Minnesota Aviation - Hall of Fame 2025 Inductee

AMANDA M. LEE

1986 -

Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, MN. She graduated from Irondale High School in 2004, where she competed in soccer, hockey, and swimming. While attending the University of Minnesota, Duluth, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician. Maintaining the F/A-18 Hornet. In 2009 she was selected for the Seaman to Admiral Program. A competitive program for Enlisted Sailors to earn their commission as an Officer. The following year, she attended the Naval Science Institute for officer training in Newport, RI, and then began studying at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry.

After earning her commission as an Ensign, she went on to flight training, earning her wings and becoming a Naval Aviator in 2016. After winging she transferred to the Fleet Replacement Squadron, VFA-106 at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for training in the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Following that, she was assigned to an operational squadron, VFA-81, and served two combat deployments aboard the USS Harry Truman, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Freedom Sentinel, and the NATO Exercise, Trident Juncture.

Upon completing her 2019-2020 deployment, she reported back to VFA-106 as an Instructor Pilot, teaching newly winged aviators how to fly the F/A-18 Super Hornet. It was also during this tour that she was on the F/A-18 Super Hornet "Rhino" demonstration team. This is where she would showcase the Super Hornet's mobility, versatility, and power.

Lee made her mark in aviation in 2022 as the first woman selected to fly as a Blue Angel demonstration pilot in their seventy-eight-year history, breaking barriers and serving as a spokesperson for women Naval aviators. During her career with the Navy, she has acquired over 2000 flight hours and over 225 arrested carrier landings.

In addition to her distinguished military career, Amanda Lee has become a globally recognized figure representing Minnesota in aviation. As a native of Mounds View, she has inspired aviators not only across the state but also around the world through her groundbreaking achievements. Her selection as a Blue Angel pilot showcased her exceptional skill and dedication while reinforcing Minnesota's rich legacy in aviation. Lee has engaged with the aviation community in Minnesota and beyond by participating in outreach events and inspiring the next generation of pilots. Her journey from a Minnesota high school athlete to a pioneering naval aviator continues to motivate aspiring aviators worldwide, cementing her place in both Minnesota's and naval aviation history.