Tracy Pennycuick began her military career by enlisting in the US Army as a combat medic. After her initial enlistment, she transitioned to the reserves and continued her education at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a commission as an aviation officer in the US Army Reserve.
Upon completion of Initial Entry Rotary Wing flight course, she was assigned as a platoon leader to A Co, 7/158th AVN Regt, Scott AFB, IL. After serving as an operations officer in Desert Shield/Desert Storm she moved to the 146th Aviation Group in Kansas City Missouri. Further assignments include platform instructor, University of Arizona, HQ Commandant, Joint Operations Command-Korea, Air Attack Planning officer, Songnam Korea, Production Safety officer (Boeing Longbow Apache plant, Mesa, AZ), Brigade S1, 100th Training Brigade, Huntsville, AL.
Additional assignments include Executive Officer, S3-Future, Army Materiel Command, Staff Officer, Army Materiel Command-Forward, Baghdad Iraq, Staff Officer -Army Materiel Command-Forward Camp Bagram AFB, Afghanistan, Lean Six Sigma Deployment Director, RDECOM (Research, Development, Engineering Command), Foreign Liaison Officer to the UK Ministry of Defense for JIEDDO (Joint Improvised Explosive Devise Defeat Organization).
Upon retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel after 26 years of active and reserve service, LTC (ret) Pennycuick started a small business in aviation consulting. In addition to consulting, she served three years as the Director of Veterans Affairs for Montgomery County. She continues to serve on various veteran boards in the community.
Senator Pennycuick ran for the 147th House District in 2020, and the 24th Senatorial District in 2022. She currently chairs the Communications and Technology committee, Vice Chair of Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, as well as a member of Finance, Judiciary, Aging and Youth, Consumer Protection and Appropriations. She is also a member of the Southeast Veterans home advisory board and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children.
She and her husband Rick, also a US Army veteran, have four grown children and two grandchildren.