USN Blue Angels announce 2012 team members

PENSACOLA – The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, announce the officers selected for the 2012 team.

The squadron selected three F/A-18 Hornet pilots, a C-130 pilot, administrative officer and supply officer to join the team in September. The maintenance officer was previously selected for the 2012 team.

“Nearly 50 highly qualified Navy and Marine Corps’ officers applied for these positions. Over the last four months, the team had the chance to get to know each member at various air show events and social functions, giving us the opportunity to get to know them personally before selecting finalists. The finalists then came down to Pensacola for an extensive interview process designed to select the best officers for the 2012 Blue Angels’ team,” said Lcdr. Jim Tomaszeski, #2 pilot and applicants officer.

F/A-18 Demonstration Pilots:

Navy Lt. Mark TedrowNavy Lt. Mark Tedrow, 29, of Charleroi, Penn., is currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Calif. He is a 2004 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

Navy Lt. John HiltzNavy Lt. John Hiltz, 31, of Park Hill, Ky., is currently assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Calif. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Marine Capt. Brandon CordillMarine Capt. Brandon Cordill, 31, of Hemet, Calif., is currently assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122) at MCAS Beaufort, S.C. He is a 2002 graduate of St. Louis University.

C-130 Aircraft Commander:

Marine Capt. Aaron HarrellMarine Capt. Aaron Harrell, 31, of Frederick, Md., is currently assigned to Expeditionary Warfare School at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Va. He is a 2002 graduate of Anderson University.

Maintenance Officer:

Navy Lt. Richard MercadoNavy Lt. Richard Mercado, 40, of Torrance, Calif., is currently assigned to Fleet Readiness Center Southeast at NAS Jacksonville, Fla. He is a 2001 graduate of Excelsior College. He was selected to join the 2012 team in 2010.

Administrative Officer:

Navy Lt. Holly TaylorNavy Lt. Holly Taylor, 36, of Simsboro, La., is currently assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 49 (HSL-49) in NAS North Island, Calif., and is a 2008 graduate of the University of Alabama.

Supply Officer:

Navy Lt. Scott AdamsNavy Lt. Scott Adams, 28, of Omaha, Neb., is currently assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN-68) at Naval Station (NS) Everett, Wash. He is a 2005 graduate of Hastings College.

A C-130 Aircraft Commander was also previously selected for the 2013 team. Marine Capt. Michael Van Wyk, 29, of Orland Park, Ill., is currently assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He is a 2003 graduate of Trinity Christian College.

Seven of these eight officers will join the current nine members of the 2011 team. Expected to return for 2012 are:

F/A-18 Demonstration Pilots:

Navy Capt. Greg McWherter, 42, of Atlanta, Ga.

Marine Maj. Brent Stevens, 35, of Knoxville, Tenn.

Navy Lt. Christian Simonsen, 35, of Coon Rapids, Minn.

Navy Lt. David Tickle, 30, of Birmingham, Ala.

Events Coordinator:

Navy Lt. Todd Royles, 32, of Willow Grove, Pa.

C-130 Aircraft Commanders:

Marine Capt. Benjamin Blanton, 33, of Ventura County, Calif.

Marine Capt. John Hecker, 38, of New Orleans, La.

Flight Surgeon:

Navy Lt. Jason Smith, 34, of Santa Rosa, Calif.

Public Affairs Officer:

Navy Lt. Katie Kelly, 29, of Elgin, Ill.

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