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An Army Special Forces officer was killed on Sunday in a boating accident off the coast of Destin, Florida, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas (Rusty) Robinett of 7th Special Forces Group was killed when he and another passenger were “somehow ejected from a 20-foot vessel,” according to the local ABC affiliate, WEAR-TV, which said that Robinett was apparently “struck” by the vessel.

Authorities spent more than 40 hours searching for him, WEAR-TV reports. The other passenger was rescued. He was off-duty at the time of the accident, according to 1st Special Forces Command Spokesperson Maj. Beth Riordan.

Robinett enlisted in the Army in 2007, and deployed with the 7th SFG(A) to Honduras, Columbia, El Salvador, and twice to Afghanistan, according to Riordan. In 2013, Robinett won the U.S. Army Special Forces Command Best Warrior Competition, and represented Army Special Forces Operations Command in the Department of the Army's Best Warrior Competition the same year.

“Rusty was a phenomenal father, husband, son, Soldier, and brother to many in the 7th Group,” 7th Special Forces Group commander Col. Patrick Colloton said in a statement. “He was one of our best. … It was an honor having him service within the ranks of 7th SFG(A). He was a part of our family, and will not be forgotten.”

He leaves behind his wife and three children, per the Pentagon's announcement.

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Haley Britzky
Haley Britzky

Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services.  Contact the author here.

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