LIEUTENANT COLONEL TOM LASSER, CANG (RET)
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lasser recently retired after completing over 40 years of military service. Seven years on active duty with the US Army and 33 years with the California National Guard. 30 of which was fulltime status with the Guard.
LTC Lasser is an Air Force brat and was born in Selfridge Air Base in Michigan and grew up in Riverside,CA. His dad, a career Air Force man and veteran of WWII and Korea retired at March Air Force Base. Always wanting to fly, Tom joined the Army to fly helicopters.
Earning his wings after completing the Army Aviation Warrant Officer Aviator Course, he flew UH-1 “Hueys” in the Republic of South Vietnam. After receiving a direct commission, he completed another tour in Vietnam flying Boeing CH-47 “Chinooks”. LTC Lasser then transferred into the California Army National Guard following his second tour of combat duty.
LTC Lasser has commanded at the company and battalion level also serving in a variety of staff positions including Headquarters, California National Guard in Sacramento. His command and staff activities also include numerous assignments and duties during floods, earthquakes, other disasters and he functioned as the aviation task force commander during the L.A. civil disturbances. He has accomplished a three year tour as military liaison in the Governors Los Angeles Office. His duties also included service with the Governors Office of Military Base Retention and Aerospace Support. Prior to these positions he was Airfield Commander, Los Alamitos Army Airfield on the Joint Forces Training Base in Orange County. Most recently he was the Southern California legislative liaison officer for the California Guard and concurrently supported various Guard community relations activities, media events and public affairs functions before he retired.
He is a master Army Aviator with over 6000 flying hours including more than 1000 helicopter missions in Vietnam and almost 1800 combat flight hours. His military decorations include: the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, Air Medal with 35 Oak Leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medals, Bronze Star and various commendations, service awards and campaign ribbons which reflect his forty years of service. Unit awards include the Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantly.
Military education includes the Infantry Officers Advance Course, Army Command and General Staff College, Aviation Safety Officer’s Course, Senior Officer Logistics Management Course, National Interagency Civil-Military Institute, and the Joint Service Reserve Component National Security Course. He is a graduate of San Joaquin Delta College and the University of San Francisco.
Tom is on the Board of Directors for the Bob Hope Hollywood USO @ LAX which now includes Ontario and Palm Springs Airports. He is the Vice President of the Southern California Chapter of the Army Aviation Association and on the Board of the Greater LA Chapter of the Association of the US. Army. LTC Lasser is a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Legion, VFW and Military Officers Association. He is also a member of the Navy League, Air Force Association, the Association of Naval Aviation and the Radio Television News Association of Southern California.
He is married to former Laura Elena Hermosillo of Stockton, CA. They have one daughter, Ami’ Colette who is in the fashion industry in Hollywood. The Lassers currently reside in South Redondo Beach, CA.