Beaufort’s Mike Akey, 65, joined the United States Air Force in Greenfield, Mass., in 1975. After Basic Training at Lackland AFB in Texas, he served with the security police at Holloman AFB, N.M., and Nellis AFB, Nev., while attending college at night. After earning a degree, in 1980 he attended Officer Training School in Texas and further training as an officer in Navigation and Electronic Warfare before serving as an Electronics Warfare Officer in F-4 Phantom jets.
In 1986, he transferred to the Massachusetts Air National Guard and in 1989 attended pilot training at Columbus, Miss. Thereafter he flew A-10 Thunderbolts until 2004 when he served at the Massachusetts National Guard Headquarters, rising to become Chief of Staff at the Joint Forces Headquarters for the state Guard. During this time he began flying commercial aircraft for Business Express, UPS and finally United Airlines, including routes worldwide.
His military deployments included Kuwait, operations in Bosnia and at Ramstein, Germany in support of Iraqi Freedom. He retired in 2010 as a Major General. He is very active as President of MOAA’s South Carolina Council of Chapters, with the S.C. Veterans Coalition of Veterans advocating for veteran legislation, and with the Hilton Head Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
