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Alexander Armatas

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Captain

Alexander Armatas
Nickname(s)"Scribe"
BornAuburn, New York, U.S.
Service / branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1998–present
RankCaptain
UnitStrike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105
Known forBlue Angels demonstration pilot
AwardsFour Navy Achievement Medals[1]
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Spouse(s)Sandy Armatas[2]
Children4

Alexander P. Armatas is a naval aviator in the United States Navy. He is the flight leader and commanding officer of the Blue Angels, an elite fighter jet flight demonstration squadron.

Armatas graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 and was the commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 105, also known as the "Gunslingers". In 2022 he was named commander of the Blue Angels. His call sign is "Scribe".

Early life

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Alexander Armatas was born at Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, New York, to Telemahos Armatas and Kathy Burke.[2][3] He grew up in Skaneateles[1] and completed his freshman and sophomore years at Jordan-Elbridge High School before moving to Skaneateles to complete high school.[4]

Career

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Armatas saluting before a training flight in 2023

Armatas was accepted into the United States Naval Academy in 1998,[2] graduating in 2002 with a degree in aerospace engineering.[4] In 2009, he graduated from the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (Top Gun). He joined Strike Fighter Squadron 122 ("Flying Eagles") at Naval Air Station Lemoore and became an instructor pilot.[5]

Before joining the Blue Angels, Armatas completed more than 900 aircraft carrier landings and logged more than 4000 hours of flight time.[1] In 2022 he was stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana as the commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 105 ("Gunslingers").[2] He has had six deployments in combat situations: Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, 2008 and 2012–13; Operation Inherent Resolve in 2015; and Operation Freedom's Sentinel in 2020–21.[2][4] Armatas has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, four Strike/Flight Air Medals, five Commendation Medals, the Achievement Medal, and personal, unit and service awards.[1]

Blue Angels

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The Blue Angels flying in formation over Lake Michigan in 2023

From 2019 to 2022, the Blue Angels were led by Captain Brian Kesselring.[6] In 2022 Armatas was named the commander of the Blue Angels to succeed Kesselring.[1][7] Armatas's call sign is "Scribe", as the unofficial historian of his unit.[8] He flies the number-one jet and leads a squadron of 150.[2] The Blue Angels and Armatas fly in the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet.[9]

Armatas was featured in the 2024 documentary film The Blue Angels, which was filmed during the 2022 show season. Armatas is shown training to be the 2023 commander of the team.[10]

Personal life

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Armatas is married to Sandy Armatas and they live in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with their four children.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Team Officers". Blue Angels. US Navy. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Wilcox, David (15 April 2022). "Gee Whiz Moment". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Telemahos Armatas Obituary". Syracuse Post Standard. 13 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Linhorst, Stan (5 July 2022). "Cmdr. Alexander Armatas on leadership: Be flexible, put faith in people, build trust". The Post Standard. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  5. ^ "#1 CDR Alexander P. Armatas" (PDF). Blue Angels. US Navy. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  6. ^ Callahan, Dan (5 April 2022). "Blue Angels announce new commanding officer for 2023–24 show seasons". Wear News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  7. ^ Duncan, Brenda (22 April 2022). "Skaneateles native Alexander Armatas chosen to lead Navy's Blue Angels". Syracuse Post Standard. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  8. ^ Girod, Brandon (7 July 2023). "Blue Angels call signs span from 'Scribe' to 'Cheese'. Here's how they earned them". Pensacola News Journal. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  9. ^ Walton, Bill (17 April 2021). "Meet the Blue Angels "New" Super Hornet Jets". Avgeekery.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  10. ^ Johnson, Benjamin (17 May 2024). "Generations of pilots watch Blue Angels documentary premiere in Pensacola". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
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