Mr. Edgar K. Tucker

Mr. Edgar “Ed” Tucker is the Senior Technical Director of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, TN.  He serves as the principal technical advisor to the commander and is responsible for providing technical direction for the planning, execution, analysis and reporting of AEDC’s test programs, test capabilities, and infrastructure.  The Complex employs more than 3,000 people and comprises more than 68 aerospace test facilities valued at over $12B across eight states.  With facilities at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee and operating locations at the Federal Research Center at White Oak, MD; at Ames Research Center, in Mountain View, CA; Edwards AFB, CA.; Eglin AFB, FL; Hill AFB, UT; Peterson AFB, CO; Holloman AFB, Kirtland AFB and White Sands Missile Range, NM; and Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AEDC conducts test and evaluation in the Complex’s wind tunnels, aeropropulsion sea level and altitude test cells, space chambers, altitude rocket cells, rocket sled tracks, ballistic ranges, radar cross section test facilities, arc heaters, aircraft survivability and landing-gear test facilities, high energy laser facilities, inertial and navigation test facilities and other aerospace test facilities providing representative conditions from subsonic to hypersonic speeds at altitudes from sea level to space. All NASA manned spacecraft and every high performance aircraft, missile, most space launch systems and many military satellites in use by the Department of Defense today have been tested at the Complex.

Mr. Tucker was a Distinguished Graduate of the Pennsylvania State University Reserve Officer Training Corps and has over 32 years of experience within industry, the military, and civil service in the research, development, test and evaluation, and acquisition of many aircraft, missiles, jet engines, rocket systems, and test facilities. 

Mr. Tucker also served as a Colonel in the USAF Reserves, retiring after 30 years of service. His final assignment was as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Commander, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, FL.  Mr. Tucker’s military career included assignments within the Air Force Research Lab; Armament Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center; NASA, and several system program offices.

EDUCATION

1987  Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (with honors and with distinction), The Pennsylvania State University,  University Park, Pennsylvania
1989 Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
1993 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2000 Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN\
2007 Air Command and Staff College
2008 Air War College, by group seminar

ASSIGNMENTS

  • Summer 1987– Analytical Engineer (Air Force Research in Aero Propulsion Technology Graduate Fellowship), Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Rocket Combustion Analysis Branch, West Palm Beach, Florida         
  • August 1987 – May 1989, Research Assistant / Graduate Student, Turbulent Combustion Lab, Penn State University
  • July 1989 – August 1991, Research Engineer / Laser Diagnostic Systems Development Lead, NASA Ames Research Center, Thermophysics Facilities Branch, Moffett Field, California
  • August 1991 – September 1993, Rocket Propulsion Test Manager for ICBM and Advanced Liquid Rockets, Rocket Division, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tennessee
  • October 1993 – January 2004, Senior Engineer, Gas Turbine Engine Test,  Sverdrup Technology Inc./Jacobs Technology Inc.,/ATA Inc., Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tennessee. Multiple roles including Test Operations Engineer/Facility Manager; Test Engineer, and Test Project Manager for military fighters, transport aircraft, large commercial aircraft, cruise missiles, turboshaft/turboprop engines, and industrial combustors
  • February 2004 – July 2008, Senior Aerospace Engineer,  USAF Aeropropulsion Systems Test & Evaluation Branch, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tennessee.  Responsible Test Organization (RTO) Action Officer and Test Manager for all USAF Component Improvement Program Ground Testing
  • July 2008 – April 2011, Deputy Director, USAF Aeropropulsion Systems Test & Evaluation Branch, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tennessee.
  • April 2011 – May 2017, Chief of the AEDC Hypersonic T&E branch and Combined Test Force; Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tennessee. Executing Agent of High Speed Systems Test Technology for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Test Resource Management Center, Test and Evaluation/Science and Technology program; Lead for DoD Hypersonic T&E Investment Program (HyTIP)
  • May 2017 – Aug 2018, Technical Director, Test Operations Division, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tennessee.
  • August 2018 – Present, Senior Technical Director, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tennessee.

AWARDS AND HONORS                                                      

USAF Civilian Achievement Award
USAF Propulsion Engineer of the Year, USAF Director of Propulsion Award
USAF Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award Finalist
Gen. Ronald W. Yates AFMC Team Excellence Award
AEDC Engineer/Scientist of the Year
AIAA Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Technical Leadership in Aerospace Test and Evaluation
717th Test Squadron Civilian of the Year
Outstanding Performer Award from AFMC/IG; Unit Compliance Inspection
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Excellence in Aviation Research Award
Extra-Miler Award for Exceptional Achievement (3X)
External Customer Service Excellence Award
Business Development Teamwork Award
|Distinguished Graduate, Air Force ROTC
Legion of Merit Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
USAF Reservist of the Year Engineering Award for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Aeronautical Systems Center Propulsion Division Reserve Engineer of the Year Award

(Current as of  June 2020)