General Lyon received his commission from The Citadel, Charleston, S.C., earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and later a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.. A career fighter pilot and a distinguished graduate of the USAF F-16 Fighter Weapons School, General Lyon served as the initial commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan established during the peak of surge operations under Gen Petraeus’ leadership. He served numerous tours in the Pentagon as chair, Air Force Group (Air Force Corporate Structure); Air Force representative (Joint Capabilities Board); special assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (OCJCS); and chief, Studies, Analysis, and Gaming Division (J-8). He culminated his 32-year active-duty career as the Director of Operations, Air Combat Command before joining Northrop Grumman Corporation where he served as Vice President, Air Force Customer Relations. Inaddition to serving as a William & Mary Adjunct Lecturer, General Lyon is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
