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Brigadier General
Thomas L. Yoder
Permanent Professor 2006–2018
Vice Dean of the Faculty 2012–2014
B.S., United States Air Force Academy
M.S., University of Washington
M.S., Army Command and General Staff College
M.A., Naval War College
Ph.D., University of Colorado
Tom Yoder, the Academy’s 83rd Permanent Professor, was born in 1960 and raised in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. In 1982 he received a Bachelor’s degree in Astronautical Engineering as a Distinguished Graduate from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He accepted a Boeing Fellowship for Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, and graduated with a Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1983. Tom entered pilot training in late 1983 at Reese AFB, TX, and earned his wings in 1984 as a Distinguished Graduate. He reported in 1985 to Randolph AFB, TX, for T-38 instructor training, earning his instructor rating as a Distinguished Graduate. Beginning his instructor duties in 1985 back at Reese AFB, he served as an Assistant Flight Commander, a Check Pilot, and as Wing Executive Officer to two consecutive training wing commanders. During this time, he also attended Squadron Officer School where he again earned Distinguished Graduate honors. In 1987 Tom reported to the 337th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX, for training and upgrade in the B-1B bomber. During his time in the B-1B, he served as Aircraft Commander, Mission Commander, and Assistant Flight Commander. In 1992 Tom joined the faculty of the USAF Academy’s Department of Astronautics as an Instructor. During the next three years, he assumed the additional duties of Instructor Pilot, Squadron Training Officer, and Associate Air Officer Commanding for a cadet squadron. Tom earned the department’s 1995 Outstanding Academy Educator award. He reported to the Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, KS, in 1995 and expended the extra effort to graduate with a Master’s degree in Military Arts and Sciences in 1996. He then entered graduate school at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and earned his PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 1999. Tom returned to the Department of Astronautics, 1999–2003, as an Assistant Professor. During this time he spent five months beginning in late 1999 as the Commander, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Kuwait. In 2000 Tom became the Head of the Department of Astronautics as an Associate Professor. From 2003 to 2004 he attended the Naval War College, Newport, RI, graduating with distinction and a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He then moved to HQ NORAD-US NORTHCOM, Peterson AFB, CO, and served as Chief, Capabilities Development and Integration Division of the Requirements, Analysis, and Resources Directorate. In 2006 Tom was appointed a Permanent Professor and Head of the Department of Engineering Mechanics, where he managed the Academy’s largest research center, the Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension, serving a number of organizations seeking aircraft structural integrity and life extension capabilities. During the first five years of his tenure, he piloted a cross-mission team that created the Academy’s first institutional outcomes and chaired USAFA’s 2009 NCAA certification efforts. He served as the Vice Dean of the Faculty, 2012–2014. Tom was promoted to brigadier general and retired in 2018.