After guest Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Chris Lehto heard that the FLIR1, GOFAST, and GIMBAL videos were debunked he came forward with his opinion. He was an F-16 pilot for 18 years and had done hundreds of these types of intercepts with this almost exact equipment. The "experts" that have been appearing on TV and YouTube have obviously never actually used these systems before.

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:
May 2000 – August 2002, student, joint undergraduate training, Whiting Field
Pensacola, Florida/ Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma
August 2002 – December 2002, student, F-16 Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
December 2002 – November 2003, student, F-16 Fighter Training Unit, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
November 2003 – November 2004, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Force Base, South Korea
November 2004 – September 2007, Chief of Mobility, Chief of Wing Safety, Aviano Air Base, Italy
September 2007 – February 2011, Flight Commander, Red Flag Adversary Commander, Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator, Eielson Air Force Base Alaska
February 2011 – June 2012, student, Defense Language Institute Turkish, California
July 2012 – December 2014, F-16 Exchange Pilot, Turkey
January 2015 – June 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, Training Systems
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