TEAM | OFFICERS

Commander 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.

Alexander joined the Blue Angels in August 2022. He has accumulated more than 4,100 flight hours and 911 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Strike/Flight Air Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal, unit and service awards.

Lieutenant Commander 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.

Christopher joined the Blue Angels in September 2021 and has accumulated more than 1,900 flight hours and over 303 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other unit and personal awards.

Lieutenant 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, Amanda 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.

Amanda joined the Blue Angels in September 2022. She has accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and over 225 carrier-arrested landings. Her decorations include four Navy Achievement medals and various personal and unit awards.

Lieutenant 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.

Scott joined the Blue Angels in September 2021. He has accumulated more than 2,100 flight hours and has 348 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various personal and unit awards.

Lieutenant Commander Julius Bratton is a native of Woodlawn, Tennessee and graduated from Northwest High School in 2007, where he lettered in football and track & 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.

Julius joined the Blue Angels in September 2019. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours and has 207 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include a Strike Flight Air Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various other unit and personal awards.

Lieutenant Commander 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.

Griffin joined the Blue Angels in September of 2021 and has accumulated more than 1,500 flight hours and over 190 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include three Navy and Marine Corps Achievements Medals, and various other unit and personal awards.

Lieutenant 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 3,000 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 Commander 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, Brian 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.

Brian joined the Blue Angels in September 2022. He has accumulated more than 1,500 flight hours and over 303 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, and various other unit and personal awards.

Commander 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.

Jon joined the Blue Angels in September 2021. He has accumulated more than 3,200 flight hours and 168 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Strike/Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit and service awards.

Captain 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 he 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.

Captain Streiff has accumulated more than 950 flight hours over the course of multiple joint, bilateral, and multilateral exercises in the Pacific area of responsibility, and has received various personal and unit awards.

Major 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, he 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.

Joshua joined the Blue Angels in 2021. He has accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours, 5 combat hours, numerous operations and exercises in the European, Middle Eastern, and the Pacific areas of responsibility. His decorations include the Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and various personal and service support medals.

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 1,000 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.

Lieutenant 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, FL, where he completed Airman Apprentice training.

LT Cedeño's awards included four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.

Lieutenant Commander 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, he 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.

Gregory joined the Blue Angels in August 2022. His decorations include a Navy Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.

Lieutenant 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. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and personal awards.

Lieutenant 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.

He joined the Blue Angels in September 2021. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit and personal awards.