6/1/2012 - Lt. Col. Eric Smith (left) congratulates Lt. Col. Lee Kloos on becoming the latest qualified joint strike fighter pilot and DOD’s first non-developmental test pilot to qualify, May 31 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. After completing his flight, is now a qualified instructor pilot for the F-35 Lightning II. Smith, the director of operations with the 58th FS and the first Air Force qualified pilot, served as Kloos' flight evaluator. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)

6/1/2012 - Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, 58th Fighter Squadron commander, prepares to exit an F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter, after a successful sortie May 31. Completing this last of six flights was the final step in making him the first non-developmental test pilot to fly the JSF. Now, Kloos can train/qualify other 33rd Fighter Wing initial cadre pilots to fly the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)