U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Maintenance & Support Team
The Blue Angels’ support team is made up of the Events Coordinator, Maintenance Officer, Flight Surgeon, Administrative Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Supply Officer and approximately 110 enlisted Navy and Marine Corps volunteers.
Alternating crews of about 45 team members travel to each show site. All career-oriented enlisted Sailor or Marine applicants come recommended for Blue Angel duty by their current commanding officer. Applicants go through extensive screening, including interviewing with the members of each of the 15 squadron work centers. The keen selection process secures the squadron’s tradition of excellence, ensuring the Blue Angels are a direct reflection of the professionalism of today’s Sailors and Marines. After completing their Blue Angel tour, individuals return to the fleet to continue their naval careers.
Selected enlisted personnel volunteer for a three-year tour with the squadron. Though every team member brings skills in a distinct job specialty, each is expected to work beyond that specialty, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Blue Angels.
The squadron consists of seven distinct departments, jointly responsible for guaranteeing command readiness.
Administration: The Administration Department is responsible for executive and official correspondence, squadron records, pay and travel orders. Administration maintains instructions and notices, handles promotions and awards, and controls legal and security concerns.
Aviation Medicine: The Aviation Medicine Department is responsible for the health and wellness of each team member. The medical team performs annual physical examinations and emergency medical procedures, keeps medical and dental readiness up to date, and acts as a liaison for advanced medical care.
Events Coordinator: The Events Coordination Department schedules preseason visits with show site sponsors and secures accommodations and ground support for each demonstration show.
Fat Albert Airlines: The all-Marine flight crew assigned to the squadron’s Lockheed-Martin C-130 Hercules is responsible for transporting road-crew personnel, supplies and equipment to and from each show site throughout the season. The crew also demonstrates the C-130’s jet-assisted take-off (JATO) capabilities.
Maintenance: The Maintenance Department consists of Airframes, Avionics, Corrosion Control, Crew Chiefs, Life Support, Maintenance Control, Power Plants, Quality Assurance and Video shops. The maintenance team is responsible for aircraft upkeep.
Public Affairs Office: The Public Affairs Office documents and promotes the Blue Angels. It designs, writes, photographs, edits, publishes and distributes all promotional materials. The Public Affair Office also coordinates coverage and interviews with local, national and international media, and manages the VIP rider program.
Supply: The Supply Department researches, procures, stores, and issues spare parts, tools, and uniforms. Supply also researches future squadron logistical needs and initiates contracts for services required to support daily operations.
A tribute to this dedicated team is the fact that the Blue Angels have never cancelled an air show due a maintenance problem.
