[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING GENERAL LESTER L. LYLES, USAF

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2024

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedicated service 
of General Lester L. Lyles, United States Air Force, (ret.) to his 
country, to the mission of our armed forces, and to the people of this 
great Nation. General Lyles is a true leader whose impact has left an 
indelible mark on America's defense and space sectors, and the security 
and prosperity of our great Nation
  The General has an educational background steeped in engineering and 
a distinguished career that has spanned more than 35 years in the U.S. 
Air Force. He began his academic journey just up the road from this 
very chamber--at Howard University--earning a Bachelor of Science in 
mechanical engineering in 1968 followed by his Master of Science in 
mechanical/nuclear engineering from New Mexico State University in 
1969. His academic pursuits continued to include graduating from 
prestigious institutions including the Defense Systems Management 
College in 1980, the Armed Forces Staff College in 1981 and the 
National War College in 1985. In recognition of his achievements, 
General Lyles acquired honorary Doctor of Law degrees from New Mexico 
State University in 2002 and Urbana University in 2009.
  General Lyles officially entered the U.S. military after commencement 
in 1968 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. Throughout his 
tenure, General Lyles held various assignments and a series of high-
ranking positions, including Commander of the Space and Missile Systems 
Center, Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Vice 
Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force, and Commander 
of the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command.
  Notably, General Lyles led the Space Launch Recovery Program 
following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and later directed 
the Strategic Defense Initiative under President Ronald Reagan. His 
strategic vision and dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the 
trajectory of our nation's aerospace and defense landscape.
  Retiring from the military in 2003, General Lyles continued to 
exemplify his passion for service by transitioning into the world of 
consulting for both the private and public sectors. General Lyles is 
currently an executive board member at defense and aerospace contractor 
KBR, a trustee of Analytic Services, and a managing partner at Four 
Seasons Ventures, LLC. General Lyles' accomplishments are further 
underscored by his status as a member of the Defense Science Board, the 
International Security Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of State, 
and the President's Intelligence Advisory Board in the White House.
  His commitment to community service is equally admirable. General 
Lyles has been a steadfast member of the Smithsonian Air and Space 
Museum board, where he was recently honored, and a critical leader of 
the National Space Council Users' Advisory Group. In the Commonwealth, 
he's been a recognized leader in Virginia Humanities, the Virginia 
Academy of Science, Technology and Medicine and the Partnership for 
Public Service.
  Over the course of his illustrious career, General Lyles has earned 
numerous accolades, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, 
the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, 
and the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. In 1990, he was named 
Astronautics Engineer of the Year by the National Space Club (NSC) and 
later received the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award for outstanding 
contributions to military equal opportunity policies and programs from 
the NAACP in 1994. General Lyles was named Black Engineer of the Year/
Lifetime Achievement in 2003 and received the General Thomas D. White 
Award for distinguished service in national security from the U.S. Air 
Force Academy in 2012. He was elected as a Fellow of the American 
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2022 and received the 
Astronautics Engineering Award from the Huntsville Chapter of the NSC 
just last year.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, the citizens of the Virginia 
Commonwealth and, indeed, the American people, please join me in a 
heartfelt ``thank you'' to General Lyles, whose enduring contributions 
to the United States of America and its missions continue to influence 
aerospace, defense, and space communities to this day.

                          ____________________