Vasilios “Akis” Gialopsos was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Akis grew up in his family’s restaurant business, going to school, playing sports, participating in the Boy Scouts, Greek dancing, and Greek Church events such as the annual Alaska Greek Festival. After completing his high schooling at the American Community Schools in Athens, Greece, Akis attended the University of Alaska, Anchorage, where he was part of the nationally ranked and internationally awarded debate program. Akis worked in the Alaska Legislature for nearly a decade in diverse roles including an aide in the House of Representatives to Chief of Staff for the Senate President. For four years, Akis was the Committee Aide to the Senate Resources Committee. He then served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director in the Office of Governor Mike Dunleavy. Following the retirement of Commissioner Corri Feige, from July 2022 until January 2023, Akis served as the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources overseeing the largest non-federal land management portfolio in the United States.

Akis joined Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in January 2023 as Deputy Executive Director. With his wife Allison, Akis volunteers for events in the Greek community, and occasionally gets to hunt, fish, and hike in their lifelong home.