Lt Col Huckstep (“Huck”) is an Acquisitions Officer who earned a Biology degree from Baylor University where he was also commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Huck spent his early career working with space systems and policy with highlights including: serving as Flight Director for the first Air Force led launch of a DSCS III satellite, serving as Chief of Strategic Planning for HQ Air Force Space Command, and serving as the Air Force Central Command Director of Space Forces liaison to Joint Force Component Command – Space.

He was twice selected for USAFA-sponsored Air Force Institute of Technology scholarships and completed an Master’s Degree in Medical and Molecular Physiology from the University of Hawaii in 2007 and a doctoral degree in Cardiovascular Medicine from the University of Oxford in 2019. He has taught General Biology, taught and served as Course Director for both of the department’s Anatomy and Physiology courses, and developed and taught Cardiopulmonary Physiology and Lifestyle Medicine courses. He served as Chief of Academic and Research Operations in the Department of Biology at the United States Air Force Academy before being appointed Deputy Director of the Life Science Research Center.

He is extremely passionate about cardiovascular health of military and veteran populations. He is also deeply committed to cadet learning, the wonders of Biology, and the United States Air Force Academy mission of developing officers of character. He strives to build strong and meaningful connections with his cadets through fun, innovative, and engaging learning experiences. His primary research interests center around cardiovascular health and performance, and countermeasures for chemical and biological agents.

He has published numerous conference abstracts and peer reviewed articles in journals including The Journal of the American College of Cardiology and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He has won several awards including two for teaching excellence, but is more proud of the numerous cadets he has mentored to earn division and institutional level research awards. Huck and his wife have two wonderful children.

Doctor of Philosophy, Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2019)

Master of Science, Medical and Molecular Physiology, University of Hawaii, Hawaii (2007)

Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Baylor University, Texas (1996)

Deputy Director, Life Sciences Research Center, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 2022-Present)

Director of Research and Operations, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (July 2018 –June 2022)

Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Oxford, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom (August 2015-July 2018)

Assistant Professor & Chief of Personnel, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (January 2011–August 2015)

Chief of Strategic Planning, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado (January 2008-December 2011)

Master’s Student, University of Hawaii, Oahu, Hawaii (January 2006-December 2007)

Chief of Training, Second Space Launch Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (July 2003-December 2005)

2000-03 Flight Commander, 533^rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (July 2000-December 2003)

Satellite Operations Evaluator, 50^th Operations Group Standardization & Evaluation, Schriever Air Force Base Colorado (July 1999-July 2000)

Satellite Engineer & Flight Director, Schriever Air Force Base Colorado (January 1998-July 1999)

2021 Outstanding Academy Educator Award winner for Biology Dept

2020 USAFA Team of the Year member & awardee (Pandemic Math & Science Team)

2015 Goodner Award winner for teaching excellence in Biology

Team chief for 2011 US Air Force Space Command Team of the Year

2001 Distinguished Graduate, Air Education and Training Command Basic Instructor Course

2000 Rotary Stellar Award for Space Achievement national finalist

1999 50th Space Wing Black Engineer of the Year

Cardiovascular risk, health, and prevention

Lifestyle health

Chemical and biological agent countermeasures