Lt Col Jared M. Rupp is the Commander at the 846th Test Squadron, 704th Test Group, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. He directs a 120 person combined military, civilian, and contractor team conducting developmental tests for crew escape systems, deep earth penetrating weapons, infrared countermeasures, and ballistic missile defense. He manages a 14-million dollar budget supporting design and fabrication of rocket sleds to meet test requirements on the world-premiere Holloman High Speed Test Track.
Lt Col Rupp commissioned into the USAF through ROTC Detachment 105 in December 2006 as a developmental engineer. Initially assigned as a UH-1 Flight Test Engineer and then directing F-16 operational test programs at Eglin AFB, “Knocker” continued down the flight test path and was selected for the combined Air Force Institute of Technology and USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) program, with his thesis investigating active adaptive control of thin aero elastic structures. After graduation, while leading a seven partner nation C-130J test program, he also grew and prepped his flight to become its own squadron (the 417 FLTS) shortly after his departure. Selected to return to TPS as an instructor, he lead control room and airborne test conductor instruction for 184 elite students from eight TPS classes, as well as two overseas flight exchanges with the Republic of Korea. While at TPS, he deployed to CENTCOM Headquarters, coordinating and meeting joint requests for forces within the theater, and taught a Global Force Management course to recent joint rotational deployers at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. In his current role, he has led two deployments of DE counter-Unmanned Aerial System (c-UAS) weapons to two Combatant Commands, including the overseas setup, training, and assessment of the first high power microwave cUAS weapon in the Department of Defense. Additionally, the 704 TG/OL-AA is leading prototype testing on the first USAF DE weapon systems to be built to USAF requirements. “Knocker” has conducted test over 110 flight test missions, including many elevated risk sorties, on UH-1, F-16, F-15D/E, C-130J, MC-130H, MC-130J, and AC-130W aircraft.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2007 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2013 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2014 Master of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2014 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2018 Air Command and Staff College (non-residence), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
- February 2007 – February 2009, UH-1 Flight Test Engineer, 40th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
- March 2009 – July 2011, F-16 Flight Test Director, 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida
- August 2011 – November 2012, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- December 2012 – December 2013, Student, Class 13A, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California
- April 2014 – May 2015, C-130 Flight Test Engineer, 413th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- June 2015 – April 2016, Tactical Mobility Flight Commander, 413th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- May 2016 – March 2017, Fixed Wing Flight Commander, 413th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- April 2017 – September 2019, Instructor/Deputy Director of Education, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California (April 2019 – October 2019, Emergent Requirements Officer, J3/Forces, CENTCOM Headquarters, MacDill AFB, Florida)
- October 2019 – January 2020, Instructor/Assistant Director of Operations, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California
- February 2020 – June 2022, Director, Directed Energy Combined Test Force, 704th Test Group OL-AA, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
- June 2022 - Current, Commander, 846th Test Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 27, 2006
First Lieutenant December 27, 2008
Captain December 27, 2010
Major December 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel December 14, 2020
(Current as of June 2022)