Captain Tufts is a native of Springfield, MA. In 1989, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.
Captain Tufts initial tours in the Navy included Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Oakland Army Base, Oakland, CA; Company Commander / Detail OIC, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FIVE, Port Hueneme, CA; Readiness and Military Training Officer, THIRTY-FIRST Naval Construction Regiment, Port Hueneme, CA; Aide to the Commander, THIRD Naval Construction Brigade, Pearl Harbor, HI; Facilities Operations Officer, Navy Region Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, HI; Real Estate and Historical/Cultural issues Action Officer, OPNAV N46, Washington DC; Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (SRM) Budget/Execution Program Director, CNIC, Washington DC; and Assistant Operations Officer (IPT Leader), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington, Washington DC.
In July 2006, he assumed command of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE, homeported in Gulfport, MS. He deployed to Okinawa, Japan in 2006, and Iraq in 2007.
In June 2008, he was assigned as Operations Officer for NAVFAC Far East responsible for facilities, utilities, maintenance, repair, and new construction on the Navy and Marine Corps bases in Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Diego Garcia.
In July 2010, he was assigned as the Civil Engineer Corps Head Detailer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, TN.
In August 2012, CAPT Tufts assumed command of THIRTY-FIRST Seabee Readiness Group in Port Hueneme, CA.
Captain Tufts is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, a qualified Fleet Marine Force Officer, a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps, and a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Hawaii. His decorations include the Bronze Star, six Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, two Navy Unit Commendation Ribbons, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, four Navy "E" Ribbons, and other unit and service awards.