Commander-in-Chief Biography
Commander-in-Chief (2025–2026)
Commander-in-Chief Kevin P. Tucker was elected at the 144th Annual National Encampment held Aug. 7–9 in Houston, Texas, hosted by the Department of Texas and Louisiana.
Kevin Tucker was born in Malden Massachusetts on January 18, 1960. He is the youngest son of Frank J. Tucker and Elsie “Pauline” (Bulman) Tucker. His family has a long history of service to our country, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the state of New Hampshire, to US Veterans and to this Order.
He traces his lineage to his great-great-grandfather, Sergeant Charles E. Elwell, who served in Company H, 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, organized in Dorchester, Massachusetts in the spring of 1861. The 11th Massachusetts was engaged in nearly every battle of the Army of the Potomac, except Antietam, when the regiment was ordered to recruit replacements following severe losses at Chancellorsville. Sergeant Elwell was discharged due to disability after suffering serious wounds during the Mine Run Campaign in Virginia in the fall of 1863.
His grandfather, Charles E. Tucker, was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries from a mustard gas attack during the Meuse–Argonne offensive. Later in life, during WWII, Charles served as an Air Raid Warden for the City of Boston.
Kevin’s Father, Francis J. “Frank” Tucker served in the US Army in World War II in the European Theater, where he participated in combat during the Battle of the Bulge. Following the surrender of Japan, Frank served in Alaska with the US Army Air Corps as a First Sergeant. He left the army to join the Massachusetts Capitol Police, where he eventually became the longest serving officer, retiring after 42 years of service. He served as the National Vice Commander of the Army and Navy Union, Department of Massachusetts Commander of the VFW and four-time Massachusetts Department Commander for the SUVCW.
All four of Frank’s brothers also served in the US Army, 2 during WWII and two during the Korean War. All of the following generation of men, including Kevin Tucker, in turn served in the Armed Forces of the United States, some in Vietnam, the Gulf War and beyond. This tradition of family military service continues today, with his nephews having served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and continuing their military careers.
Kevin followed in his family’s footsteps by enlisting in the United States Air Force at just 17 years old. From 1977 to 1981, he served as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist (Crew Chief) on the F-4D Phantom II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Assigned to the 430th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, he achieved the rank of Sergeant by the end of his enlistment.
His brother, Charles Tucker served as a “Seabees” during the Gulf War, and also served as SUVCW Department Commander for New Hampshire.
Kevin Tucker is a Life Member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and has proudly served the Order for nearly 30 years.
Throughout more than two decades of Membership, Kevin has built a distinguished record of service and leadership at every level of the Order, including Commander-in-Chief, Senior Vice and Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, two-term Member of the National Council of Administration, Massachusetts Department Commander, Secretary and Treasurer, and Camp Commander.
As well as his service as Camp Commander for Charles H. Bond Camp No. 104, Kevin was a Charter Member for General Frederick W. Lander Camp No. 5 and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw Camp No. 54.
In recognition of his service to the Department of Massachusetts, he has been honored three times with the Roger L. Olsen Award as the Department’s Outstanding Brother of the Year.
Over the past two decades, Kevin Tucker has served as National Civil War Memorials Officer, Chairman of the National Committee on Promotions and Marketing, Chairman of the National Committee on Program & Policy, Chaiman and member of the National Encampment Site Committee, Chairman of the National Committee on Membership, Chairman of the National Committee on Civil War Memorials., Chairman of the 2008 Massachusetts National Encampment Host Committee, Member of the 2018 Massachusetts National Encampment Host Committee, and Member of the 2023 National Encampment Host Committee for the Department of New Hampshire)
He also served as Commander of the New England Regional Association of the SUVCW on three occasions.
The Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR), commissioned Kevin as a Major and he served as District Commander of the First Military District, commanding the SVR units in the Departments of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Professionally, Kevin Tucker has worked in the field of Information Technology for over twenty-five years, including positions with two international Real Estate Investment Trust firms, and managing the computer systems for Boston’s landmark John Hancock Building. For the past nine years, he has served as Information Technology Director for a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs for adults with mental disabilities.