Capt. Daniel Fucito, a native of Horsham, Pennsylvania, earned a bachelor's in aerospace engineering (with distinction) from The Pennsylvania State University in 1998 and a master's in space systems from The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in 1999.

Fucito received his commission from Naval Officer Candidate School in 2000 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2002. 

In 2003, Fucito reported to the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 at NAS Oceana, Virginia where he deployed with Carrier Air Wing 17 onboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  During this deployment, he flew 20 combat missions totaling 101 hours, including direct support of U.S. Marines during Operation AL-FAJR (the second battle for Fallujah).

Fucito then attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and after graduating in 2007 he was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. He served as the squadron’s lead test pilot for EA-18G “Growler” Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) flight test.  While at VX-23, CAPT Fucito accumulated over 200 flight test hours in the F/A-18 and EA-18G. 

In 2009, he deployed to Djibouti, Africa, as a member of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Core Staff where he served as the Strategic Communication Directorate’s Engagement/Outreach Division Chief and as the command’s special technical operations chief. 

In 2011, Fucito reported to the Naval Air Systems Command, Systems Engineering Division and was assigned to the F/A-18 & EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) where he served as the Propulsion & Power Integrated Product Team (IPT) co-lead.

He then served U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, where he accumulated over 300 instructor hours in the T-38C and T-6B while serving as a staff instructor and the senior fixed wing instructor.  In 2015, Fucito was honored as the U.S.  Naval Test Pilot School Instructor of the Year. He later supported the Next Generation Air Dominance program and most recently served as NAVAIR's system engineering military director. 

Fucito has been a member of the acquisition workforce for nearly 15 years and has earned Program Management Advanced, Test and Evaluation Practitioner, and Engineering and Technical Management Practitioner certifications.  He is also a Joint Qualified Level II Officer and a member of the U.S. Navy’s Active Duty Space Cadre.