Major Aaron Tucker is a Doctoral Student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. He is responsible for graduate study, computational fluid dynamics and flight research in preparation for an assignment in the Air Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory. His research is focused on the effects of discrete roughness elements on boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow. He is a Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a member of the AIAA Flight Test Technical Committee.

Major Tucker was born in Richfield, Utah but calls Knoxville, Tennessee home. He earned a commission through the Air Force ROTC at the University of Southern California in 1997 and is married to the former Michelle Zavitz of College Station, Texas. They have a daughter, Ashton, and twin sons, Alex and Andrew.

Education

1997 BS cum laude Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California; Los Angeles, California

1997 MS Aerospace Engineering (Aerospace Design and Innovation), University of Southern California; Los Angeles, California

2002 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School; Maxwell AFB, Alabama

2004 Air Force Intern Program (IDE in-residence); The Pentagon, Washington DC

2005 Graduate, US Air Force Test Pilot School; Edwards AFB, California

2007 MS Systems Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla; Rolla, Missouri

2007 Air Command and Staff College (Joint PME level I in-correspondence)

Assignments

1. Jul 1997 - Dec 1997, Special Assistant to the Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 060, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2. Jan 1998 - Jan 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. Feb 1999 - Apr 1999, Student, C-5 Pilot Initial Qualification, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
4. May 1999 - Aug 2003, C-5 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander and Chief Executive Officer, 22d Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, California
5. Aug 2003 - Oct 2004, Air Force Intern, Headquarters US Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington DC
6. Oct 2004 - Dec 2005, Student Test Pilot, US Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California
7. Jan 2006 - May 2009, Assistant Operations Officer, C-17 Flight Commander and C-5/C-17 Experimental Test Pilot, 418th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, California; (Nov 07 – Feb 08, Mission Commander, Joint Airborne Battle Staff, 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
8. May 2009 - present, Doctoral Student, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Flight Information

Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: 3583 including 368 combat and 384 flight test hours
Aircraft Flown: O-2A, C-5A/B/C/M, C-17A, A/T-38A/B/C, N/F-16B/D, and 26 other aircraft

Publications

Tucker, A., "Warfighters in Acquisition: A Requirements Document for the Test Professional," Air and Space Power Jounal vol XXII no 4, Air University Press, Maxwell AFB Alabama, Winter 2009. (accepted for publication)

Tucker, A., Dagli, C., "Design of Experiments as a Means of Lean Value Delivery to the Flight Test Enterprise," Journal of Systems Engineering vol 12, no 3 Fall 2009.

Tucker, A., Childress C., Poremski, R., "Getting Dirty: Testing C-17 Airfield Performance in Dirt and Mud Landing Zones," US Air Force T&E Days, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2009-1712, Albuquerque New Mexico, 2009.

Tucker, A., Hutto, G., Dagli, C., "Application of Design of Experiments to Flight Test: A Case Study," US Air Force T&E Days, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2008-1632, Los Angeles California, 2008.

Tucker, A., "Leadership by the Socratic Method," Air and Space Power Journal vol XXI no 2, Air University Press, Maxwell AFB Alabama, Summer 2007. Also published in the Spanish Edition, vol XIX no 2, Second Quarter 2007.

Tucker, A. et al., "Limited Characterization of Dual Bimorph Synthetic Jet Actuators-Aeroelastic Load Control Phase I," 45th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2007-475, Reno Nevada, 2007.

Hong, P., Marcu, B., Browand, F. and Tucker, A., "Drag Forces Experienced by Two, Full-Scale Vehicles at Close Spacing," Developments in Vehicle Aerodynamics, SP-1318, Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit Michigan, 1998.

Awards and Decorations

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

Aerial Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal

Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster

National Defense Service Medal

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal with service star

Air & Space Campaign Medal

Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and four oak leaf clusters

2001 60th Air Mobility Wing Senior Company Grade Officer of the Year

US Air Force Test Pilot School Class 05A Aaron C. (C-Dot) George Award for best warrior focus

Professional Certifications

Test & Evaluation Level III

Systems Planning, Research, Development, & Engineering-Systems Engineering (SPRDE-SE) Level II

Effective Dates of Promotion

Second Lieutenant, 08 Jun 97

First Lieutenant, 08 Jun 99

Captain, 08 Jun 01

Major, 01 Mar 07