DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Today, Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, certified Maj. Sean “Rambo” Loughlin, an F-35A Lightning II pilot assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing's 421st Fighter Squadron, as the new commander of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team during the Air Combat Command Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
Loughlin comes from a military family which, alongside his earliest memories of aviation, shaped his lifelong desire to fly.
“I grew up in Massachusetts, going to Hyannis Airport with my late grandmother every weekend,” said Loughlin. “We would get bagels and sit for hours watching airplanes take off and land. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved aviation and known that I wanted to fly for the rest of my life. My father served 32 years in the U.S. Army – and that upbringing inspired my commitment to service.”
Commissioning into the U.S. Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2015, Loughlin has since amassed over 1,200 flight hours across various aircraft. In his 11 years of service, he has flown the T-6 Texan, T-1A Jayhawk, T-38C Talon, F-15E Strike Eagle, A-10C Thunderbolt II, and F-35A Lightning II. He also served as a safety observer for the previous demonstration team pilot, which drove his motivation to take on this new role.
“Being one of Mach’s safety observers and spending time with the team… is what solidified my desire to become a demonstration pilot. Being entrusted with the opportunity to lead the team has been the greatest honor of my life thus far,” said Loughlin. “What has impacted me the most, however, is the realization that even the smallest interaction – a conversation, a gesture, a moment of encouragement – can change the course of someone’s day or even their life. That responsibility, and that opportunity, is truly extraordinary and exciting for me.”
As commander of the demonstration team, Loughlin isn’t just responsible for a travelling team of 11 maintainers and support personnel, but is also tasked with being a powerful voice for Air Force recruiting, all while showcasing the combat capabilities of the F-35A around the globe. That, combined with the ground team exemplifying the precision and professionalism of U.S. Airmen, fosters the team’s mission to retain current and recruit future generations of Airmen.
“My No. 1 goal is to take care of the people on this team. My No. 2 goal is to take care of the equipment on this team. And my No. 3 goal is to make sure that the F-35A Demonstration Team is a highly respected and highly performing cohesive team,” said Loughlin. “The best piece of advice I ever received was ‘stay the course’. At every airshow, the entire cast of performers is just a group of average people who dedicated themselves enough to a single passion of theirs. In life, you can do anything you put your mind to.”
The demonstration team is currently scheduled to perform at 20 airshows across the United States between the months of March to November. As the country celebrates 250 years of American independence, the team’s mission carries added meaning – honoring the nation’s legacy while inspiring those who will shape its future. Under Loughlin’s leadership, the team will continue demonstrating not only the unmatched capabilities of the F-35A, but also the Airmen who make it all possible.