Kenneth DeGraaf was born in Michigan. He served in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Reserve, and U.S. Air National Guard from 1986 to 2017. DeGraaf earned a degree in aerospace structures from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1990 and a master's degree in structural dynamics from Columbia University in 1991. His career experience includes working as a commercial aviator, an advanced calculus and powered flight teacher with the U.S. Air Force Academy, an environmental manager, and a flight safety officer.
