TEAM | OFFICERS

A native of Canton, Connecticut, Commander Bryan graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. Following his commissioning, he attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida, 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. CDR 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.

Commander 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, VA, where he lettered in Football and earned a bachelor's degree in History in 2010. Upon graduation he was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API).

Jack 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.

Major Brandon Wilkins is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. The son of a career Marine Officer and Naval Aviator, Brandon 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.

Brandon 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.

Lieutenant Commander 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.

Wesley 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.

Commander 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.

Thomas 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.

Lieutenant 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 in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Operations Research.

Connor 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.

Major Scott Laux is from Chantilly, Virginia, and graduated from Chantilly High School in 2008. He attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chinese in 2012. Immediately following graduation, he reported to Marine Corps Base Quantico (Quantico, Virginia) for basic Marine officer training at The Basic School (TBS).

Scott reported to the Blue Angels in September 2024. He has over 1,300 flight hours and 169 aircraft carrier arrested landings. His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, as well as multiple unit awards.

Lieutenant Commander Lillian Montana is a native of Vienna, Virginia and graduated from George C. Marshall High School in 2006. She attended Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2010 and earned her commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.

Lilly has accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours and has more than 180 carrier-arrested landings. Her decorations include a Strike Flight Air Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendations Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, an Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, and various personal and unit awards.

Commander Bryce Aubuchon was born and raised in Washington, MO. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2005 with a BS in Marketing and captain of his college hockey team for his final two years. In 2006, after working in the civilian world as a physician recruiter, he attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL, and was designated a Naval Aviator in July of 2008.

Bryce joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. He has accumulated more than 3,100 military flight hours around the world to include more than 2,300 Pilot-in-Command and more than 1,300 hours of aircraft instructor time across three platforms. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal, unit and service awards.

Captain 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.

Samuel 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.

Isaac Van Zandt Becker is a native of Austin, Texas. While a student at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Isaac applied for the Platoon Leaders Course and attended Officer Candidate School in May of 2016. After graduating from Colorado College in May of 2017 with a degree in Geology, Isaac commissioned as a 2ndLt in the United States Marine Corps where he then received orders to report to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia. As an aviation contract, 2ndLt Becker graduated from Fox Company, TBS in March of 2018.

Isaac 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.

Major Joshua Horman was born in Smithville, Missouri. After graduating from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri with a degree in Business Administration, Josh completed Officer Candidate School and commissioned into the United States Marine Corps. In The Basic School, Josh picked up a competitive Naval Flight Officer (NFO) contract and began his journey into Naval Aviation.

Josh 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.

Lieutenant Commander Natalia Luchetti, is a native of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. She graduated from Dr. Pedro Perea Fajardo Vocational High School in May 2001. She enlisted under the Delayed Entry Program in February 2001 and departed for basic training on 6 August 2001. After completing basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, she attended Seaman Apprenticeship Training School. She graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and a minor in Military Studies.

Natalia joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. Her personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (nine awards), Good Conduct Medal (five awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service decorations.

CDR Jen Murr grew up in Jackson Center, Ohio and attended Xavier University (BS, 2002). She was commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserves in 2002 and attended Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, 2006) on a Health Professions Scholarship. She promoted to an active-duty Lieutenant in 2006 and completed an Internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in 2007.

Jen is board certified in Emergency Medicine and served as the Fleet Logistics Support Wing (FLSW) Deputy Surgeon and Assistant Specialty Leader for Aerospace Medicine and Flight Surgery. She previously served as the Chair of the BUMED Centralized Credentialing and Privileging Directorate Medical Executive Committee and was awarded the Flight Surgeon of the Year Award in 2011, 2020, and 2022. Her other honors include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

Lieutenant Mara Mason is a native of Dayton, Ohio. She is a 2018 honors graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Affairs Journalism and Vocal Performance.

Mara joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. Her personal decorations include multiple unit and personal awards, including a Navy Commendation Medal and two Battle "E"s.

Lieutenant Benjamin Bushong is a native of Hagerstown, Maryland. He attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina as a part of the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography; earning his commission in the U.S. Navy in May 2016.

Ben joined the Blue Angels in September 2023. His decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various other personal and unit awards.