Lester L. Lyles was Commander of the Air Force Material Command of the U.S. Air Force. Previously, General Lyles served as Vice Commander of Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah. He served as Commander from 1993 until 1994, then commanded the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., until 1996. General Lyles became the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in 1996. In May 1999, he was named Vice Chief of Staff at U.S. Air Force Headquarters. He retired in October 2003.

General Lyles received the “General Thomas D. White Award” for distinguished service in national security from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2012. General Lyles currently chairs the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board for the National Academy of Engineering.