Former Jefferson Forest High School track and field coach Jerome Loy remembered Josh Drablos as a young man who always went to great heights.
As a star athlete at the Bedford County school, Drablos set a VHSL Group AA state record in the pole vault in 2010, winning the championship at 15 feet, 2 inches.
As a college student, Drablos sought and achieved a leadership role at the United States Naval Academy.
On Friday, Drablos was one of 11 people killed when a skydiving plane in Hawaii crashed shortly after takeoff on Oahu’s North Shore at a small airfield used by skydivers and the U.S. Army. Hawaii officials released his name Monday.
A statement released by the Navy said Lt. Drablos, 27, was “an invaluable member” of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, which is based in Kunia, Hawaii.
