Lieutenant Colonel, USAF. Candidate for MOL-2 and MOL-3. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson University in South Carolina. He would later be awarded two master's degrees from the University of Michigan. Humphries graduated from Class 66A at the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) at Edwards AFB, California in 1967. He later took employment as an aeronautical engineer and instructor with the Warner Robbins Air Materiel Area. He then became a staff development officer at the USAF HQ Aeronautical Test Division.