After serving in the United States Navy as an enlisted man for four years, Puckett realized his dream of becoming a pilot by enrolling at the Long Bear, California, Junior College, and soloing in a Piper Club. After qualifying for the Navy Flight School, he earned his Navy wings and flew fighters off carriers in World War II. He flew F2G Super Vought Corsair to a second-place win in 1949 Thompson Air Races. As a test pilot at Chance Vought, he flew the F-7 Cutlass jet fighter, touring Navy bases and demonstrating the capabilities of the aircraft. He was promoted to Navy Commander in 1963. In 1972, Ron was the Federal Aviation Administration’s Chief of Flight Test, assigned to aircraft certification programs for all new Cessna, Beechcraft, and Lear aircraft until his retirement in 1980.