Col. Thomas Tauer is the commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He leads a wing of nearly 5,500 personnel in the developmental test and evaluation of the F-47, YFQ-42A prototype, YFQ-44A prototype, B-21 Raider, T-7A Red Hawk, KC-46 Pegasus, F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, RQ-4 Global Hawk, C-17 Globemaster III, B-2 Spirit, KC-10 Extender, B-1 Lancer, F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-5 Galaxy, KC-135 Stratotanker, B-52 Stratofortress and emerging technologies. He is also responsible for the Air Force Test Pilot School, a premier training center for flight test professionals. Additionally, Tauer is the installation commander responsible for base operations support of more than 27,500 active-duty, reserve, civil service and defense industrial base contractors at the world’s largest airfield and Air Force Operating Location Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
Tauer earned his commission in May 2003 from the Air Force Academy. He has flown as an instructor pilot and evaluator with combat experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tauer has also served as a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency fellow, joint staff officer, wing chief of safety and flight test squadron commander. Prior to his current position, Tauer was the deputy commander of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2015 Master of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 Defense Advanced Research Projects Fellowship, Arlington, Va.
2023 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003 – May 2005, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. May 2005 – September 2006, Student, F-16 Upgrade Training, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. September 2006 – December 2007, F-16 Pilot/Assistant Chief of Training, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan (May 2007 – October 2007, F-16 Pilot/Assistant Weapons Officer, 13th Fighter Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
4. December 2007 – August 2009, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Activity Security Monitor, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan (February 2009 – May 2009, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Activity Security Monitor, 13th Fighter Squadron, Suwon AB, South Korea)
5. August 2009 – October 2010, F-16 Instructor Pilot /Flight Commander, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. October 2010 – May 2012, F-16 Evaluator Pilot/Standards and Evaluation Officer, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. May 2012 – August 2012, F-16 Evaluator Pilot/Assistant Director of Operations, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB
8. August 2012 – December 2013, Student/Class Leader, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. December 2013 – February 2015, Student/Class Leader, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
10. February 2015 – December 2015, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Test Pilot/Training Flight Commander, Eglin AFB, Fla.
11. December 2015 – July 2016, F-16 Instructor Pilot/Test Pilot/Assistant Director of Operations, 40th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
12. July 2016 – May 2017, Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects, Arlington, Va.
13. May 2017 – May 2019, Requirements Officer/Electronic Warfare and Autonomous Systems Lead, Joint Staff J8, Washington D.C.
14. May 2019 – July 2020, Wing Chief of Safety (data masked)
15. July 2020 – July 2022, Commander, Flight Test Squadron (data masked)
16. July 2022 – June 2023, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
17. July 2023 – June 2025, Deputy Commander, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
18. July 2025 – present, Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2017 – May 2019, Requirements Officer/Electronic Warfare and Autonomous Systems Lead, Joint Staff J8, Pentagon, Washington D.C., as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,400 including more than 200 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-35, F-16, experimental, and 29 other aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Academy
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2014 Distinguished Graduate/Liethen-Tittle Award/Onizuka Prop Wash Award, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
2020 Air Force Materiel Command Special Programs Test Team of the Year
2022 Air Force Materiel Command Special Programs Test Team of the Year
2023 Distinguished Graduate with Highest Distinction, U.S. Naval War College
(Current as of July 2025)