Major General Lust was born in Moran, Kansas in 1948.  He grew up and was educated in Kansas. He attended and graduated from the University of Missouri.  He enlisted in the US Army in 1969 and graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School in 1970 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Armor Branch.  Later in his career, he branch transferred to Quartermaster.

General Lust’s major assignments include a combat tour with 101^st Airborne Division, Republic of Vietnam; Tank Company Advisor, 22^nd Tank Regiment, Army of Vietnam; Executive Officer, 1^st Battalion, 34^th Armor Regiment, 1^st Infantry Division; Chief, Supply and Maintenance Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, Europe; Chief, Tank Automotive, and Armament Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, Europe, 7^th Army, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany; Director of Logistics and Security Assistance (J4), Headquarters, United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Federal Republic of Germany. 

General Lust commanded at every level including command of a Rifle Platoon, 1^st Battalion, 327^th Infantry Regiment, 101^st Airborne Division in Vietnam.  Next, he commanded Company A, 3^rd Battalion, 63^rd Armor Regiment, 3^rd Infantry Division, Augsburg, Federal Republic of Germany.  General Lust served as the Commander, Regimental Support Squadron, 11^th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fulda, Federal Republic of Germany.  He commanded the Division Support Command, 3^rd Infantry Division, Wuerzburg, Federal Republic of Germany and, later, served as the Commanding General, 3^rd Corps Support Command, V Corps, Wiesbaden, Federal Republic of Germany.  Additional key leadership positions included Deputy Commanding General, Unified Task Force, Somalia, Africa (Operation Restore Hope), Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff-G4, Headquarters, US Army and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Headquarters, United States Army. 

General Lust’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and various service and foreign awards.