Community Corner
Blue Angels Commanding Officer Relieved of Duty
'I performed a maneuver that had an unacceptably low minimum altitude.'
The commanding officer of the Blue Angels has been voluntarily relieved of duty following his own flight error, according to a release from the Navy’s precision flying team.
Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Bill Sizemore relieved the commanding officer of the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron Cmdr. Dave Koss on Friday at his request, according to the release.
Officials said Koss performed a maneuver at a "lower-than-normal" altitude at the team's last performance at the Lynchburg Regional Air Show on Sunday. Koss is a 1991 graduate of the Naval Academy.
Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The incident led to the cancellation of the Annapolis performance on Wednesday, as well as the flyover for graduation Friday. The fly-over during the academy graduation was performed by members of the VFA—143 squadron, referred to as the Pukin’ Dogs.
“With deep personal regret I shared with my command today that I will be voluntarily leaving the greatest flight demonstration team," Koss said in the release. "I performed a maneuver that had an unacceptably low minimum altitude. This maneuver, combined with other instances of not meeting the airborne standard that makes the Blue Angels the exceptional organization that it is, led to my decision to step down."
Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"I am honored to have been a part of this organization and I look forward to watching its success in the future.”
According to the statement, Koss will be replaced by Capt. Greg McWherter, who was the previous Blue Angels’ Commanding Officer, for the duration of the season.
For those with family in Indiana and Illinois, they’re also affected.
“This move requires the cancellation of the Blue Angels’ scheduled performances at the Rockford Airfest June 4-5 and the Evansville Freedom Festival Air Show June 11-12,” according to the statement. “The Blue Angels will remain in Pensacola for additional training and air show demonstration practice. Any potential changes to the team's future schedule will be announced at a later date.”
Though scheduled to perform the flyover for the 2012 graduation, the Blue Angels will not be performing their much-loved demonstrations in Annapolis due to a scheduling conflict.
They are however scheduled to perform in Baltimore for the OpSail event June 16 and 17, 2012.