User:Pullin' Billies/sandbox/AMAC

Alex Gary Maclean is an Australian/American Naval Aviator serving with the United States Navy as a commissioned officer. Maclean saw combat as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After completing his duties and resigning his commission in 2007, Maclean joined Qantas Airways as a commercial pilot, relocating to Australia.

Early Life
Alex Maclean was born on the 13th of January 1976 to G. and N. Maclean in Sydney, Australia. He attended Dee Why West High, before relocating to Los Angeles, California in the United States due to his father's work, eventually going on to study a Bachelor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) while also attending the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), graduating as part of the class of 1997.

Military Service
On the 5 February 1998, aged 22, Maclean finished his Midshipman Cruise and officially commissioned as an Ensign (O-1) in the United States Navy, securing an aviation slot as was his preference. After attending Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API), Maclean was designated as a Student Naval Aviator (SNA) and reported to NAS Whiting Field, Florida for Primary Flight Training.

Flight Training
Maclean completed Primary Flight Training in 1998 and was subsequently assigned to the Strike Fighter Training Pipeline. Moving to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, Maclean joined Training Air Wing One and successfully completed intermediate and advanced strike training in 2000, before being selected to complete conversion onto the F/A-18C Hornet in 2002, with VFA-122 as part of FRS training, being promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG/O-2) shortly after.

Frontline Aviator
Upon completion of FRS in 2001, Maclean was assigned to VFA-14 "Tophatters" based in NAS Lemoore, California. Maclean joined after the squadron returned from cruise and was promoted to Lieutenant (O-3) and spent two years completing tactical and aircraft qualifications, eventually reaching Level 4 Combat Readiness, during the workups to the squadrons eventual deployment in 2004.

Deployment
In March 2004, VFA-14 deployed to the Middle East and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Later Service
Upon completion of his sea tour, Maclean was transferred to VFA-122 in 2005 to serve as an instructor pilot on the F/A-18C, using valuable combat experience to training new pilots in the operation and tactics of the aircraft through the FRS School. After finishing his tour at NAS Lemoore in 2007, Maclean started a disassociated sea tour as a safety officer aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander (O-4). Shortly following this, Maclean resigned his commission in early 2008.

Later Life
Maclean moved from the United States back home to Australia in 2008, and attempted to find work as a commercial pilot after converting flying qualifications and licenses. However due to the global financial crisis, Maclean could not find work and begun working as an IT admin, until being offered a position at Qantas Airways in 2009.