JEFF DEFREEST

Alaska State Liaison

Jeff DeFreest started flying early in life – logging his first hours in 1972 – but his flight training stalled until he was well into his career as a professional geologist with the US Forest Service (USFS). He worked in Idaho, Oregon, and Utah before transitioning to Alaska in 2001. 


Before moving to Alaska, he had restarted his flight training and got an introduction to backcountry flying in the San Rafael Desert in Utah. He flew SuperCubs in Arizona on weekends, while studying to become a certified minerals examiner for the USFS. He earned his private pilot certificate in Alaska on the 99th anniversary of powered flight on December 17, 2002. 

Jeff DeFreest started flying early in life – logging his first hours in 1972 – but his flight training stalled until he was well into his career as a professional geologist with the US Forest Service (USFS). He worked in Idaho, Oregon, and Utah before transitioning to Alaska in 2001. 

Before moving to Alaska, he had restarted his flight training and got an introduction to backcountry flying in the San Rafael Desert in Utah. He flew SuperCubs in Arizona on weekends, while studying to become a certified minerals examiner for the USFS. He earned his private pilot certificate in Alaska on the 99 th  anniversary of powered flight on December 17, 2002. 

Jeff earned his Single Engine Seaplane rating at Kenmore Air near Seattle, then trained in Oregon to fly in actual IMC conditions, then both Comm SES and SEL in Alaska flying Beavers, and earned his Comm MEL in Arizona, all while serving in various capacities with the USFS.

Jeff’s first airplane was a Cessna 170B on floats, which he put on wheels to engage in year-around flying in SE Alaska. He started visiting logging camp airstrips, river delta and gravel bar strips while on conventional gear, and accessing USFS lake cabins on floats. 

From 2010-2017, he served as District Ranger for the 3.3 million acre Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District on the Tongass National Forest. This district is made up of about two-thirds National Monument and Wilderness and one third multiple use Forest Service lands. 

In Ketchikan Jeff met Kari, his wife to be. They invested in a Skywagon on floats for their first anniversary to visit the many USFS lake cabins in the panhandle of SE Alaska. In 2017 Jeff was offered the position of USFS Alaska Regional Geologist and the couple moved to Juneau. He also had collateral duties working in the lands program, and for the fire aviation program with single engine air tankers. Jeff conducted rifle training for federal employees, and also assisted with ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980) training for federal, state, and native corporation employees, as well as tribal members. Jeff retired in November of 2020 but continues to serve on the ANILCA training cadre, works part time on-call for the fire aviation program, helps Alaska youth in Hunter Education, and was appointed to the Alaska Minerals Commission. 

Kari and Jeff are passionate about the USFS cabins on the many amazing lakes in SE Alaska and spend much of their free time lake-hopping with their Skywagon and advocating for the USFS to keep those fly-in cabins available to the public.

jdefreest@theraf.org
907-321-9800

    Recent Posts

MARCEL LEBLANC

By lellington • September 15, 2026

DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR

By John McKenna • September 14, 2026
Sometimes one needs to look no further than one's incoming correspondence to find inspiration. Just this past week, folks passionate about the RAF mission reached out to me with suggestions that would bring resources to the RAF. Whether they be one-off items that we might offer, or events like large fundraisers, these folks are offering some thoughts on how we might continue to pay the bills. Additionally, we’re receiving word from folks with new destinations on their mind, and some pretty cool ones at that. Along the way, my inbox – as well as my calendar – is filled with updates on our Expanding the Map effort, with an emphasis on Fly Rocky Top. The Fly Rocky Top initiative in Tennessee is generating strong interest, and for good reason. It feels great. Folks are showing up to pitch in, with significant work projects planned. Trish and I, along with other board members, will be there to lend a hand to this exciting project. We are coming up on our annual year-end letter, which you will be seeing not long from now. In addition to showcasing a few more of our successful projects, we will be seeking your support. Stand by. I’ll wrap this up by letting you know that we could not be more pleased with how you all are doing your part. Thank you. It is so healthy to have an organization that uses passion as a primary energy source. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted September 14, 2026

GARRISON DAM RECREATIONAL AIRPARK IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE

September 11, 2026
“We had a busy day at Garrison Dam Recreational Airpark, as we continue to work on the underwing camping area,” RAF North Dakota Liaison Brian Rau reported. Rau was awarded an RAF grant in spring of 2026 to convert an adjacent day-use park into an airport camping area, and had organized volunteers who began the project in May. The airport, 37N, is closed while the runway and taxiway are being upgraded by a contractor for the ND Aeronautics Commission.

PACK A TRASH BAG

By Stef Goza • September 9, 2026
You know the feeling. You set the airplane down somewhere spectacular, shut off the engine, and enjoy the pristine landscape in front of you. This is why you fly. Keeping airstrips pristine is everyone's responsibility. But one item that doesn’t always make it into the airplane is a good trash bag. Not for the trash you planned to make. For the trash you didn’t. Cans left in a fire ring, fishing line along the river, or food wrappers working their way through the brush. None of it came in your airplane, but you have the ability to get it out. That’s reason enough to tuck a couple of heavy-duty contractor bags in with your tie-down gear. They earn their space in other ways, too. A contractor bag can keep wet or muddy gear out of the baggage compartment, cover equipment in a downpour, collect rainwater, or become an emergency poncho or windbreak. It weighs almost nothing and takes up very little room. Throw a few in the airplane and leave them there. You may not need one for your own trash, but there is a good chance you’ll find another use for it—or find something worth carrying out. Submitted September 9, 2026 By Stef Goza, Etiquette Chair, Safety, Education, and Etiquette Committee

VOLUNTEERS CLEAR WILLOWS, TREES FROM MARBLE AIRFIELD

September 8, 2026
RAF Colorado Liaison Ken Long, Ambassador Mike Langersmith, and other RAF volunteers participated in an August work event at Marble, Colorado, a mountain airfield about 20 nm up the Crystal River drainage south of Carbondale. Airfield Manager Susan Blue put together the task list and oversaw the event that brought 21 volunteers in ten aircraft and four dogs.