From Black and Gold to Gold and Blue

To say being a Blue Angel pilot is a unique occupation would be an understatement. There have only been about 280 since the group’s formation in 1946. But this year, one of those pilots is CC alum Captain Isaac Van Zandt Becker ’17.

“I grew up around planes and always knew I wanted to be a pilot,” Becker says. “I was always much better working with my hands and being outside and kind of doing things as opposed to studying things. So, when I was looking at careers and what I thought about my future life, I was always looking for what I could do to get me out of a typical office environment. The military really tied that all with my aviation interest.”

Capt. Becker arrived at CC in the fall of 2013 from Austin, TX. He majored in Geology and spent time outside of the classroom on the CC Cycling Team, in the Salsa & Blues Dance Club and the CC Choir, and serving as an RA, FOOT Trip Leader, and a member of the CC Student Finance Committee. A chance meeting in Worner with a Marine visiting campus opened up the potential for Becker to see a future in the military. After graduating, Becker joined the Marine Corps and held various positions including a notable three-year stint in Japan with his first operational squadron.

“CC is unique in that everyone has a hunger to do something impactful. A lot of friends that I had here were often volunteering in the local community, going to soup kitchens, even starting up their own charity services. They felt they could make a change in the world. The military is great in a lot of ways for that. You get to do that on a large scale in a system that’s already set up for you. Obviously, that’s multifaceted. But it’s a tool that can be used in a lot of different ways.”

Since September 2023, Becker has served as a Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) C-130 Demonstration Pilot and Aviation Safety Officer (ASO). As a C-130 pilot, his primary role is the logistical transportation of 45-50 personnel and 38,000 lbs. of mission equipment to each show site. Additionally, he serves as an on-call resource for the squadron for parts runs if extensive maintenance is required. His secondary role is as a demonstration pilot, where he and the other Blue Angels showcase the handling capabilities of the team’s C-130 (affectionally known as Fat Albert).

“The biggest challenge of being a Blue Angel is keeping up with the team’s demanding tempo,” says Becker. “We spend an average of 270-300 days a year away from home between our show season and the winter training cycle. We’re constantly on the move, and there’s an ever-growing list of responsibilities beyond flying. Balancing fitness, flying, and administrative responsibilities requires a significant adjustment when joining the team.”

He is also quick to note how well prepared he was for this challenge. “The fast pace of the Block Plan at CC has been a blessing in disguise,” he says. “It prepared me for handling heavy workloads with short turnaround times, processing large volumes of complex information quickly, and ingrained a habit of critical evaluation and asking questions.”

The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach, while inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country. The team travels to 32 show sites during their eight-month season, performing flight demonstrations and engaging with local communities through schools, hospitals, JROTC units, and more.

“By far, the best part of my job is the people I work with,” says Becker. “Everyone on this team is incredibly talented, passionate, and driven to succeed – much like the atmosphere at CC. Being around them reinvigorates my passion and challenges me to better myself every day. The positive energy that my teammates bring is infectious, and I love coming to work knowing I get to spend the day with some of the best people I know!”

This past week, Becker returned to Colorado Springs with the Blue Angels for the 2024 Pikes Peak Air Show. While he was in town, he visited CC to take a walk down memory lane.

“There is something so special about this place,” he says, walking along the dirt path leading to Palmer. “The first time I stepped on campus, it sung to me. I was like, I gotta go here. There was just something about the energy here that was super magnetic and so attractive.”

Becker is forever grateful for this place that he called home for four years. He notices and appreciates the changes (“It would have been so great to just walk across the street to games and not have to take that bus to World Arena!” and “This is definitely not the library we had. This place is amazing!”), but loves how it still feels like the first time he stepped foot on campus. “I just knew this is where I was supposed to be,” he says.

Becker realizes there’s a bit of a disconnect when it comes to his Geology major and chosen profession. But he notes that the impact of his education goes beyond the specific subject matter. “It’s cool to be able to look out my plane window and know all about the stuff I’m flying over. But it speaks more to the broadening of my mind here. Whether I’m flying over the Western Pacific or volcanic islands in Japan, looking out at neat geological stuff or, you know, just really going anywhere and having that view of curiosity.”

He also notes how CC encouraged the broadening of his worldview and life purpose. “It was all about gaining that perspective and kind of seeing how my little drop of water kind of helped fill the bucket a little bit, made that experience a lot more impactful for me. I think the liberal arts helped me because at CC I got inculcated with this culture of, hey, you’re here. It’s going to be a good time. You’re going to learn a lot, but you have a responsibility to give back in some way. And for me, [the military] is my way.”

While Becker can spend hours discussing the similarities and difference between CC life and military life, for him, the main similarity comes down to passion. “People in the military are very similar to CC people in that they are very passionate. They really love this country, they love it for very different reasons sometimes. But I think everyone is pretty uniform in that we love this country. We all want what is best for it. We might disagree on what exactly that is, but we do want what’s best for it. It’s kind of hard to vilify those who think differently than me when we have an open and honest conversation. Sometimes it gets heated, but you kind of get down to their core principles and you can understand them a little bit better. Not saying I agree with everybody, especially in this climate, but it humanizes the other side of the table.”

When asked about his favorite memories from CC, Becker immediately points to the people. “The friendships I made at CC are still some of the most special in my life,” he says. “CC is unique in so many ways, but the most profound for me has always been the passion and enthusiasm everyone has for learning and adventure. It’s the only place I’ve ever been where I genuinely felt like I could get along with anyone, and I’ve never had as many friends as I did here. I could hardly walk across campus without running into a good friend and getting caught up in hearing about their lives.”

As for the future, Becker would like to become an instructor in some capacity to give back to the naval aviation community and help shape the next generation of pilots.

“Whether in an operational squadron, teaching new KC-130 co-pilots how to employ the aircraft in tactical settings, or as a flight school instructor teaching new officers with little to no flight experience the fundamentals of flying,” says Becker. “I believe it would be incredibly rewarding to share the knowledge I’ve gained through my experiences, watch future leaders grow, and help them reach their full potential.”