Relax guys, here's the winner.

His name is Randy Steffens, and he holds the title and record for longest officer at one rank. Here's the story: I met Lt. Col. Steffens when I joined our Guard unit, in 1970. At that time he was our Air Force Advisor, and over the years I had the pleasure and honor of flying with Randy many, many times. He was a fighter pilot's pilot. The fact that he answered the phone "This is Randy Steffens, the world's greatest fighter pilot" aside, he really was a great stick.

Here's what caused him to remain a Lt. Col for so many years: He was a Lt. Colonel, while stationed in Korea, during the Korean War, and as such was the Squadron Commander of this particular unit. On the day in question, he was also the Duty Officer. Flying in that squadron was a junior captain, who was also the son of a Lieutenant General, who on that day was assigned a MIG CAP mission, from which he never returned, because he had been shot down. His father was so overcome with grief and hatred, that he somehow managed to make it known that this Squadron Commander could never again be promoted.

When Randy's unit rotated back to the states, he stayed in the Air Force and continued his career. When the Vietnam War came along, Randy was flying the F-100, and volunteered and received an assignment to South Vietnam, where he flew over 300 combat missions below the DMZ. When his unit left Vietnam, he became our Air Force Advisor, as our unit was transitioning from the F-102 to the F-100D/F. Randy stayed in our unit, as our advisor, until we again transitioned to the A-10, at which time he retired, still a Lt. Colonel. So without knowing exact dates, I'd say that he was a Lt. Col. from 1953 until 1980.

He was a great guy and everyone who knew him still misses him. Below is his Obituary.

STEFFENS, Randall L. Lt. Col. Randall L. Steffens, USAF, RET, 82, of Windsor, passed away unexpectedly Monday, (December 7, 2009). Born in Rock Falls, IL, on June 13, 1927, and raised in Iowa, he was the son of Henry and Katherine (Albers) Steffens. After high school, near the end of World War II, Randy enlisted in the U. S. Navy. Randy loved flying, so after the Navy he obtained his private pilot's license. He was later commissioned an officer in the United States Air Force following graduation from Cadet School in Las Vegas, NV. Randy was a veteran of WWII and a highly decorated veteran of Korea and Vietnam. He flew 100 missions over Korea and 312 over Vietnam. During his military career he amassed more than 3,000 flying hours and was affectionately known as "The World's Greatest Fighter Pilot." Randy maintained treasured friendships with his military family through visits, correspondence, annual reunions and membership in various organizations. Following retirement from the Air Force Randy was a local realtor for a number of years. He was a volunteer at the New England Air Museum and greatly enjoyed interacting with visitors of all ages. Randy was also pleased to be one of the veterans honored last month during a Veteran's Day ceremony at Windsor High School.

Published in The Hartford Courant on December 13, 2009