U.S. Navy Blue Angels announce Adam Bryan as new commander for 2025, 2026 seasons
As the U.S. Navy Blue Angels 2024 show season has already commenced, current "Boss" Cmdr. Alexander Armatas stood alongside Rear Adm. Rich Brophy at the National Naval Aviation Museum Tuesday and announced the new leader of the Blues.
Cmdr. Adam "Gilligan" Bryan was selected out of five finalists as the new Blue Angel No. 1 to replace "Scribe" Armatas for the 2025 and 2026 show seasons, helming the leadership role of the coveted flight demonstration squadron.
"Cmdr. Bryan was chosen for his sustained superior performance as a leader, mentor and incredibly skilled aviator," Brophy said at the private event.
Bryan, who has been the commanding officer for Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-137 based out of NAS Lemoore in California since March 2023, said Tuesday that this journey began 19 years ago when he saw the Blue Angels fly overhead during aviation pre-flight indoctrination and he is humbled today to be selected as leader of the beloved team.
"I will tell you, looking up seeing those aircraft flying overhead, it was an absolute dream to be able to fly them," Bryan said. "I will do everything in my position to ensure that I uphold the highest standards that this team set out for its entire history."
Throughout his career, Bryan not only attended the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as Top Gun, but also graduated from Top Gun as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor, later gaining a certification in U.S. Navy Surface-to-Air threat and Countertactics.
Now, his goal is to remain steadfast in supporting the Blue Angels team and working together as one.
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"What I've always really enjoyed is being part of a team, so I put that success as a team as my personal goal and what I've always shot for," he said. "If they're doing well, then I'm doing well, and the history of this team shows that is the case."
Bryan said he will likely turn over his current command in sometime in late May and will return to Pensacola to begin training and overseeing the Blue Angels team.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels name Cmdr. Adam Bryan as pilot No. 1 squad commander
