Major Fout enlisted in the United States Navy on October 19, 1999 and attended basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion of basic training, Major Fout was assigned to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, South Carolina where he studied to become a nuclear power qualified Machinist Mate (MMN) and Engineering Laboratory Technician (ELT).
In November 2003, Major Fout was stationed on the ballistic missile submarine USS Georgia (SSBN-729) in Bangor, Washington and served as a MMN and ELT until he was selected for the STA-21 program in June 2005. While on board the SSBN-729, he participated in sea trials for the conversion to a guided missile submarine and docked the submarine in Norfolk, Virginia for the conversion.
Major Fout was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps on June 8, 2008, upon graduating from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon completion of The Basic School, he reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for flight training, earning his wings as a Naval Aviator on April 12, 2011.
Upon successful completion of the CH-53E Fleet Replacement Squadron, Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302, Major Fout was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 in Miramar, California in November 2011. He served as an operations schedule writer and deployed to Bastion Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2012 to February 2013.
While a member of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Major Fout served as the Flightline Maintenance Officer, Assistant Maintenance Officer, Pilot Training Officer and as a graduate of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, served the squadron as the Weapons and Tactics Instructor. He deployed to the Unit Deployment Program Okinawa, Japan from May to November of 2014.
Major Fout was selected on the FY16 Commandant’s Career-Level Education Board 2016 and attended Naval Postgraduate School from July 2016 to June 2018. He earned his Master’s Degree in Information Warfare Systems Engineering.
Upon completion of his Master’s Degree, he was assigned to Combat Development and Integration (CD&I) in Quantico, Virginia from July 2018 to June 2020. While at CD&I Major Fout worked in the command element-information warfare division as a capability integration officer. His major projects included Signature Management and Military Information Support Operations.
In July 2020, Major Fout reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361in Miramar, California. From July 2020 - March 2023, Major Fout served as the Operations Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Major Fout deployed to the Unit Deployment Program Okinawa, Japan from April 2021 to November 2021. He also served as the Detachment Officer in Charge for the Rim of the Pacific Naval Exercise 2022.
In March 2023, Major Fout was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 Reinforced as the Detachment Officer in Charge with four CH-53E’s. While at Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 Reinforced, Major Fout was assigned as the Executive Officer.
Major Fout has flown more than 1800 hours in tactical aircraft. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal (Numeral 3), the Navy Commendation Medal (gold star), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment (3 gold stars), National Defense Service Medal and the NATO/ISAF Afghanistan Medal.