Lieutenant Commander James Cox currently serves as both the slot pilot and safety officer for the United States Navy Blue Angels. Originally joining the team in September of 2018, LCDR Cox has a long lineage of military service in his family, including both his grandfathers, a grandmother who served as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and his father, who flew H3 Sea King helicopters in the Navy.

Born in San Diego, California, LCDR Cox frequently moved around the country in alignment with his father’s deployments and was often exposed to naval aviation, including the 1985 Pensacola Homecoming Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. It was not long until he knew he also wanted to join the Navy as an adult.

After graduating from James Madison University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in public administration, LCDR Cox accepted a job in the private sector before deciding to pursue his dream of joining the Navy. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in 2009 and earned his wings in 2011.

LCDR Cox initially joined Strike Fighter squadron 103 (VFA103), nicknamed the Jolly Rogers, and deployed aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) before returning stateside and reporting to Naval Air Station Fallon for Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN).

Upon graduation from TOPGUN, LCDR Cox reported to Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic at Naval Air Station Oceana where he served as an instructor. It was during this time that he submitted his application for the Blue Angels.

After rushing the team for much of the spring and summer of 2018, LCDR Cox was officially selected for the Blue Angels in September of that year, where he became a “Khaki Newbie” through the end of the season. During this phase, incoming members shadow the current team and learn what is required to be a Blue Angel.

It was not until the 2018 Blue Angels flew their final air show at NAS Pensacola that LCDR Cox and the other Khaki Newbies, including LCDR James Haley (Right WIng), LCDR Cary Rickoff (Solo Pilot) and LCDR Adam Kerrick (Events Coordinator) were able to fully transition into their assigned roles within the team.

After initial training flights over Pensacola, the team deployed to NAS El Centro for the traditional syllabus of Winter Training, where LCDR has assumed the role of the Left Wing (#3). The 2019 Blue Angels performed at over thirty cities including Annapolis as part of the Naval Academy Graduation, Smyrna, Tennessee, Grand Junction, Colorado and San Francisco, California.

Prior to the start of the 2020 season, LCDR Cox transitioned from the Left Wing to the Slot (#4). It was during 2020 Winter Training that the Blue Angels invited the Air Force Thunderbirds to join them for a week of joint training operations, where the teams exchanged best practices, backseat rides, and air show performances. Shortly after, both teams were forced to cancel the first half of their 2020 air show schedules due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Pivoting quickly, both teams refocused their efforts and executed Operation America Strong, a multicity flyover effort saluting healthcare workers, first responders and other essential personnel on the front lines of the pandemic.

On July 27, 2020 the Blue Angels took delivery of their first F/A18E Super Hornet, which at the time was set to replace the team’s legacy Hornets which has been flown by the team since 1987. Former Blue Angels Boss and Director of the transition team, Captain Eric Doyle, had the honor of ferrying the jet from Cecil Field to NAS Pensacola for its debut in Blue Angel colors.

The Blue Angels took to the skies over Pensacola Beach for one final flight in the legacy F/18 Hornets on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

With the team frozen for the 2021 season, LCDR Cox returned for his third year with the team, again flying in the slot position. Air shows also returned in 2021 and saw the Blue Angels perform at several show sites including Corpus Christi, Texas, Melbourne, Florida, Niagara Falls, New York, Fargo, North Dakota, and London Ontario, Canada. The team also performed two joint air shows with the Thunderbirds at the KC Air Show and Ypsilanti at the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow.

Produced by: Ryan Nothhaft
email: [email protected].
Special thanks to dvids for cockpit. and other assorted Navy and Blue Angels imagery.


2021 BLUE ANGELS TEAM

1. CAPT Brian Kesselring
2. LCDR James Haley
3. MAJ Frank Zastoupil, USMC
4. LCDR James Cox
5. CRD Ben Walborn
6. LCDR Cary Rickoff
7. LCDR Julius Bratton
8. LT Katlin Forster
XO CRD Todd Royles
MO LCDR Brian Abe
Assistant MO LT Henry Cedeno
Flight Surgeon Lt Monica Borza
SO LTJG Kristin Toland
PAO LT Chelsea Dietlin