In 1989, Colonel Boucher graduated from Eastern Washington University and was commissioned in August. Upon graduating from the Basic School and the Infantry Officers Course in 1990, he reported for flight training in Pensacola, Fla. Colonel Boucher was designated a Naval Aviator in July of 1992 and reported to New River, N.C., for follow on training in the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters.
Colonel Boucher was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter (HMM) Squadron 265 at Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he completed one six month unit deployment and a one year deployment to Okinawa, Japan. While assigned to HMM-265, he served as the Adjutant, Embarkation Officer, and Airframes Officer.
Colonel Boucher reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for duty as a flight instructor. Assigned to Helicopter Training Squadron 8, he served as the Ground Safety Officer, Flight Leader, and finished his tour as the Operations Officer for the Instructor Training Unit.
Promoted to Major in 1999, he reported to Marine Aircraft Group 16 at MCAS Miramar, Calif., where he served as the Assistant Logistics and Logistics Officer. In January of 2000, Colonel Boucher reported to HMM-161 as the Assistant Operations Officer. He completed a deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), participating in humanitarian Operations in East Timor, and Operation Determined Response in support of the USS Cole bombing aftermath. In 2002, Colonel Boucher reported to the 15th MEU to serve as the Maintenance Officer for HMM-161. He participated in the buildup of forces in Kuwait and was assigned as the Air Mission Commander for the 15th MEU’s attack on the port of Umm Quasr for the Iraq invasion during 2003.
Selected for assignment to Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Colonel Boucher reported to HMX-1 during September of 2003. He served as the Administration Officer, Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the largest squadron in the Marine Corps. He was designated a Marine One pilot in 2006 and traveled to multiple countries and numerous states in support of the president.
In 2007, Colonel Boucher reported to the 3rd Marine Division to serve as the Air Officer for the division. He also served as the OIC of the Division OIF/OEF Working Group (DOWG), where he supervised the training, equipping and deploying of all divisional units into theater.
Colonel Boucher left Okinawa in 2008 and reported to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) for duties as the Future Operations Officer. After refresher training in the CH-46E, he assumed command of HMM-364 in 2009. Colonel Boucher commanded the Purple Foxes for the OIF deployment. HMM-364 was the last Operational Squadron and Combat Unit for the Marine Corps upon departing Iraq in 2010.
In July of 2010, Colonel Boucher reported to the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. He earned a Masters in Strategic Studies 2011 and reported to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for assignment within Personnel and Readiness. Colonel Boucher served as the Deputy Director, Programs and Budget, in the Finance and Resource Management division of OSD.
Colonel Boucher has accumulated more than 6000 mishap free flight hours and his personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Air Medal with combat V and Navy and Marine Commendation Medal with one gold star.