Eric “Popeye” Doyle is the CEO of RAVN Aerospace where he is in charge of all mission, operations, and maintenance. Eric is a native of League City, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1996. Following college, Eric attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his commission in December 1996.

Eric was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1999, and received orders to the “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California, for F/A-18C Hornet training. His first fleet assignment was as a member of the “Eagles” of VFA-115 where he flew the F/A-18C and F/A-18E and completed two deployments aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In July 2003, he was selected to attend Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), where he remained as a staff instructor.

Upon completing his tour at TOPGUN, Eric reported to the “Ragin’ Bulls” of VFA-37 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, where he served as the Training Officer and deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his Training Officer tour, Eric reported to the “Valions” of VFA-15 as a Department Head, where he deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During his tour with the Valions he was selected as the 2009 LCDR Michael Hoff G. Attack Aviator of the Year.

Following his time in Virginia he then received orders to the 422nd Test & Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he flew the F-22A Raptor from February 2011 to January 2014 as an Operational Test pilot.

Eric was then assigned as the Executive Officer of the “Stingers” of VFA-113 in August 2014. He deployed with VFA-113 and CVW-17 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He assumed command of the Stingers in December 2015, and led VFA-113 through the transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet.

In September 2017 Eric joined the Blue Angels as the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader and following that tour he took over as the Director of the Blue Angels F/A-18E/F Transition Team. Eric is currently the President of the Tailhook Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Council of Air Shows. Eric has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in all variants of the F/A-18 and over 750 carrier-arrested landings.