Lt Col Tyler W. Robarge is an Instructor of Aeronautics and the Director of Flight Test, Department of Aeronautics, Dean of the Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. In this capacity, he provides classroom and in-flight instruction for the Air Force’s brightest young minds, and he directs the Academy’s nationally-recognized Flight Test Techniques course.

Lt Col Robarge was commissioned as the top overall graduate of the United States Air Force Academy class of 2003. Following commissioning, he conducted hypersonic aerodynamic research at Purdue University on a Hertz Foundation Fellowship and graduated with a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics. He then served as an operational F 16 pilot at Aviano Air Base, Italy and Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. In 2013 he attended the Empire Test Pilots’ School as an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force, where he received the McKenna Trophy as the top test pilot graduate. He has performed all types of testing in the F-22, to include flying qualities, structures, avionics, aerial refueling certification, and safe separation testing.

Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Commander, 411th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he also served as the Director of the 420-person F-22 Combined Test Force and was responsible for all developmental flight test of the F 22 Raptor.

Lt Col Robarge is a command pilot with combat experience in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and more than 1,800 flying hours in the F 22, F-16, T-41, and 27 other aircraft types.

2003 Bachelor of Science & Distinguished Graduate, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

2005 Master of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Alabama

2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

2013 Distinguished Graduate, Empire Test Pilots’ School, MOD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

2013 Post-graduate Certificate, Flight Dynamics, Cranfield University, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Combat F-16 flight lead, instructor pilot, mission commander, and forward air controller (airborne)

F-22 and F-16 experimental test pilot

Branch chief, HQ Air Force Test & Evaluation Directorate

Commander and Director, F-22 Combined Test Force

Top overall graduate in Aeronautical Engineering, the Engineering Division, Academics, and overall Order of Merit, USAFA class of 2003

Fellow, Fannie & John Hertz Foundation

Orville Wright Award – top Air Force pilot training graduate, Oct-Nov 2007

Top graduate, Squadron Officer School (#1/388)

McKenna Trophy and Hawker-Hunter Trophy, Empire Test Pilots' School class of 2013 – awarded to top test pilot and best capstone team, respectively

Military decorations include Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters), Air Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), and Aerial Achievement Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters)