Captain Mark "Tyler" Voss
Captain Mark “Tyler” Voss was born December 16, 1985 and grew up in Boerne, Texas. From early on, Captain Voss knew he wanted to fly. Before graduating from Boerne High School in 2004, he had already earned his pilot's license. After graduation, Voss was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 2008. Captain Voss went on to major in Aeronautical Engineering. In 2008, Captain Voss graduated from Cadet Squadron 36 and earned a pilot slot.
Upon graduation, Captain Voss was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Soon after, he started his pilot training at Laughlin Ai
r Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. He excelled during training and received an award for having the highest score in his class on flight check rides. Captain Voss graduated from pilot training in 2010, earning his pilot wings. Shortly after, Captain Voss was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington where he was assigned to fly KC-135 Stratotankers. On May 28, 2012, Mark Voss was promoted to Captain. Less than a year later, he became Aircraft Commander on March 14, 2013.
In 2013, Captain Voss was deployed to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Voss and his crew were assigned to a Transit Center near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On May 3, 2013, during his sixth deployment, Captain Voss piloted a KC-135 Stratotanker on a combat aerial refueling mission. Immediately after takeoff, a flight control system malfunction generated directional instability causing the aircraft to break apart, taking the life of Captain Mark “Tyler” Voss and the two other members aboard, Captain Victoria Pinckney and Tech Sgt. Herman Mackey III.
Those who knew Captain Voss, describe him as someone who was respectful, intelligent, and like a brother. He would always take care of his crew and
look after his people. Captain Voss was a dedicated airman who had a love for life and flying. His passion for flying went beyond most. During his free time he decided to upgrade the avionics of his RV-8 aircraft with a friend. Even when he was overseas, he would correspond with his friend, Staff Sgt. Matthew Perroux, to coordinate the layout and wiring. Unfortunately, Captain Voss did not have the opportunity to finish the plane; however, his friend and others made it their mission to completely refinish both the interior and exterior of the aircraft to honor their friend. This commitment shows how much Captain Voss meant to those who knew him. He loved and treated everyone with respect. As one of his good friends said, “Captain Voss died doing what he loved for people he loved.” Captain Voss truly modeled the core values taught as a cadet and is a role model for all.
With his death, Voss left behind his mother, who is vice president of the Alamo Area Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers, and his father, Wayne, an associate member of the organization, as well as two siblings; Morgan who followed her older brother and is an officer, and Forrest who is an officer in the Alaska Army National Guard and flies Blackhawk helicopters.
A plaque honors him in the Boerne Veteran's Plaza, the American Legion Capt. Mark Tyler Voss Post 313 was chartered in Boerne in January 2019, and Boerne Independent School District opened the Capt. Mark Tyler Voss Middle School in August of the same year.