Coronadan Navy Lt. James Tomaszeski Named Blue Angel for 2010

The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, announce the officers selected for the 2010 team. The squadron selected three F/A-18 Hornet pilots, a C-130 pilot, maintenance officer, and a supply officer to join the team in September. Additionally, the team selected a public affairs officer to join the 2011 team. “Nearly 50 highly qualified officers applied for these jobs, so the competition was extremely tough,” said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Brantuas, the squadron’s applications officer. “Over the course of four months, we invite them to attend our shows so the team can get to know each of them personally before we select the finalists. Once selected, we bring the finalists down to Pensacola during the Pensacola Beach show to interview them and make a final selection. It’s a very thorough and fair process designed to select only the best officers to represent the Navy and Marine Corps.” F/A-18 Hornet Pilots: Navy Lt. Robert Kurrle, Jr., 30, of Statesville, N.C., is currently assigned to VFA-106 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. He is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Navy Lt. Christian Simonsen, 33, of Coon Rapids, Minn., is currently assigned to VFA-106 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. He is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Navy Lt. James Tomaszeski, 30, of Coronado, Calif., is currently assigned to VMFAT-101 at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif. He is a 2000 graduate of Florida State University. C-130 Aircraft Commander: Marine Capt. Benjamin Blanton, 31, of Ojai, Calif., is currently assigned to VMGR-452 at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of California at San Diego. Maintenance Officer: Navy Lt. John Thompson, 44, of Baltimore, Md., is currently assigned to NAVAIR 5.0D, Patuxent River, Md. He is a 1982 graduate of Dundalk Senior High School, Baltimore, Md. Public Affairs Officer: Navy Lt. Katie Kelly, 27, of Elgin, Ill., is currently assigned to Navy Office of Information West. She is a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. She will join the team in 2011. Supply Officer: Navy Chief Warrant Officer Three Clive Dixon, 40, of Bronx, N.Y., is currently assigned to HM-14 at Norfolk, Va. He is a 1987 graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School, Bronx, N.Y. Six of these seven officers will join the current ten members of the 2009 team. Expected to return for 2010 are: F/A-18 Demonstration Pilots: Navy Cmdr. Greg McWherter, 40, of Atlanta, Ga. Marine Maj. Chris Collins, 34, of Darien, Conn. Navy Lt. Frank J. Weisser, III, 31, of Atlanta, Ga. Navy Lt. Ben Walborn, 29, of Reading, Pa. Events Officer: Navy Lt. Amy Tomlinson, 31, of San Diego, Ca. C-130 Aircraft Commanders: Marine Maj. Brendan C. Burks, 35, of Auburn, Ala. Marine Capt. Edward Jorge, 33, of Hollywood, Fla. Flight Surgeon: Navy Lt. Johannah Valentine, 30, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Administrative Officer: Navy Chief Warrant Officer Four Adolfo De Montalvo, 45, of El Paso, Texas. Public Affairs Officer: Marine Capt. Tyson W. Dunkelberger, 31, of Burke, Va. For more information, call: Capt. Tyson W. Dunkelberger, Public Affairs Officer for the Blue Angels at: (850) 452-2163. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pensacola, Florida Release #: 004-09 Blue Angels 2009