COLONEL EMILY E. RUCKER
Col (Dr.) Emily E. Rucker is the Commander of the 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. She is responsible for the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization and development of the 83 medical squadron members in her charge. The 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron ensures the medical readiness of approximately 1,500 Reserve Fighter Wing Airmen who serve to meet our Nation’s objectives. Col Rucker received her commission in 2006 and served over 14 years on active duty before joining the Air Force Reserve in 2020. She has held a variety of leadership positions at the squadron, wing, and NAF levels and has one deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2016, Col Rucker was the first military psychologist assigned to the Battlefield Airmen Training Group, now Special Warfare Training Wing. She assisted the stand-up of the Air Force’s first Human Performance Support Group and co-created the Special Warfare Assessment and Selection program. Prior to her current assignment, Col Rucker was the Mental Health Program Coordinator at 16th Air Force (AFCYBER) Office of the Command Surgeon, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Dr. Rucker is also a Department of the Air Force civilian, working as a SERE Psychologist within the Human Factors Directorate at Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Spokane, Washington. She supports Joint Chiefs of Staff responsibilities through research and training support, reintegration of isolated personnel, and expert psychological consultation, advancing Department of Defense personnel recovery policy development, training, planning, and execution. She has been in this role since September 2020.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
2005 Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology, University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Denver, Colorado
2006 Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2007 Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, Denver, Colorado
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1.August 2006 – August 2007, Clinical Psychology Resident, 79th Medical Group, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
2.August 2007 – June 2009, Mental Health Element Chief, 460th Medical Operations Squadron, Buckley AFB,Colorado
3. June 2009 – June 2011, Mental Health Flight Commander, 460th Medical Operations Squadron, Buckley AFB,
Colorado (August 2009 – January 2010, Base Psychologist, 321st Expeditionary Medical Squadron, Kirkuk Air Base,
Iraq)
4. June 2011 – October 2011, Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program Manager, 65th Medical
Operations Squadron, Lajes AB, Portugal
5. October 2011 – September 2012, Mental Health Flight Commander, 65th Medical Operations Squadron, Lajes AB,
Portugal
6. September 2012 - August 2016, SERE Psychology Chief, 336th Training Support Squadron, Fairchild AFB,
Washington
7. August 2016 – August 2017, Mental Health Element Chief, 59th Medical Operations Squadron, Joint Base San
Antonio-Lackland, Texas
8. August 2017 – November 2018, Battlefield Airman Operational Psychology Director, 350th Battlefield Airman
Training Squadron, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
9. November 2018 – May 2019, Operational Psychology Chief, Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron,
JBSA-Lackland, Texas
10. May 2019 – August 2020, Human Performance Optimization Flight Commander, Special Warfare Human
Performance Squadron, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
11. August 2020 – April 2025, IMA to Command Surgeon, Mental Health Program Coordinator, 16th Air Force, JBSA Lackland,
Texas
12. May 2025 – present, Commander, 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon with 1 oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Training Ribbon
2008 Air Force Space Command Company Grade Officer Psychologist of the Year
2009 460th Space Wing CGO of the Year
2010 USAF Alan G. London CGO Psychologist of Year
2013 Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Biomedical Clinician Category III of the Year
2014 USAF Lessons Learned Outstanding Team of the Year
2017 AETC Biomedical Clinician Category II of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain July 2, 2006
Major January 1, 2012
Lt Col April 1, 2018
Colonel April 28, 2025
(CURRENT AS OF MAY 2025)