Jeff DeFreest

Jeff DeFreest was inspired to become a pilot by his Uncle Tom and logged his first few hours over Ohio in 1971. During his career as a geologist with the US Forest Service (USFS) he was introduced to backcountry flying in Utah's San Rafael Desert and resumed his flight training in 2001. He earned his private pilot certificate in Alaska on December 17, 2002 - the 99th anniversary of powered flight! Jeff purchased his first plane while stationed in Juneau, a Cessna 170B on PK floats. Winter months, with the 170 on wheels, found him exploring old logging camp airstrips, river deltas and gravel bars. During the summer months Jeff switched back to floats expanding his backcountry aviation opportunities to include recreational use of remote lakes and USFS cabins. 

Jeff's knowledge of the USFS cabins increased during the 7 years that he served as the District Ranger on the 3.3 million acre Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District in the Tongass National Forest. He went on to fly SAR missions for the Civil Air Patrol and mentored senior & cadet members. He eventually became a Beaver driver for an air taxi service on the waterfront in Ketchikan. He currently volunteers as Alaska Liaison for the Recreational Aviation Foundation and the AOPA as the ASN for the Ketchikan Waterfront. He also actively promotes General Aviation, safety, and flying & maintenance career opportunities in SE Alaska.

Jeff and his wife, Kari, spend much of their free time lake-hopping in SE Alaska with their Skywagon on straight floats, and occasionally get south to fly their C170B on rubber around the Northwest.