US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Laut steps out of an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter after completing his final flight as an Air Force pilot. LTC Laut distinguished himself in a career of more than 32 years, all of it on flying status. He is the senior pilot in the California Air National Guard and the most senior helicopter pilot in the Air Force. He was rated in seven different airframes and 22 different variations. He received a Silver Star for gallantry in Vietnam and completed his career with more than 7,500 hours of flight time, more than 250 hours in combat