Wilkins | USMC — Left wing
Major Brandon Wilkins is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. The son of a career Marine officer and naval aviator, Wilkins grew up mostly on the east coast to include South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington D.C. He attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 2007.
Wilkins joined the Blue Angels in September of 2024 and has accumulated more than 2300 flight hours and has 331 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include three Strike Flight Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards. Brandon is also a two time “Top Five Nugget” and seven time “Top Ten” ball flier for carrier landing performance.
#4 | Lt. Cmdr. Wes Perkins | USN — Slot
Lt. Cmdr. James Wesley Perkins is a native of Pordenone, Italy, grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from Hutto High School in 2009. He attended Texas A&M University graduating with a degree in ocean engineering in 2014. Perkins commissioned as an Ensign through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Perkins joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. He has accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and has 205 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various other unit and personal awards.
#5 | Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman | USN — Lead solo
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.
Zimmerman 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. He has accumulated more than 3,100 flight hours and 542 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, and various other unit and personal awards.
#6 | Lt. Cmdr. Connor O’Donnell | USN — Opposing solo
Lt. Cmdr. Connor O’Donnell is a native of Freeport, Maine, and graduated from Yarmouth High School in 2011. Following high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in operations research in 2015 .
O’Donnell joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. He has accumulated over 1,200 flight hours and more than 200 carrier-arrested landings. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit and service awards.
Maj. Sam Petko | USMC — Lead C-130J “Fat Albert” Pilot
Maj. 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 2nd. Lt. in the U.S. 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. He has accumulated more than 1,500 flight hours and multiple instructor qualifications over the course of multiple joint, bilateral and multilateral exercises in the USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. His decorations include the Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and service support medals.
Capt. Isaac Becker | USMC — C-130J “Fat Albert” Pilot
Capt. Isaac Van Zandt Becker is a native of Austin, Texas. While a student at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Becker applied for the Platoon Leaders Course and attended Officer Candidate School in May 2016.
After graduating from Colorado College in May 2017 with a degree in geology, Becker commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he then received orders to report to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia. As an aviation contract, Becker graduated from Fox Company, TBS in March 2018.
Becker reported to the Blue Angels in September 2023. His awards include the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Maj. Josh Horman | USMC — C-130J “Fat Albert” Pilot
Maj. Joshua Horman was born in Smithville, Missouri. After graduating from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, with a degree in business administration, Horman completed Officer Candidate School and commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps.
In The Basic School, Horman picked up a competitive Naval Flight Officer (NFO) contract and began his journey into naval aviation.
Horman has participated in deployments or exercises in the African, European, Middle Eastern and Pacific areas of responsibility. His decorations include four Strike/Flight Air Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various other personal and unit awards, according to his bio on the team’s website.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Meet the new and returning Blue Angels pilots ahead of the Pensacola Beach Air Show
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
