Inside the 2025 Blue Angels: Lcdr Lilly Montana's Incredible Journey
LCDR Lilly Montana
Blue Angels
airshow season
LCDR Lilly Montana
Events Coordinator
Winter Training
logistics
Advance Site Visits
F-16
callsign Lunchbox
The Blue Angels are back and ready to kick off their 2025 airshow season! In this episode of the Blue Angel Phantoms Podcast, we sit down with LCDR Lilly “Lunchbox” Montana, Blue Angel #8 and the Team’s Events Coordinator, to get an inside look at what it takes to make the Team and execute one of the most logistically complex schedules in aviation.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Winter Training in El Centro – How the team has been preparing for the season
- The Role of an Events Coordinator – The behind-the-scenes work that ensures the Blue Angels’ success
- Advance Site Visits – The airshow locations LCDR Montana visited and what goes into planning
- Her Road to the Blues – Applying three times before finally making the team
- Getting the Call – The unforgettable moment she learned she was selected
- Collaboration with the Thunderbirds – Her recent ride in an F-16
From sharing the story behind her callsign, "Lunchbox," to giving us a firsthand look at life behind the scenes of the Blue Angels, LCDR Montana’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and passion for naval aviation.