It has been eight years since BSNC last featured shareholder Kya McAlister (Nan’u’raq) in the Agluktuk, when she had just graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received her Naval Aviation Wings of Gold in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since then, McAlister has served as a Navy instructor pilot, flying the P-8A, T-44C, and T-54A and deploying to Europe and the Middle East in service to her country.
One of McAlister’s favorite memories from her time in the Navy was eating salmonberries in Norway during a P-8A deployment. It immediately reminded her of picking berries as a child in Stebbins, a small piece of home that followed her across the world.
McAlister’s time in the Navy has been incredibly rewarding, and she is proud to have served her country. She is grateful that she will continue serving in the Navy Reserve as she begins the next chapter of her aviation career with Delta Air Lines.
Life has also changed in ways beyond her career. McAlister is now married to her husband, Greg, and they have a son, Casey. Starting a family has made her appreciate her roots and the support of the people and communities that shaped her even more.
Her connection to Stebbins and the Bering Strait region has remained a constant throughout her journey. Her culture and community have kept her grounded, even when her career has taken her far from Alaska. Now that she has more time to reconnect, McAlister is excited to find meaningful ways to give back to the community that has given her so much. Congratulations, Kya!