Blue Angels Announce First Female Pilot, an ODU Grad Based at Oceana

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The Blue Angels have added the first female demonstration jet pilot to its aerial demonstration team.

Lt. Amanda Lee, an ODU graduate based at Oceana, is the newest core member of the Navy’s famed team. Lee is currently assigned to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 and goes by the call sign “Stalin.”

According to the Navy, Lee is expected to report to the Blue Angels in the fall and will train with the squadron through the winter. Her first event will likely be early next year.

Each year, the Blue Angels select finalists to interview at the team’s home base of Naval Air Sta-tion (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., during the week of the Pensacola Beach Air Show; selections are made at the conclusion of that week. This year’s Pensacola Beach Air Show took place July 6-9.