COL Robert W. Lyons graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1990 and was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer. COL Lyons is currently serving as the Deputy Commander, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), Fort Shafter, Hawaii after serving as the unit's Chief of Staff for 10 months.
COL Lyons has served in numerous operational Air Defense units, on the Army Staff, and on the Joint Staff. He began his career as a Stinger Platoon Leader and Battery Executive Officer in 4th Battalion, 3d Air Defense Artillery, 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized) Kitzingen, Germany. From 1994 to 1995, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Riley, Kansas, where he worked on the Division staff. In 1995, he was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) where he served as the Assistant Battalion S-3 (Plans) in 1st Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery, Fort Stewart, Georgia. As the 24th ID(M) re-flagged to 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), COL Lyons assumed command of A Battery, 1st Battalion, 3d Air Defense Artillery, a Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle (BSFV) battery, in May 1996 and served in that capacity until December 1997.
From 1998 to 2000, COL Lyons served as an action officer and Executive Assistant to the Director, Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Organization (JTAMDO), Joint Chiefs of Staff, J-8, Washington, DC. In November 2000, he was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas where he served as the Assistant Brigade S-3 (Plans), 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps until March 2001. In April 2001, COL Lyons was assigned as the S-3, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, 108th ADA Brigade and served in that capacity until June 2002. From June 2002 to June 2003, he served as the Brigade S-3, 108th ADA Brigade. During this time, the Brigade deployed to Kuwait/Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and supported 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). From July 2004 to May 2007, COL Lyons served on the Army Staff as the Patriot Synchronization Staff Officer (SSO) and Executive Officer in the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, Force Development Directorate, Air and Missile Defense and Space Division (G-8 FDE).
From June 2007 to August 2009, COL Lyons commanded the 3d Battalion (Airborne), 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following battalion command, he served as the U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) Deputy Chief for Air and Missile Defense, forward deployed at the command's Operational Command Post (OCP), Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Upon completion of his tour in ARCENT, he was assigned back to the Army Staff where he served as the Chief of Operations within the Directorate of Materiel (DOM), Force Development Directorate, G-8. Most recently, COL Lyons served on the Army Staff from June 2011 to September 2013 as the Director of the Air and Missile Defense Directorate within HQDA G-3/5/7.
COL Lyons' military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer's Basic Course, the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School and the College of Naval Command and Staff. COL Lyons holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. He is also a graduate of the 82nd Airborne Division Advanced Airborne School Jumpmaster Course.
COL Lyons' military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (6 OLC), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3 OCL), the Joint Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He has also earned Chilean and German (Bronze) foreign jump wings.
COL Lyons is married to the former Crystal Holmberg of Annandale, Virginia. Along with their three children, Moriah, Matthew, and Sarah, the Lyons are proud to serve as an Army Family.
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