Lester L. Lyles
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General Lester Lyles
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| Born | (1946-04-20) April 20, 1946 (age 78) Washington, D.C. |
| Service/ | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1968–2003 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands held | Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) |
| Other work | Chairman of USAA, director, General Dynamics, DPL Inc., KBR Incorporated, Precision Castparts Corp. |
General Lester L. Lyles (born April 20, 1946)[1] is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force (USAF). He served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. After retirement from the USAF in 2003, he became a company director for General Dynamics, DPL Inc., KBR, Inc., Precision Castparts Corp., MTC Technologies, Battelle Memorial Institute and USAA.[2] Lyles is also a trustee of Analytic Services and a managing partner of Four Seasons Ventures, LLC.
Lyles entered the USAF in 1968 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. He served in various assignments, including Program Element Monitor of the Short-Range Attack Missile at USAF Headquarters in 1974, and as special assistant and aide-de-camp to the commander of Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) in 1978. In 1981 he was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB as avionics division chief in the F-16 Systems Program Office. He has served as director of tactical aircraft systems at AFSC headquarters and as director of the Medium-Launch Vehicles Program and Space-Launch Systems offices.[3]
Lyles became AFSC headquarters' assistant deputy chief of staff for requirements in 1989, and deputy chief of staff for requirements in 1990. In 1992 he became vice commander of Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah. He served as Commander of the center from 1993 until 1994, then was assigned to command the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., until 1996. Lyles became the director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in 1996. In May 1999, he was assigned as vice chief of staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He assumed command of Air Force Materiel Command in April 2000.[4] Lyles retired from the air force on October 1, 2003.
Lyles was a member of The President's Commission on U.S. Space Policy.[2] He chairs the "Rationale and Goals of the U.S. Civil Space Program" committee of the United States National Academies.[5] In May 2009 he was named a member Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee, an independent review requested by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The same year he was appointed to the Defense Science Board, a committee of civilian experts appointed to advise the U.S. Department of Defense on scientific and technical matters.[6] As of December 2013, he continues to serve as its vice chairman. In December 2009, General Lyles was appointed to the President's Intelligence Advisory Board by the White House.
On January 22, 2013, General Lyles was named chairman of the board of directors for USAA having been a USAA member since 1968 and a member of the board of directors since 2004.[7] General Lyles completed his final term as chairman in August 2019 after nearly seven years in the role and left USAA's board of directors after 15 years of dedicated service.[8]
On May 15, 2019, General Lyles assumed the role of non-executive chairman of the board for KBR, Inc. having been a member of the board of directors since November 2007.[9]
 
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Command Space and Missile Operations Badge |
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Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
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Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge |
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Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |
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Defense Superior Service Medal |
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Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster |
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Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
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Air Force Commendation Medal |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster |
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Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters |
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NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars |
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Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters |
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Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon |
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Air Force Training Ribbon |
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
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General | July 1, 1999 |
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Lieutenant general | November 16, 1994 |
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Major general | August 6, 1993 |
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Brigadier general | May 1, 1991 |
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Colonel | December 1, 1985 |
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Lieutenant colonel | December 1, 1982 |
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Major | November 1, 1979 |
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Captain | February 2, 1971 |
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First lieutenant | August 2, 1969 |
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Second lieutenant | February 2, 1968 |
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Garry A. Schnelzer |
Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center 1994 - 1996 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization 1996 - 1999 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force 1999 - 2000 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander, Air Force Materiel Command 2000 - 2003 |
Succeeded by |
