A decorated Vietnam War veteran and Blue Angel pilot, Al Cisneros believed no matter the mission or destination, he could achieve any challenge put before him. Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Cisneros graduated from St. Edwards University in Austin and was inspired to serve his country watching jets fly overhead at Bergstrom Air Force Base while working as a janitor at a nearby church. He joined the U.S. Navy, and in October 1970 became an F-4 Phantom pilot. He reported for duty completing a 10-month combat deployment to Southeast Asia aboard USS Saratoga during the Vietnam War. Flying 154 successful combat missions Cisneros earned 12 Air Medals including two individual medals and several
commendation medals and a Bronze Star. In October 1974, Cisneros joined the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron as the show narrator. In 1975, Al Cisneros became the first Hispanic pilot for the Blue Angels and flew in the left-wing pilot and slot positions until 1977. Cisneros served 11 years with the Navy and went on to become a commercial airline captain for nearly 30 years, flying for both
Continental Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
“Don’t wait until tomorrow to do your best, you’ve got to give it everything, because tomorrow is not promised.” – Al Cisneros
