Col. Nathan C. Stuckey is the Director of AFWERX and the Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force. He leads the strategy and execution of approximately $1.4 billion per year across the Air Force and Space Force through Ventures, Spark, Prime, SpaceWERX, the Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
 

Col. Stuckey earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in May 2002 and received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Detachment 220. He entered active duty in June 2002 and later completed a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in March 2007.

Col. Stuckey's assignments have included roles at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland AFB and the 46th Test Squadron at Eglin AFB. He also served at the White House Communications Agency at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and at the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Military Satellite Communications Directorate at Los Angeles AFB, where he led the $840 million Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) Program. He also served as Systems Engineering Branch Chief in the B-1 Program Office and as Deputy Chief of the C-5M Super Galaxy Program Office.

Prior to his current assignment, he was the Military Deputy Director for the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office, overseeing a 120-person team dedicated to rapidly fielding sustainment capabilities using mature and emerging technologies to enhance mission readiness and reduce sustainment costs.

EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
2007 Distinguished graduate, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JPME-II), Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
2015 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air War College, Non-Residence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 02–August 05: High Power Microwave Research Engineer, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Lab, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2. August 05–March 07: Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. March 07–April 09: Chief, Ground Datalinks Test Group, Datalinks Test Flight, 46th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. April 09–March 10: Deputy Commander, Combat Air Forces Command and Control Test Flight, 46th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. March 10–August 11: Commander, Combat Air Forces Command and Control Test Flight, 46th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
6. August 11–July 14: Project Manager, Future Systems (J5), White House Communications Agency, Washington, D.C.
7. July 14–June 15: Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 15–July 17: Project Manager, Protected Tactical Enterprise Service, Military Satellite Communications Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
9. July 17–July 20: Materiel Leader, B-1 Systems Engineering Branch, B-1 & B-52 Bomber Division, AF Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker AFB, Okla.
10. July 20–July 23: Deputy Chief, C-5M Super Galaxy Division, AF Life Cycle Management Center, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. July 23–June 25: Military Deputy Director, Rapid Sustainment Office, AF Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. Jun 25–Present: Director of AFWERX, Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Department of the Air Force Chief Commercialization Officer, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, 10 May 2002
First Lieutenant, 29 May 2004
Captain, 29 May 2006
Major, 1 June 2012
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 April 2017
Colonel, 1 September 2023

(Current as of June 2025)