As fans and football teams from the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots gather in Santa Clara, California, this weekend for Super Bowl LX, they’ll see a military formation in the sky above during the singing of the national anthem before kickoff.
Members of four U.S. Navy tactical squadrons will conduct a unified flyover with members of the U.S. Air Force on Sunday, February 8, 2026, above Levi’s Stadium. The demonstration commemorates America’s 250th birthday.
One of the U.S. Navy pilots supporting the flyover will be Commander Mike Jennings, a native of Camby, Indiana, southwest of Indianapolis. He serves as the commanding officer of VFA-97, a Navy aviation squadron based at NAS Lemoore, California.
“Being able to be part of such a momentous event representing the Navy is an amazing responsibility,” Jennings said in a statement to Military.com. “The chance for my children to see what I do on TV is a rare opportunity and something I think will be a great memory for myself, my wife and my two boys.”
“The chance for my children to see what I do on TV is a rare opportunity and something I think will be a great memory for myself, my wife, and my two boys.”
The eight-aircraft flyover formation will include F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs from Naval Air Station Lemoore, F-15C Eagles from Fresno Air National Guard Base in California, and B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.
Navy Commander Fondly Recalls Midwestern Roots
While Jennings is stationed in California, he’s a proud Indiana native. The decorated pilot attended Mooresville High School in Mooresville, Indiana and graduated in 2002. Jennings went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology and flight from Purdue University in 2006.
In his statement to Military.com, Jennings said the skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Mooresville.
“I was from a small town growing up, so we had to search for opportunities,” Jennings said. “I believe growing up there taught me how to be ambitious, search for those opportunities, and the work ethic to enable that.”
“I was from a small town growing up, so we had to search for opportunities,” Jennings said. “I believe growing up there taught me how to be ambitious, search for those opportunities, and the work ethic to enable that.”
A Long Road to U.S. Navy Commander
According to his U.S. Navy biography, Jennings joined the Navy 19 years ago, and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida, for flight training in January 2007.
He earned his Naval Aviator Wings in March 2009 and reported to the VFA-125 “Rough Raiders” at NAS Lemoore, CA for initial fleet training in the F/A-18C Hornet. From there, Jennings began his operational flying in May 2010 with the “Fists of the Fleet” of VFA-25.
While a “Fisty”, he made two combat deployments aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Following two combat deployments, CDR Jennings assisted VFA-25 in transitioning to the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
At the conclusion of this tour, CDR Jennings was selected to attend the Navy Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN, graduating in 2013 and reporting for duty with the VFA-101 “Grim Reapers” at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to begin training in the F-35C Lightning II. After completion of his tour at VFA-101, CDR Jennings reported to NAS Lemoore, CA in January 2016.
Following his department head tour, CDR Jennings attended the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, in February 2021. While attending, CDR Jennings participated in the Halsey Bravo Advanced Research Project and earned a Master’s Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.
Currently, CDR Jennings is the Commanding Officer of the Navy’s second operational F-35C squadron, the “Warhawks” of VFA-97.
But his interest in serving our country, through multiple tours of duty and higher education pursuits, came from his military family.
“Both my grandfathers served during World War II, and I’ve been interested in military aviation since I was three years old,” Jennings said.
“Both my grandfathers served during World War II, and I’ve been interested in military aviation since I was three years old,” Jennings said.
Military Flyovers Commemorate America’s 250th Birthday
While this flyover features the Air Force and Navy, a statement to Military.com from U.S. Air Force Public Affairs calls it “a powerful symbol of America’s 250 years of airpower and maritime strength.”
“It symbolizes the entire joint force — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard — working together across every domain to defend our nation, safeguarding 250 years of freedom in America,” read the statement.
The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various missions that ensure freedom, security, and prosperity in the U.S. and around the world.
The aircraft take off from and land aboard Navy aircraft carriers at sea. Missions traditionally performed by specialized aircraft, such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, electronic attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, can now be executed by a squadron of F-35s.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence.
According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
