[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1600-E1601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING GEN. LESTER L. LYLES ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Gen. Lester 
L. Lyles, United States Air Force, who will soon be retiring from the 
U.S. military after 35 years of distinguished service to our nation.
  Gen. Lester L. Lyles is currently the Commanding General of the Air 
Force Material Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force 
Base in the 7th Congressional District. The command conducts research, 
development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management 
services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapons 
systems combat-ready.
  The general entered the Air Force in 1968 as a distinguished graduate 
of the Air Force ROTC program. He has served in various assignments, 
from the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force, to the Air Force Systems 
Command (AFSC). The general became AFSC headquarters' Assistant Deputy 
Chief of Staff for Requirements in 1989, and Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Requirements in 1990.
  From 1992 to 1996, he served consecutively as: Vice Commander and 
then Commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base 
in Utah, and then commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at 
Los Angeles Air Force Base in California.
  The general became the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense 
Organization in 1996, which is certainly one of the most politically 
charged offices in the Pentagon.
  In May 1999, he was assigned as Vice Chief of Staff at Headquarters, 
U.S. Air Force. He assumed his current position in April 2000.
  I have had the privilege to work with the General on many occasions, 
since we have the mutual goal of seeing the Air Force (and Wright-
Patterson Air Force Base) maintain its role as the preeminent leader in 
aerospace and advanced technology research.
  General Lyles has always understood what has needed to be done, and 
we have worked very well together to maintain a robust research 
atmosphere at Wright-Pat. In addition to being a great leader and 
administrator, General Lyles is also the only African-American four-
star general in the Air Force.
  This makes him an outstanding role model for the youth of today as an 
example of what can be accomplished through hard work and perseverance. 
In fact, in February of this year, General Lyles received the Black 
Engineer of the Year Award for lifetime achievement. This award is 
presented on behalf of the Council of Engineering Deans of the 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lockheed Martin, Daimler 
Chrysler and U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine.
  As befitting a leader of his stature, General Lyles has an impressive 
academic background including: a Bachelor of Science degree in 
mechanical engineering from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and 
a Master of Science degree in mechanical and nuclear engineering from 
the Air Force Institute of Technology Program at New Mexico State 
University in Las Cruces.
  Through his advancement in military rank, he has also attended: the 
Defense Systems Management College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the 
National War College, and most recently he completed a National and 
International Security Management Course at Harvard University.
  And, like any successful person, General Lyles is supported by a 
strong family relationship with his wife of 33 years, Mina, and their 
four children.
  During my tenure in Congress, it has been my honor to work with 
several consecutive commanding generals of the Air Force Material 
Command. Each one has been professional, dedicated and a credit to the 
caliber of general officers in the U.S. Air Force. However, General 
Lyles has greatly impressed not

[[Page E1601]]

only myself, but also many business and community leaders in the Miami 
Valley. When General Lyles retires, we will be sorry to lose the man I 
consider to be the best leader in the distinguished history of the 
command.
  As the Congressman who represents Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 
the U.S. House of Representatives, I offer my sincere congratulations 
to Gen. Lyles on his well-deserved retirement and on behalf of the 7th 
Congressional District and thank him for all he has done to preserve 
our freedoms.

                          ____________________