Commander Frank J. Weisser

Commander Frank J. Weisser is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from North Springs High School in 1996 where he lettered in football and track. He attended the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 2000, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.

Frank reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for aviation indoctrination in October 2000 and received his wings of gold in November 2002. Frank remained with Training Squadron 7 (VT-7) as an Instructor Pilot in the T-45C as a Selectively Retained Graduate (SERGRAD).

Frank reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87), the “War Party,” in April 2005 where he deployed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in August 2005. During this deployment, Frank flew 34 combat missions over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Frank joined the Blue Angels in September 2007. He served as the Narrator and VIP Pilot in 2008, Opposing Solo pilot and NATOPS Officer in 2009 and as the Lead Solo pilot and Operations Officer in 2010. While assigned to the Blue Angels, he earned a Master's Degree in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in September 2009.

Frank returned to the fleet in February 2011 as a Department Head for Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97), the "Warhawks," and completed two deployments to the Western Pacific/Arabian Gulf aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

Following his Department Head tour, Frank reported to the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany in December 2013 where he oversaw all NATO School training activities throughout the world, while personally conducting training in Ethiopia, Ukraine, Germany and France.

Frank rejoined the Blue Angels in July of 2016 where he served again as the Opposing Solo Pilot in 2016 and the Lead Solo Pilot and Operations Officer in 2017. Following the completion of the 2017 season, Frank remained in Pensacola to assist the Naval Aviation Enterprise with the Blue Angel Transition from the Legacy F/A18 A-D to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

During his time running the Super Hornet transition, Frank was selected to be the pilot for all extreme low altitude and inverted scenes for the Topgun 2: Maverick major motion picture film.

During his time in the Navy, he accumulated more than 5000 flight hours and nearly 500 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Strike Flight Air Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, and various personal and unit awards.

Following military retirement, he returned to Georgia and managed and oversaw the development of GE99, a private airpark in the north GA mountains in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Hickory Aviation Museum and assisting with the development of a brand new 110,000+ square foot $22M aviation museum. In addition to owning a Baron 58 & C172, Frank is a type-rated Gulfstream pilot (GV & GVIII) and regularly flies the G450/550/700/800 for private owners and businesses.

Frank is an accomplished public speaker and the author of Lead Solo: Learning Life’s Vectors from an F/A-18 Blue Angel Aviation, published by the U.S. Naval Institute.

Frank has inspired thousands of pilots and would be pilots and children with his work at Airshows as part of the Blue Angels and in the scenes he helped design in the Maverick Movie.