David McPhetres

Mr. David "Mac" McPhetres was appointed as the director of the Alaska Military Youth Academy on May 6, 2019. Mr. McPhetres retired from the U.S. Air Force and Alaska Air National Guard in May 2019 in the grade of Colonel after 31 years of service. He most recently served as the Commander, 168th Maintenance Group, Eielson AFB, Alaska where his responsibilities included all actions necessary to organize, administer, recruit, instruct and train new and seasoned airmen for their State and Federal mission. Prior to his appointment as the 168th Maintenance Group Commander, he served as Director of Staff, the Air Operations Officer and deputy Joint Operations Officer in the Alaska Joint Forces Headquarters.

Mr. McPhetres was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program at Washington State University in 1988 where he received his commission and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology. After Undergraduate Pilot Training, he gained experience in the C-21A, C-130E, and C-130H1 prior to joining the Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron in 1998. He has more than 4400 flying hours including over 140 combat hours in USAF Aircraft as Pilot, Instructor, and Evaluator. Mac served as mission commander and crew on operational deployments including Coronet Oak, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch, Joint Forge, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In conjunction with his military career, Mr. McPhetres was a full time flight crew member with Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Westchester, NY from 1999-2009. He has over 4000 hours flying the Boeing 747-400 freighter. He also served during natural disasters including volcanic eruptions in New Guinea in 1997 and Hurricanes in Honduras in 1998. In 2009, Mr. McPhetres transferred to the Joint Staff Operations section of the State headquarters where he provided command and control of National Guard forces executing homeland defense, defense support of civilian authorities and domestic emergency missions within the State of Alaska.

Mr. McPhetres continued his professional development through completion of professional military education courses which focused on leadership, command, core values, strategy, planning, and mentorship. He is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for Nordic skiing. He was a volunteer coach for the Eagle River Special Olympics cross-country athletes in 2014 and 2015, and also coached Masters skiers in the Alaska Nordic Racing adult program before transferring to Eielson AFB.