Our Leaders & Legends
Will Chesney (SEAL 6)
For the majority of his career, Will was an esteemed member of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), or SEAL Team Six, serving as both an operator and handler of military working dogs. Together with his Belgian Malinois, Cairo, Will participated in hundreds of missions, including the operation that resulted in the capture or killing of the notorious terrorist, Osama Bin Laden.
After 13 years of dedicated service, during which he received various medals and commendations, including a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, Will retired from service in 2015 following a grenade explosion that left him injured.
Alan C. Mack (CW5, 160th SOAR) Ret.
Alan C. Mack joined the Army upon graduating High School. His desire to see the world as a US Army helicopter mechanic took him to the Republic of Korea, West Texas, and the Federal Republic of Germany before attending Warrant Officer flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
The nearly year-long flight school yielded a UH-1H, Huey, and CH-47D, Chinook, aircraft qualification before his first pilot assignment in Savannah, Georgia.
Timing is everything, as he arrived in time to progress with his new unit as a copilot in Operation Desert Shield. Then, several months later, he flew combat missions in the lead aircraft penetrating deep into Iraq.
Upon his return to the United States, he quickly achieved the status of Pilot-in-command and eventually assumed the coveted role of Night Vision Goggle Unit Trainer. The NVG UT position is a precursor to flying as an Instructor Pilot (IP). Another assignment to the Republic of Korea was in store for Alan before attending the CH-47 Instructor Pilot course at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
The call to adventure was persuasive, drawing Alan into the special operations community as an MH-47 pilot. Hard work and relentless training vaulted him to the top of his peer group as a Flight Lead and standardization instructor pilot. His experience and leadership traits put him at the forefront of several clandestine special operations, some still too classified to discuss in an open forum.
Not many Warrant Officers have the opportunity to command a unit, but Alan was entrusted with the United States Military Academy Flight Detachment at West Point, New York. With his military career approaching thirty-six years, he elected to retire and join public service.
CW5 Alan C. Mack is a Master Aviator with more than 6700 hours of flight time, of which over 3200 hours were flown with Night Vision Goggles.
Alan C. Mack’s awards include
• Legion of Merit
• 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses
• 3 Bronze Star Medals
• 3 Meritorious Service Medals
• 10 Air Medals; one with Valor device, Combat Action Badge, and the Army Broken Wing award.
Alan now serves his local government as a Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services for Orange County, New York.