[1] Upon graduation with a baccalaureate in engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1958, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry; he later earned a master's degree in business administration from Harvard.

His military education includes the Basic Officer Course at the Infantry School, the Transportation Basic and Advanced Officer Courses, and attendance at the Armed Forces Staff College and United States Army War College.

In 1965, he joined the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy teaching economics and government.

He also served a summer period as a strategic mobility analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Systems Analysis) and returned to West Point as an Assistant Professor of Social Sciences, where he directed the Economics of National Security Course.

Tuttle's next assignments included Deputy Commanding General for Logistics, TRADOC, and Commanding General, United States Army Logistics Center and Fort Lee; Director of Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, HQDA; Chief of the Policy and Programs Branch, Policy Division, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; and Commanding General, United States Army Operational Test and Evaluation Agency.

General Tuttle was selected in 1991 to be the Army's 45th Kermit Roosevelt Lecturer at the British Senior Service Schools.