Show #464 Notes: Former F-16 Pilot, Chris Lehto

Simulcast on KGRA Radio, YouTube, and Facebook

Tuesday, July 20th, 6:00-8:00 PM EDT (-4GMT)

Click HERE for Chris Lehto’s YouTube Channel

BIO: Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Chris Lehto was Commander of the US Detachment at the Tactical Leadership Programme in Albacete, Spain. As Chief of Flying Branch, Lt Col Lehto oversaw the execution of three flying courses with no safety incidents. Previous to his final assignment, as Training Systems Assistant Director of Operations for the 56th Training Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, he directed the development, procurement, and sustainment of F-16 simulator training. He overseas program officers for two simulator contracts and represents Luke as F-16 training systems subject matter expert.  He was also a crash safety inspector, which he now finds similar to UAP investigations.

Lieutenant Colonel Lehto is a native of Houston, Texas. He received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2000 with a degree in material science. He earned his pilot rating at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma and completed formal training as an F-16 pilot at Luke Air Force base in 2003. He served his first F-16 tour with the 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. After his year-long tour in Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Lehto was assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy. He deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, flew 159 combat hours, and earned two air medals. After returning, he served as Wing Flight Safety Officer for Aviano.

Following his tour in Italy Lieutenant Colonel Lehto helped stand up the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. During his four-winter tour in Alaska he served as Flight Commander, Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Training, Flight Instructor, and finally Flight Evaluator.

Maj Lehto volunteered to be the F-16 Exchange Pilot to Turkey in 2011. As Assistant Director of Operations he implemented and oversaw wing training at 4th Main Jet Base, Ankara, Turkey.

EDUCATION:

2000     Bachelor of Science in Material Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado

2001    Airman Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

2005     Flight Safety School, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

2006     Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

2010     Master of Aeronautical Science, Aeronautics, Embry Riddle University, Distance learning

2011    Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Distance Learning

2012    Associates of Arts in Turkish, Defense Language Institute, California

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. May 2000 – August 2002, student, joint undergraduate training, Whiting Field

Pensacola, Florida/ Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma

  1. August 2002 – December 2002, student, F-16 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
  2. December 2002 – November 2003, student, F-16 Fighter Training Unit, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
  3. November 2003 – November 2004, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Force Base, South Korea
  4. November 2004 – September 2007, Chief of Mobility, Chief of Wing Safety, Aviano Air Base, Italy
  5. September 2007 – February 2011, Flight Commander, Red Flag Adversary Commander, Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator, Eielson Air Force Base Alaska
  6. February 2011 – June 2012, student, Defense Language Institute Turkish, California
  7. July 2012 – December 2014, F-16 Exchange Pilot, Turkey
  8. January 2015 – June 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, Training Systems
  9. June 2017 – August 2020, DO, Commander, Tactical Leadership Programme, Albacete, Spain.

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Ratings: Command Pilot

Flight hours: More than 1,800

Aircraft flown: T-34, T-38, F-16

LIEUTENANT COLONEL AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant                    May 31, 2000

First Lieutenant                         May 31, 2002

Captain                                     May 31, 2004

Lieutenant Colonel                October 1, 2010

3 thoughts on “Show #464 Notes: Former F-16 Pilot, Chris Lehto

  • July 18, 2021 at 5:33 pm
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    Looking forward to this episode.

  • July 23, 2021 at 9:03 am
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    Finally! Someone with the background to give an assessment on the novel UAP navy videos.
    The “UAP report” has come and gone and those of us who remain curious about the phenomenon will be thrown back to the aggressive mosh pit of ridicule when even trying to simply raise the question “what the hell is that?”
    Hoo-Rah to Col. Chris for putting his reputation on the line.
    He’s going to need a flack vest.

  • February 19, 2022 at 3:15 pm
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    On the splash video, was the ship at a dead stop? What I do not understand is, if there were 15 ft swells, why didn’t the video bounce up and down. How could it stay so solid locked on to the target with virtually no movement up and down?

Comments are closed.