Wings of 2026: Meet the new US Navy Blue Angels pilots
July 15, 2025
A new wave of blue and gold magic is preparing to take to the skies as the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the beloved Blue Angels, has officially named seven new officers.
Each July, under the shimmering sun of Pensacola Beach, finalists for the Blue Angels team gather at NAS Pensacola, the team’s iconic home base.
After days of interviews, camaraderie, and a little beachside bonding during the Pensacola Beach Air Show (this year held on 12 July), seven remarkable officers earned the call sign of a lifetime: Blue Angel.
“Selecting new officers is never easy with such a strong pool of candidates,” says Commander Adam Bryan, the squadron’s flight leader. “We’re proud to announce our 2026 officers and can’t wait to see the impact they’ll have.”
Meet the new Blue Angels pilots
The squadron selected three F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pilots, a C-130J Super Hercules pilot, an Assistant Maintenance Officer, a Supply Officer and a Public Affairs Officer to replace outgoing team members.
The three F/A-18 demonstration pilots are:
- Lt. Ronny Hafeza of Redondo Beach, California, a University of Colorado graduate whose squadron, VFA-122, is known for grooming the Navy’s finest strike fighter pilots.
- Lt. Cam Schneider from Thousand Oaks, California, is a fellow VFA-122 pilot and UC Santa Barbara alumnus. Has the experience of flying the world’s most advanced strike fighter the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
- Lt. Chris Houben from Geneva, Illinois, now with VFA-106. This “Gladiator” found his calling in the skies after graduating from the University of Wisconsin.
The C-130J demonstration pilot will be Capt. Olivia Bair, USNA Class of 2018, from Findlay, Ohio. She flies the Marine Corps’ mighty transport aircraft and brings new energy to the team’s powerhouse logistics and demo presence.
The new Blue Angels support crew
Supporting the new Blue Angels pilots will be a new support crew of three – a maintenance officer, a supply officer and a public affairs officer.
Elected as Assistant Maintenance Officer is Chief Warrant Officer Jhulem Edejer, originally from Olongapo City in the Philippines, who has served in the Navy since 2004 and brings deep expertise in electronic warfare maintenance.
The new Supply Officer is Lt. Garrett Wiedle, a 2019 Naval Academy graduate from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Finally, 1st Lt. Danielle Cribb, a proud Citadel graduate and Beaufort, South Carolina native, who will help tell the Blue Angels’ story as their Public Affairs Officer.
These new members will report to the team this September for turnover training, then kick off their five-month preparation tour between NAS Pensacola and NAF El Centro, where every new Angel earns their wings.
It’s a demanding schedule with countless hours, high G-forces, and endless rehearsals. But it’s also a chance to represent the United States Navy and Marine Corps at over 30 shows across the country.
Blue Angels: 79 years of sky-high precision
Since 1946, when Admiral Chester Nimitz first envisioned a flight team to showcase naval aviation, the Blue Angels have dazzled millions with jaw-dropping manoeuvres, from the roaring F6 Hellcat to today’s sleek F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Over the decades, the squadron has introduced now-iconic formations like the six-jet delta and continually evolved its aircraft for tighter turns, faster climbs, and unforgettable aerial displays.
The unsung hero: Fat Albert
Behind the scenes, the Blue Angels’ logistics have been powered by their trusty support aircraft, none more beloved than “Fat Albert.”
Introduced in 1970 as a Lockheed C-130 and upgraded in 2020 to the C-130J Super Hercules, “Bert” hauls everything from tools to team spirit across America, ensuring the show always goes on.
So next time you hear that signature roar overhead, look up, you just might spot one of these new names carving their dreams in vapour trails across the wide blue sky.
