 Lute commanded 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry at Fort Hood, Texas, in 1992–94.He then served on the Joint Staff in the J-5 Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, and held a War College Fellowship at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.

From 1998 to 2000 he commanded the Second Cavalry Regiment, part of XVIII Airborne Corps, at Fort Polk, Louisiana.In 2001, he was appointed brigadier general.