A salute to Top Gun Aces, Navy team up for a special night at Greater Nevada Field (Mariner '00)
The Reno Aces and NAWDC are teaming up on Saturday at — and over — Greater Nevada Field as Top Gun pilots will fly over the stadium during the opening ceremonies that begin at 4 p.m. The Aces host the Las Vegas Aviators, which play in the same valley as the U.S. Air Force demonstration squadron. The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 587th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base.
Capt. Andrew Mariner said Top Gun is known for its training, but outside of Fallon and the Lahontan Valley, not too many people realize the training starts and begins in the Nevada desert. As deputy commander of NAWDC, he oversees numerous naval weapons schools in addition to Top Gun, and he's responsible for more than 780 aircraft, 1,000 sailors and civilians and an annual budget that exceeds $210 million.
Mariner graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000 and completed three tours at NAS Lemoore in California. He has more than 4,000 flight hours and 1,000 arrested landings.
BZ '00!