Lester Lyles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lester L. Lyles
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General Lester Lyles
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| Born | April 20, 1946 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| 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 was a very important leader in the United States Air Force (USAF). He was a four-star general, which is the highest rank an officer can reach in the military. He was born on April 20, 1946. General Lyles served in the Air Force for many years, from 1968 until he retired in 2003.
During his career, he held several top positions. These included being the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, which is the second-highest job in the Air Force. He also led the Air Force Materiel Command, which is in charge of developing and buying equipment for the Air Force. After he retired, General Lyles continued to work as a director for several big companies.
Contents
Early Career and Important Roles
Lester Lyles joined the Air Force in 1968. He was a top graduate from the Air Force ROTC program, which trains college students to become officers. Early in his career, he worked on important projects. For example, he helped manage the Short-Range Attack Missile program. He also worked closely with the commander of the Air Force Systems Command.
In 1981, he moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. There, he became a leader in the F-16 Fighting Falcon program. This program was about managing the systems for the F-16 fighter jet. He also directed programs for launching rockets and satellites into space.
Leading Major Commands
General Lyles took on more leadership roles as his career progressed. In 1992, he became a vice commander at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah. He then became the commander of that center in 1993. This center helps maintain and supply aircraft and other equipment.
From 1994 to 1996, he commanded the Space and Missile Systems Center in California. This center is responsible for developing and buying space and missile systems for the Air Force. In 1996, he became the director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. This organization works on systems to protect against missile attacks.
In May 1999, General Lyles became the Vice Chief of Staff at the U.S. Air Force Headquarters. This was a very important role in leading the entire Air Force. He then took command of the Air Force Materiel Command in April 2000. He retired from the Air Force on October 1, 2003.
Work After the Air Force
After retiring from the Air Force, General Lyles continued to be a leader. He joined the boards of directors for several large companies. These included General Dynamics, KBR, Inc., and Precision Castparts Corp..
He also served on important government and scientific committees. He was a member of the President's Commission on U.S. Space Policy. He also chaired a committee for the United States National Academies that looked at the goals of the U.S. civil space program. In 2009, he joined the Defense Science Board, which advises the U.S. Department of Defense on science and technology. He also advised the White House on intelligence matters.
In 2013, General Lyles became the chairman of the board of directors for USAA. USAA is a company that provides financial services to military members and their families. He served as chairman until August 2019. He also became the non-executive chairman of the board for KBR, Inc. in 2019.
Education and Learning
General Lyles believed in education and continued to learn throughout his life.
- 1968: He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University.
- 1969: He received a master's degree in mechanical and nuclear engineering from New Mexico State University.
- 1980: He attended the Defense Systems Management College.
- 1981: He studied at the Armed Forces Staff College.
- 1985: He completed studies at the National War College.
- 1991: He attended a course on National and International Security Management at Harvard University.
Awards and Honors
General Lyles received many awards and honors for his service and achievements.
- He earned the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. These are very high honors for exceptional service.
- He also received the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.
- He was given the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal for his contributions to space.
- In 1990, he was named Astronautics Engineer of the Year by the National Space Club.
- In 1994, he received the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his work on equal opportunity.
- He received honorary degrees and other awards from universities and organizations.
Images for kids
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Command Space and Missile Operations Badge
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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
