Tactical Air Support
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense contracting, Aviation training |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Rolland C. Thompson |
| Headquarters | Reno , United States |
Area served | United States, International |
Key people | Rolland C. Thompson (President and CEO), Ronald R. Fogleman (Board Chairman) |
| Products | JTAC instruction, UAV chase operations, pilot training, aircraft maintenance, logistical support, adversary air roles, consulting services |
| Website | www |
Tactical Air Support, Inc. (referred to as Tactical Air) operates as a defense contractor based in the United States, with its headquarters situated at Reno-Stead Airport in Reno, Nevada. The company was established by Rolland C. Thompson, who currently holds the positions of President and CEO. Tactical Air’s workforce includes former commanders of fighter weapons schools, instructors, and test pilots who possess expertise in advanced tactical air support operations. The firm offers a range of commercial aviation services and advisory support to U.S. and allied military organizations. These services encompass JTAC instruction, UAV chase operations, pilot training, aircraft maintenance, logistical support, and adversary air roles—services that mirror those provided by entities such as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center and the United States Air Force Weapons School.
Tactical Air also operates a fully owned subsidiary named TacAir Global, LLC, which targets international training programs. In 2013, the company broadened its international footprint by delivering F-5 refresher courses to the Botswana Defence Force, underscoring its prominent role in global defense aviation training. Key leadership figures include CEO Rolland C. Thompson and Board Chairman Ronald R. Fogleman. The organization’s competitive edge is driven by leveraging its team’s extensive operational backgrounds within the defense sector.
Aircraft
Flight operations commenced for Tactical Air Support in 2008 when it became the first private entity outside of Sukhoi authorized to operate, maintain, and fly the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker aircraft. In September 2011, the company added an Embraer A-29 Super Tucano to its inventory—a two-seat turboprop light attack aircraft recognized for counter-insurgency missions and precision air-to-ground strikes. It remains the sole commercial operator of this model within the United States through an aerospace and defense contracting framework.
By 2013, Tactical Air expanded its fleet with four Canadair CF-5D Freedom Fighters—variants of the F-5B supersonic fighter/attack jet—and acquired two decades’ worth of spare parts for F-5 aircraft. Additional assets include Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainers/light attack planes; Aermacchi SF.260TP and SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 turboprop light attack and utility aircraft; alongside Mooney M20E and Cirrus SR20 fixed-wing planes utilized for UAV chase duties and maintaining pilot proficiency. In 2017, Tactical Air successfully retrieved 21 F-5 E/F jets from the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
Aircrew
The pilots at Tactical Air Support consist primarily of seasoned tactical jet fighter aviators from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, many boasting over two decades of active service. A significant number continue their flying careers through Reserve or Air National Guard commitments. Nearly all members are graduates of weapons schools across USN/USMC/USAF branches, with most having held instructor roles at TOPGUN—highlighting the company’s leading position in pilot skill development and operational proficiency.
Consulting
Tactical Air Support offers specialized consulting services and tactical expertise to organizations such as Naval Air Systems Command, Navy Warfare Development Command, NSAWC, among others. The company partners with prominent defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, Wyle, ManTech, and MITRE on initiatives demanding up-to-date tactical knowledge and swift engagement with warfare centers of excellence. Their consulting portfolio covers technical documentation creation, project oversight, tactics formulation and assessment, modeling and simulation efforts, as well as tactical training programs.
Board of directors
The board is led by General Ronald Fogleman, former Chief of Staff of the USAF, and comprises business executives along with retired flag and general officers from the US Navy and Marine Corps who possess extensive leadership experience within tactical jet operations.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Aerospace companies of the United States
- Companies based in Nevada
- Consulting firms established in 2005
- Defense companies of the United States
- Flight training
- Military education and training in the United States
- Fighter aircraft operators
- Education companies established in 2005
- 2005 establishments in Nevada
- American companies established in 2005
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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