Alexander Armatas
{{Short description|U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = Captain
| name = Alexander Armatas
| honorific_suffix =
| image = CAPT Alexander P. Armatas.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| nickname = "Scribe"
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Auburn, New York, U.S.
| allegiance =
| branch = United States Navy
| branch_label =
| serviceyears = 1998–present
| serviceyears_label =
| rank = Captain
| rank_label =
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105
U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron “Blue Angels”
| known_for = Blue Angels demonstration pilot
| battles =
| battles_label =
| awards = Four Navy Achievement Medals
| memorials =
| alma_mater = United States Naval Academy
| children = 4
| relations =
}}
Alexander P. Armatas is a naval aviator in the United States Navy. He is the former 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
Alexander Armatas was born at Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, New York, to Telemahos Armatas and Kathy Burke.{{cite news |last1=Wilcox |first1=David |title=Gee Whiz Moment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-alexander-armatas/128777974/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=The Citizen |date=15 April 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724233123/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-alexander-armatas/128777974/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Telemahos Armatas Obituary |work=Syracuse Post Standard |date=13 December 2013}} He grew up in Skaneateles and completed his freshman and sophomore years at Jordan-Elbridge High School before moving to Skaneateles to complete high school.{{cite news |last1=Linhorst |first1=Stan |title=Cmdr. Alexander Armatas on leadership: Be flexible, put faith in people, build trust |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2022/07/cmdr-alexander-armatas-on-leadership-be-flexible-put-faith-in-people-build-trust.html |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=The Post Standard |date=5 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724022728/https://www.syracuse.com/news/2022/07/cmdr-alexander-armatas-on-leadership-be-flexible-put-faith-in-people-build-trust.html |url-status=live }}
Career
File:Blue Angels pilot Alexander Armatas salutes prior to a training flight.jpg
Armatas was accepted into the United States Naval Academy in 1998, graduating in 2002 with a degree in aerospace engineering. 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.{{cite web |title=#1 CDR Alexander P. Armatas |url=https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/assets/docs/bio/01-Armatas.pdf |website=Blue Angels |publisher=US Navy |access-date=24 July 2023}}
Before joining the Blue Angels, Armatas completed more than 900 aircraft carrier landings and logged more than 4000 hours of flight time. In 2022 he was stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana as the commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 105 ("Gunslingers"). 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. 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.
=Blue Angels=
File:The Blue Angels flyover Lake Michigan July 23, 2023.mpg in 2023]]
From 2019 to 2022, the Blue Angels were led by Captain Brian Kesselring.{{cite news |last1=Callahan |first1=Dan |title=Blue Angels announce new commanding officer for 2023–24 show seasons |url=https://weartv.com/news/local/blue-angels-announce-new-commanding-officer-for-2023-24-show-seasons |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Wear News |date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430102426/https://weartv.com/news/local/blue-angels-announce-new-commanding-officer-for-2023-24-show-seasons |url-status=live }} In 2022 Armatas was named the commander of the Blue Angels to succeed Kesselring.{{cite web |title=Team Officers |url=https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/team/officers.htm |website=Blue Angels |publisher=US Navy |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716022958/https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/team/officers.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Duncan |first1=Brenda |title=Skaneateles native Alexander Armatas chosen to lead Navy's Blue Angels |url=https://www.syracuse.com/business/2022/04/skaneateles-native-alexander-armatas-chosen-to-lead-navys-blue-angels.html?outputType=amp |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=Syracuse Post Standard |date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724233118/https://www.syracuse.com/business/2022/04/skaneateles-native-alexander-armatas-chosen-to-lead-navys-blue-angels.html?outputType=amp |url-status=live }} Armatas's call sign is "Scribe", as the unofficial historian of his unit.{{cite news |last1=Girod |first1=Brandon |title=Blue Angels call signs span from 'Scribe' to 'Cheese'. Here's how they earned them |url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/blueangels/2023/07/07/blue-angels-call-signs-2023-how-they-got-them/70387460007/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |publisher=Pensacola News Journal |date=7 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724021159/https://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/blueangels/2023/07/07/blue-angels-call-signs-2023-how-they-got-them/70387460007/ |url-status=live }} He flies the number-one jet and leads a squadron of 150. The Blue Angels and Armatas fly in the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet.{{cite news |last1=Walton |first1=Bill |title=Meet the Blue Angels "New" Super Hornet Jets |url=https://avgeekery.com/meet-the-blue-angels-new-super-hornet-jets/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Avgeekery.com |date=17 April 2021 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817141224/https://avgeekery.com/meet-the-blue-angels-new-super-hornet-jets/ |url-status=live }}
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.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Benjamin |title=Generations of pilots watch Blue Angels documentary premiere in Pensacola |url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/blueangels/2024/05/17/blue-angels-movie-premieres-in-pensacola-to-begin-theatrical-run/73718969007/ |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=Pensacola News Journal |date=17 May 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscat inline}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVfAUqXTl-Y 2023 US Navy Blue Angels Arrival for the Fort Lauderdale Air Show!]
{{Blue Angels}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armatas, Alexander}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:United States Naval Aviators
Category:People from Skaneateles, New York