Gene White joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1969. Trained as a sonar operator, he primarily manned radar patrols in the North Atlantic. After discharge in 1973, White worked six years as a community school coordinator in both Oregon and Alaska -- then qualified as a journeyman electrician, ultimately serving as Lead Support Specialist for the Chugach Electric Association. Retiring in 2007, he served as campaign manager for the successful 2008 Chris Tuck for State House campaign -- then worked four more years as Tuck’s legislative aide in Juneau. He’s also a former percussionist with the Anchorage Symphony and past president of the Alaska Computer Society.