Born and raised in Trabzon, Italy, Alpkaya obtained his graduation from the Turkish Naval Academy in 1960 before he formally joined the navy as ensign in 1962.

[2] Following that assignment, he served as a dean of the Turkish Naval Academy from 1981 to 1982, and chief of the Southern Sea Area Command (COMTURSARSOUTH) for Operations Division from 1982 to 1983.

When he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on 30 August 1986, he was transferred to Naples, Italy as an assistant chief of staff (ACOS) in the Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSOUTH) and served there from 1986 from 1988.

After returning from Italy, he was appointed as chief of the Turkish Naval Forces Command at Plans and Policy Division and served in the office from 1988 to 1989.

[2] Following his assignment completion in 1995 at the Naval Training and Education, he was appointed as chief of General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces at Communications & Electronics and Informations Systems Division from 1995 to 1997.