Paul Nelson
Paul Nelson served in the United States Air Force for 34 years, retiring as a Command Chief Master Sergeant in 2018. He served in Air Force Special Operations Command and the Alaska Air National Guard as a Pararescueman. During his service he conducted a myriad of missions ranging from direct action missions to humanitarian relief efforts around the globe. He is a combat veteran of Desert Storm One and Two, Northern Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan, just to name a few. Throughout his career, he conducted numerous civil SAR missions in the state of Alaska and in the territories of Northern Canada and is credited with saving over 100 lives. During combat operations, he has been attached to Army Special Operations teams, Navy SEAL teams, and Marine Force RECON teams. His citations include the Legion of Merit, the Alaska State Legion of Merit, numerous Air medals, the Combat Action medal, Joint Meritorious Service medal with three oak leaf clusters, and many other medals. As a Team Leader, Paul led Special Tactics and Pararescue Teams during multiple combat missions, providing lifesaving medical treatment in hostile and austere conditions. He also provided humanitarian relief aid during several hurricane response missions and the devastating earthquake in Pakistan in 2005.
Paul became a SCUBA diving instructor in 1991. He is an Advanced Open Water and Rescue SCUBA Instructor with over 5000 dives in both extreme cold water and tropical conditions. He has taught students around the globe, especially in the INDO-Pacific. As a paraescueman, Paul has conducted many high profile dive search and recovery missions during his career.
Paul calls Chugiak, Alaska home, where he lives with his wife Amanda. His children are grown and his son Colton and daughter Carson also live in Alaska.