Lieutenant Colonel Seth Tufvesson immigrated to the United States from Korea as an infant and became a naturalized US Citizen through adoption. He began life in the US as a resident of Jackson, MN, later moving to Santa Barbara, CA. In 2004 he graduated from the US Naval Academy with a BS in English and received a commission in the US Marine Corps.
He was initially designated as an Air Support Control Officer and spent his first tour in Okinawa, Japan, in Marine Air Support Squadron-2 (2005-2008). During this tour, he participated in numerous exercises throughout the US Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility, deployed with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-265 (Reinforced) on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM as an individual augment to 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, and deployed to support the Korean Armistice as a Marine Liaison Officer to the 607 Air Support Operations Group (USAF).
Lieutenant Colonel Tufvesson then transferred to Marine Air Support Squadron-1, Cherry Point, North Carolina (2008-2011). He deployed again in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. During this 14-month tour, he controlled the airspace over the Anbar Province for more than 3000 hours as a Senior Air Director. Additionally, he participated in the transfer of authority between the final Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters and US Forces Iraq.
Lieutenant Colonel Tufvesson was then hand-selected to serve at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1, Yuma, Arizona (2011-2015). He was selected by Headquarters Marine Corps for designation as an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Officer during the first board of its type. He also participated in transitioning the UAS Division into the Tactical Air Department and completed the first UAS unit instructor certifications.
From 2015-2016 Lieutenant Colonel Tufvesson was assigned to the 558 Flying Training Squadron (USAF) as a flight student. He completed Undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Training, was aeronautically rated as an RPA Pilot, and earned a Private Pilot’s License.
Lieutenant Colonel Tufvesson completed his final Active Component transfer to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-1, Yuma, Arizona (2016-2018). He served as a squadron instructor pilot during transition to the RQ-21A Blackjack. He also flew operational missions along the southern Arizona border under US Northern Command. Finally, he attended the Israeli Air Force Multi-National RPA Course, where he flew Hermes-450 over the skies of Israel.
In 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Tufvesson transitioned to the Reserve Component under the Direct Affiliation Program. He affiliated with 23D Marine Regiment and attended Tactical Air Control Party School. He then served as the Regimental Air Officer and Joint Terminal Attack Controller Instructor. In 2022 he mobilized in support of OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME, a Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission to resettle vulnerable Afghan Evacuees.
In his civilian occupation, he contracts for the US Navy as a working diver, treats patients as a Certified Hyperbaric Technologist at a hospital hyperbaric chamber, and trains recreational scuba divers as a scuba instructor.