Mark Tillman

Colonel Mark Tillman was selected by the White House as the nation’s 12th Presidential pilot, serving President George W. Bush as Commander of Air Force One and the Presidential Airlift Group (PAG) from 2001-2009.

As Commander of the PAG, Colonel Tillman was responsible for all aspects of operations for Air Force One – security, planning, maintenance, parts, security, facilities, communications, food service, budgeting, personnel, training, and emergency action plans. Colonel Tillman also served as the Chief Pilot of Air Force One and was at the controls for over 49 foreign trips to 75 countries.

Colonel Tillman was in command of Air Force One on September 11th as the President was taken out of Florida to several secure locations around the United States. Colonel Tillman also piloted the plane for all of the President’s historic, covert trips to the combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful planning and execution of the first covert trip in November 2003.

Colonel Tillman’s distinguished career spans 30 years in the United States Air Force (USAF). Colonel Tillman first served as Rocket Propulsion Engineer upon entering the Air Force but was quickly selected to attend USAF pilot training. His flying experiences include time as a T-37 Instructor Pilot for undergraduate pilot training, C-130 transport pilot, VIP airlift as a pilot in the Gulfstream III and IV and Presidential pilot in the VC-25 or Boeing 747.

Colonel Tillman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 2004 and promoted to Brigadier General by the President of the United States. Colonel Tillman received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tulane University.