Colonel David B. Lyons is the Commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The wing's mission is to maintain combat readiness to deploy, employ, and sustain F-16s worldwide to fly, fight and win any conflict. The wing consists of six squadrons that maintain and operate 48 primary assigned F-16CM aircraft, and a seventh squadron that maintains and operates the F-35A. Colonel Lyons is responsible for the readiness, training, morale, and welfare of more than 1,600 personnel assigned to the wing, provides operational oversight and direction for nearly 450 Reserve maintainers and operators in the 419th Fighter Wing, and manages the Utah Test and Training Range. Colonel Lyons oversees the transition to the F-35 as the wing prepares to declare initial operational capability for the Air Force in the fall of 2016.
Colonel Lyons entered the Air Force in 1992, through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and has held various operational F-35, F-16 and A-10 flying positions. Colonel Lyons has served as a Jump-Battalion Air Liaison Officer for the Army’s 82d Airborne Division, as a strategist for CHECKMATE, and as the commander of both the 34th Fighter Squadron and the 52d Operations Group. He holds advanced degrees from George Washington University, Air Command and Staff College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He has multiple combat deployments to Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Colonel Lyons is a command pilot with more than 2,100 flying hours in the F-35A, F-16C/D, A-10A/C, T-37 and T-38, to include 397 combat flying hours.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Industrial Mgt, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga. (Distinguished Graduate)
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2000 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2005 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, ACSC, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2006 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, ICAF, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C. (Distinguished Graduate)
2012 Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1993–February 1995, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training / IFF / SERE, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. February 1995–July 1995, Student, A-10 Initial Qualification Training, Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. July 1995–August 1996, A/OA-10 Attack Pilot / FAC / Life Support Officer, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB,
RoK
4. August 1996–July 1998, A/OA-10 Flight Lead / FAC / Assist Weapons Officer / Jump-BALO (82d Airborne Division),
74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
5. July 1998–December 2000, Air Force Intern, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
6. December 2000–June 2003, F-16CJ Flight Commander / Chief of Current Ops / Assistant Director of Operations,
14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
7. June 2003–July 2004, F-16CJ Instructor Pilot / Director of Operations, 35th Operations Support Squadron, Misawa
AB, Japan
8. July 2004–July 2005, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2005–June 2006, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2006–June 2007, Chief, CENTCOM Planning Team, HAF/A5XK CHECKMATE, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
11. June 2007–June 2008, Airpower Strategist, CSAF’s Strategic Studies Group, CHECKMATE, Pentagon, Washington
D.C.
12. June 2008–June 2009, Chief of Safety, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
13. June 2009–July 2010, F-16CG Flight Examiner / Commander, 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
14. July 2010–June 2011, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
15. June 2011–June 2013, Commander, 52d Operations Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
16. June 2013–June 2015, Senior Military Advisor to SECDEFREPEUR/USNATO DEFAD, Brussels, Belgium
17. June 2015–present, Commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,100
Aircraft flown: F-35A, F-16C/D, A-10A/C, T-37 and T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant February 2, 1993
First Lieutenant February 2, 1995
Captain February 2, 1997
Major June 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2007
Colonel September 1, 2011
(Current as of January 2016)