Peter J. Vergados was born in Cambridge, MA in 1942, and graduated from Boston English High School in 1959. He received a bachelor’s degree from Boston University in 1964 and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Babson College in 1977. He completed Air Command and Staff College in 1974 and The National Security Military Course in 1983. He received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Boston University in June 1964.

Upon completing pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, he received his wings October 22,1965 and then attended Air Force Survival School, Stead AFB, Reno, NV. From January-June 1966 he attended B-52 Co-Pilot School at Castle Air Force Base, Merced, CA and Nuclear Weapons School, Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, TX. Assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron Altus AFB, OK, he served as B-52 Co-Pilot achieving Combat Crew Status as well as serving on Nuclear Alert during the Cold War.

Volunteering for Combat, he attended flight training in F-100s at Luke Air Force Base, AZ, August-December 1967. In January 1968 he transferred to Hurlburt Field, FL attending Air Ground Operations School, and Forward Air Controller (FAC) flight training in the Cessna O-1 (L-19) Aircraft.

En route to Vietnam, he attended Jungle Survival School, Clark AB, Philippines, before reporting for duty May 1968 at the 504th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. His base of operations was Pleiku, AB, South Vietnam. As a Forward Air Controller flying the O-1 (L-19) Aircraft out of Kontum Airfield, he supported the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division whose area of operations was the Central Highlands. He later was transferred to Phu Hiep Airfield, 10 miles south of Tuy Hoa Air Base supporting the 4th of the 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. Upon returning to the United States in May 1969, he was assigned as C-97 Pilot on the 8th Air Force IG Team, Westover Air Force Base, MA.

Leaving the active Air Force in May 1970, he immediately joined the MA Air National Guard’s 101st Tactical Fighter Squadron Otis Air Force Base, Cape Cod, MA. He later became Air Operations Officer for the 102 Fighter Wing, retiring in December 1986.

Vergados is a command pilot with more than 3500 flying hours in 9 different aircraft, including the T-37, T-38, B-52, F-5, F-100, 0-1(L-19), C-97, F-84F and T-33. He flew more than 375 combat missions, logging more than 800 flight hours. His military awards and decorations Include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Air Force Overseas Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Reserve medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Massachusetts Air National Guard Service Medal with Bronze Star.