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.

Cmdr. Christopher Putre

Commanding Officer, VX-31

Cmdr. Chris Putre is a native of Wahiawa, Hawai’i, and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006. After graduation, he attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida; Milton, Florida; and Kingsville, Texas, where he was designated a Naval Aviator in October 2008 and reported to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 for initial F/A-18E/F Super Hornet training.                                         

During his first operational tour assigned to the VFA-147 “Argonauts” at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, he served as the Aircraft Division Officer, Avionics and Armaments Division Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, NATOPS Officer, Mission Planning Officer, Electronic Key Management System Program Manager, and Public Affairs Officer. He deployed in 2011 onboard the USS Ronald Reagan in support of Operations Tomodachi, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom, and participated in the 2010 and 2012 Rim of the Pacific Exercises.

In 2012, Putre reported to Class 144 of the US Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. After graduating in December 2013, he was assigned to the “Dust Devils” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, where he was Project Officer for the APG-79 AESA Radar, Safety-of-Flight, and System Configuration Sets H8E and H8E(A) development efforts.

Following his tour with VX-31, Putre reported back to NAS Lemoore, California to the VFA-146 “Blue Diamonds” in September 2015 and served as the squadron’s Safety Department Head, Maintenance Officer, and Operations Officer. He deployed onboard the USS Nimitz in 2017 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. While at VFA-146, he completed his Master of Science Degree in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Putre reported back to the Dust Devils in April 2018, and has served as the Advanced Weapons Laboratory Military Deputy, Military Deputy for Test and Evaluation, and the Advanced Systems Integration Department Head. He assumed his current duties as commanding officer in November 2022.  

Putre has accumulated 2,400 flight hours in 26 different aircraft and 398 carrier arrested landings. He is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps and is certified DAWIA Level III in Test and Evaluation. His personal decorations include the Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three Awards), Navy Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service 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.

Lt. Col. Timothy Burchett

Chief Test Pilot, 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, where he now serves as the VX-31 chief test pilot.

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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