Name: Garth Lenz

Archangel AKPJ Association Position: Ambassador

Active Military or Veteran Status:  Chief, 210th Alaska Pararescue Team (ret)

Bio Summary: CMSgt (ret) Garth Lenz joined the 210th Alaska Pararescue Team in 1989.  He helped build this new team from scratch.  He served as the Superintendent and then Chief from 1996 through 2005.  He came up from the 129th Pararescue team, joining it in 1985.  He brought with him 8 years of experience running surf boats for the US Coast Guard.  Chief Lenz also brought Mountain Rescue experience from his time growing up in the North Tahoe area.  In the North Tahoe area, he would run across USAF Survival instructors, 41st and 129th Pararescuemen that were conducting training.  These guys were very motivating.  Inspired by family and these Pararescuemen, he set his sights on rescue as a career.  Even after retiring in 2005, he is active in pop up rescue missions that he comes across as a Merchant Marine Pilot.

Chief Lenz is very excited about helping with the Alaska Archangel non-profit.  He has seen too many of his old teammates and families fall between the cracks when the system cannot quite support them.  He also remembers all those old WWII, Korean, and Viet Nam Vets that were lost in the system.  He looks forward to making a difference as an AKPJ member.