Capt Barbara Rucker
CAPTAIN BARBARA K. “BASIA” RUCKER
Capt Barbara Rucker is an Acquisition Management Instructor at Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), School of Systems and Logistics, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio. She teaches the Fundamentals of Acquisition Management (FAM 104) course, to over 700 students annually. FAM 104 is an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) awarding course and is required for 63A Program Management officers.
Captain Rucker entered the Air Force in July 2008 as an enlisted Airman. Her first duty assignment was at Peterson AFB, as a Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) Technician. During this 5-year assignment, she performed workplace occupational health assessments and was a Hazardous Materials responder. Her areas of responsibility included Peterson AFB, Shriever AFB, and Cheyenne AFS. Her next assignment was to Wright-Patterson AFB, where she taught BE as a Technical School Instructor. She taught the BE Apprentice course, the BE Officer Course, and was the course director for the BE Advanced course. During the latter portion of this assignment, she applied for and was selected for commission. In 2017, Barbara commissioned though Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB. Her first assignment as a 2dLt was to Whiteman AFB as a Logistics Readiness Officer for a career broadening tour. In 2020, she moved back to Wright-Patterson AFB and was assigned to the 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Biosciences Division, Operational Products Section. During this assignment, she deployed to Joint Base (JB) McGuire Dix Lakehurst, New Jersey, in support of Operation ALLIES WELCOME. Upon return, she accepted an assignment to the Life Cycle Management Center, F-16 System Program Office. There she was the Operational Flight Program Integrated Product Team Lead for two and a half years. In 2024, Capt Rucker moved to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. There she served as a Program Manager and Resource Team Lead for the Global Exploitation Group, Signals Analysis Squadron, until she was assigned to her current position at AFIT.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of California, San Diego
2012 Airman Leadership School, Peterson AFB, CO
2015 Associate Degree, Bioenvironmental Engineering Technology, CCAF, Maxwell, AL
2016 Associate Degree, Instructor in Technology, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, AL
2016 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2018 Logistics Readiness Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2021 Fundamentals Acquisition Management, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2024 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
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December 2008 – October 2013, Bioenvironmental Engineering Technician, 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, CO
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October 2013 – June 2017, Bioenvironmental Engineering Instructor, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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September 2017 – September 2020, Logistics Readiness Officer, 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO.
a. September 2017 – April 2018, Vehicle Management Officer In Charge
b. April 2018 – July 2019, Asset Management Officer In Charge
c. July 2019 – October 2019, Ground Transportation Officer In Charge
d. October 2019 – August 2020, Deployment and Distribution Flight Commander
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September 2020 – January 2022, Special Warfare Program Manager, Product Development Branch, Airman Biosciences Division, Airman Systems Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
a. September 2021 – Nov 2021, Medical Transportation Officer In Charge, 335th Air Expeditionary Group, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
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January 2022 – July 2024, F-16 Operational Flight Program Integrated Product Team Lead Program Manager, F-16 Program Office, Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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July 2024 – August 2026, Program Manager, Signals Analysis Squadron, Global Exploitation Group,National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one service star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS [OPTIONAL FOR ALL]
2008 Bioenvironmental Engineering Apprentice Course Distinguished Graduate
2010 Senior Airman Below the Zone
2011 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron Airman of the Quarter
2015 88th Air Base Wing Honor Guardsman of the Quarter
2015 Air Force Sergeants Association, Kittyhawk Chapter 751, Honor Guardsman of the Year
2016 USAFSAM Master Instructor Certification
2016 USAFSAM SAM-tastic Instructor Competition Champion
2020 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron Officer of the Quarter
2020 509th Mission Support Group Officer of the Quarter
2020 509th Bomb Wing Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
2020 509th Bomb Wing General Lew Allen Logistics Readiness Officer of the Year Award
2022 F-16 Modernization Branch Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
2023 F-16 Division Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
2025 Norwegian Ruck March Bronze Badge
2026 Norwegian Ruck March Silver Badge
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
4B071 – Bioenvironmental Engineering Journeyman
T4B0X1 – Bioenvironmental Engineering Instructor
21R3 – Logistics Readiness Officer
63A1 – Acquisition Manager
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
List the rank and effective date of promotion using the full rank, month, day, and year in AP style. List all ranks from enlistment/commissioning to the current rank held.
Airman First Class July 8, 2008
Senior Airman May 8, 2010
Staff Sergeant April 1, 2012
Technical Sergeant February 1, 2017
Second Lieutenant 31 August 2017
First Lieutenant 31 August 2019
Captain 31 August 2021
Major Select
(Current as of September 2026)