John “Gucci” Foley

John “Gucci” Foley

Former Lead Solo Pilot | Blue Angels

    As the lead solo pilot for the legendary Blue Angels flight team, John “Gucci” Foley exemplifies the pinnacle of excellence, mastering the art of flying among the top 0.01% of US military pilots.

    John was named a “Top Ten Carrier Pilot” six times before leaving his mark as a Marine Instructor pilot and then Lead Solo pilot of the Blue Angels. His expertise even extends to the silver screen where he piloted jets in the iconic film Top Gun.  John’s accomplishments include:

    • Lead Solo of Blue Angels 
    • Advisor to successful corporations and leaders, from Wall Street to New Delhi
    • Sloan Fellow at the Stanford Graduate School of Business
    • Entrepreneur and founder of his own company
    • Part of the inner circle of a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley during the boom and bust of 2000
    • 6-time winner of Top Ten Carrier Pilot Award
    • First American to fly a Russian (the chief test pilot of the Mikoyan Design Bureau) in an F-18
    • As Lead Solo, part of first U.S. team ever to fly in Moscow with Russian demonstration teams, and to fly in other Eastern Block countries.
    • Did actual flying in the movie Top Gun from the carrier deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise
    • Two-year letterman for Navy Football; played in Liberty Bowl vs. Ohio State, and in Garden State Bowl vs. Houston; last person to intercept Ohio State star quarterback Art Schliester