About me
Jay Updegraff is a 1986 graduate of St Francis de Sales HS. While at St Francis, Jay played on the Knight football that won the State Title in 1984, the baseball team, and was a 3-year member of the Quiz Bowl team. Jay is a former Boy Scout and also served as a Troop Master as an adult. He has attended both a National Scout Jamboree, and Philmont Scout Ranch as an adult Scout Leader.
After SFS, he attended the US Air Force Academy, commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1990. Upon completing USAF pilot training, Jay completed his MS in Engineering Mechanics at The Ohio State University in 1994. Jay served 24 years on active duty in the Air Force, retiring in 2014 with the rank of Colonel. Highlights of his career include serving as an Evaluator Pilot in the KC10 Extender air refueling aircraft, Instructor Pilot in the C5 Galaxy cargo aircraft, and a Staff Officer at US Northern Command, in Colorado Springs. Jay served as a Squadron Commander while at McGuire AFB, NJ and served as Interim Commander of Civil Air Patrol-USAF, at Maxwell AFB, AL. Jay’s military deployments include Operation Southern Watch, Global War on Terror, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Joint Guardian (Kosovo), and Unified Response (Haiti earthquake relief in 2010). He is a combat aviator, flying 21 missions in the C5 into Iraq. He was a Distinguished Graduate of Squadron Officers School and Air Command and Staff College, and also a graduate of the US Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies, and the Air War College. During his military service Jay was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, and four Aerial Achievement Medals.
After retiring from the Air Force, Jay was hired by FedEx Express Airlines, where he continues to fly as an MD11 First Officer. Jay has been married to his wife Rebecca of 35 years, and they have two adult children. They currently live in St Augustine, Florida where they enjoy traveling and attending college football games.
