Air Force Lt. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, briefs reporters at the Pentagon, Jan. 20, 1999, on the latest developments in hardware, operational concepts, and political/diplomatic considerations relating to missile defense
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.
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]
1991 National and International Security Management Course, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Assignments
February 1969 - November 1971, propulsion and structures engineer, Standard Space-Launch Vehicles Program Office, Los Angeles Air Force Station, California
November 1971 - July 1974, propulsion engineer, Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
July 1974 - April 1975, program element monitor for the short-range attack missile, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
April 1975 - March 1978, executive officer to the deputy chief of staff for research and development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
March 1978 - January 1980, special assistant and aide-de-camp to the commander, Headquarters AFSC, Andrews AFB, Maryland
January 1980 - June 1980, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
June 1980 - January 1981, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
January 1981 - June 1981, chief, Avionics Division, F-16 Systems Program Office, Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
June 1981 - July 1984, deputy director for special and advanced projects, F-16 Systems Program Office, Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
August 1984 - June 1985, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
June 1985 - June 1987, director of tactical aircraft systems, Headquarters AFSC, Andrews AFB, Maryland
June 1987 - April 1988, director, Medium-Launch Vehicles Program Office, Headquarters Space Systems Division, Los Angeles AFS, California
April 1988 - August 1989, assistant deputy commander for launch systems, Headquarters Space Systems Division, Los Angeles AFS, California
August 1989 - July 1992, assistant deputy chief of staff for requirements, then deputy chief of staff for requirements, Headquarters AFSC, Andrews AFB, Maryland
