Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31

Dust Devil Mission

• Conduct safe, effective, and efficient flight test; representing the needs of our fellow aviators serving in Navy and Marine TACAIR squadrons.

• Support other test organizations with highly skilled personnel and specially configured aircraft.

• Provide highly skilled and capable search and rescue support for our aviators and community within the 2508 range complex and Point Mugu Sea Range.

Command Philosophy

• Be Honest. With yourself and with others, both personally and professionally.
  Effective honesty demands credibility from first understanding and acknowledging
  reality, and then being respectful in articulating our points of view. Furthermore, we
  say what we mean and mean what we say.

• Assume Positive Intent. Endeavor not to attribute to malice what can otherwise be
  explained by ignorance. Everyone you meet is trying to do what they perceive to be
  the best course of action from their own perspective. Seek to understand that
  perspective and take the time to help others understand your own.

• Move the Needle. Strive to ensure every action you take advances our mission.
  Improve yourself. Improve others and your relationships with them. Put in the extra
  hours…sometimes that means at work, sometimes that means away from work. Leave
  what you touch better than you found it.

Lt. Col. Timothy Burchett

Commanding officer, VX-31

Lt. Col. Timothy Burchett hails from Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and commissioned into the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from the University of Maryland in December 2007 with a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering.

He attended The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, then flight school at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, and Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, and was designated a Naval Aviator in April 2011. Upon winging, he reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, for training in the F/A-18A-D Hornet.

In 2013, Burchett reported to the “Red Devils” of Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 232 at MCAS Miramar. While with the Red Devils, he completed a deployment to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, in support of the Unit Deployment Program, where he participated in numerous multilateral and bilateral exercises with allied nations throughout the pacific theater of operation.

In April 2015, Burchett deployed again to Bahrain as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 15.2 where he flew 35 combat missions totaling over 248 hours in the skies over Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

In 2016, Burchett reported to the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. After graduating in June 2017, he was assigned to the “Dust Devils” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. While at VX-31, he served as the project officer for multiple programs, including the Blue Angel’s first F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Software Configuration Set (28E). He initiated the F/A-18 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System program in 2017 for VX-31.

Burchett reported to the F-35 Joint Program Office in Arlington, Virginia, where he served as the F-35B Military Class Desk Lead. In August 2021, Burchett became the deputy program manager for F-35 Propulsion Development, where he formally stood up the F-35 Air System Modernization Program, becoming the first F-35 Air System Modernization Program Manager.

Burchett reported back to the Dust Devils in China Lake, California in July 2023, as the squadron's chief test pilot. He took command of the squadron in March 2025.

Burchett has accumulated over 1,700 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (5 Strike/Flight Awards), Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

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James Coppersmith

Technical Director, VX-31

James Coppersmith, a native of Bellville, Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and served 24 years in the United States Marine Corps.

Coppersmith is a 2002 graduate of the United States Navy Test Pilot School (Class 121) and a graduate of the Marine Aviation Tactics and Weapons Squadron- 1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in the AV-8B Harrier II+ aircraft.

Coppersmith’s operational experience included Fleet Marine Forces assignments with the VMA-214 “Blacksheep” from 1996 through 2000 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. He deployed with HMM-364 (REIN), 13th MEU (SOC) aboard the USS Boxer (LHD-4) and again with the 13th MEU(SOC) while attached to HMM-161 (REIN) aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA-1). In June of 2000, Coppersmith was assigned to Class 121 at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. 

Upon graduating from Test Pilot School in June 2001, Coppersmith was assigned as an operational test director at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, where he executed the operational evaluation of the first Joint Direct Attack Munition-capable operational flight program for the AV-8B. During this assignment, Coppersmith attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course and concurrently led a Tactics Development and Evaluation effort that introduced JDAM tactics to AV-8B Fleet squadrons. In June 2003, he was reassigned to VX-31 and the AV-8B Joint Systems Support Activity (JSSA).

In January 2006, Coppersmith was selected for the Marine Corps’ Acquisition Management Primary Military Occupational Specialty and assigned to PMA-257 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, as the AV-8B aircraft assistant program manager for Systems Engineering and as the AV-8B US Military Deputy Program Manager in a multi-nation joint development and sustainment program. In June 2009, he was assigned to the Marine Aviation Detachment China Lake-Point Mugu, California, as the detachment’s executive officer and additionally served as the Pacific Ranges chief test pilot. In July 2014, Coppersmith assumed the duties of the officer-in-charge of the Marine Aviation Detachment, where he served until his retirement in June 2016.

Coppersmith left active duty at the rank of lieutenant colonel having flown over 2,200 mishap-free flight hours in over 35 different aircraft. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. 

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Cmdr. Tom Herrold

Executive Officer, VX-31

Cmdr. Tom “White Tiger” Herrold is a native of St. Joseph, Michigan. He graduated with a degree in business from Michigan State University in 1998. In May 2001, he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, where he was commissioned from Officer Candidate School in August 2001 and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in April 2003.

He next received orders to the “Grim Reapers” of Fighter Squadron (VF) 101 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for initial fleet training in the F-14 Tomcat. He was then assigned to the “Pukin’ Dogs” of VF-143. There, Herrold served as the Aircraft Division officer and made one combat deployment aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In February 2006, Herrold joined the “Red Rippers” of VF-11, serving as the Avionics Division officer, NATOPS officer, and the Air-to-Air Weapons training officer. VF-11 transitioned to the F/A-18 Super Hornet and became designated as Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11.

In July 2007, he joined the “Vampires” or Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX) 9. There, Herrold was the Special Programs Operational Test director, charged with the test and evaluation of weapons and their related systems in an operationally relevant environment, as well as assisting in developing advanced warfighting tactics for the fleet operator.

Herrold was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Five in July 2010, permanently embarked aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, where he served as the Strike Operations Officer while supporting Operation Tomodachi. In July 2012, he joined the VFA-41 “Black Aces” for his department head tour. Herrold completed one combat deployment aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He reported to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau, Belgium, in February 2015 as the Resolute Support Force Generation Team lead assisting the mission in Afghanistan.

In August 2018, Herrold received orders to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) where he served as the strike operations officer and the operations officer during one combat deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission.

In October 2020, Herrold returned to VX-9 as the executive officer. He moved to his current position as the VX-31 “Dust Devils” executive officer in April 2024.

Herrold’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Award (2), the Navy Commendation Medal (3), the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit, theater, and campaign awards.

Cmdr. James Licata

Chief Test Pilot, VX-31

Cmdr. James “Two Times” Licata, a native of Mequon, Wisconsin, graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland in December 2009.

Licata reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in January 2010 for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination, after which he reported to the “Rangers” of Training Squadron (VT) 28, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, for Primary Flight Training. He was designated a Naval Aviator in June 2012 after completing training with VT-21, NAS Kingsville, Texas. He was then assigned to the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, NAS Whidbey Island for training in the EA-18G Growler.

He reported to the “Gauntlets” of VAQ-136, based at NAS Whidbey Island, in July 2013, where he served in several roles and completed multiple underway periods, embarked aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), USS George Washington (CVN-73), and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). During his final year with VAQ-136, he earned the peer-selected CDR Noel Greene Inspirational Leadership Award.

Following his tour with the Gauntlets, Licata attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, graduating in December 2017. He was then assigned to the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 to serve as a project officer test pilot. There he worked as the east coast project officer for Growler H16 System Configuration Set, to include system enhancements to the airborne electronic attack hardware suite.

In 2020, Licata joined VAQ-135, an Expeditionary EA-18G squadron based at NAS Whidbey Island. During his time with the Black Ravens, the squadron deployed to Misawa, Japan with multiple detachments in USINDOPACOM, including Guam and Kadena Air Base. Licata received the VAQ community-wide 2021 Individual Operational Excellence Award and the 2022 ALQ-99 Excellence Award for his work in technology integration.

In February 2023, he reported to the "Ghost Wolves" of UX-24 to assume the role of Government Flight Test Director for Advanced Development efforts. Here, he served as the military Test and Evaluation lead for U.S. Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and the U.S. Navy’s principal test representative in the CCA Development Project Arrangement between the United States and Australia. In February 2025, Two Times reported to the “Dust Devils” of VX-31, China Lake, California to join the team as Chief Test Pilot.

Licata has accumulated more than 1,700 flight hours in military aircraft and more than 150 carrier arrested landings. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards).