Colonel Lyons is a native of Baker, Louisiana. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1987 to serve as a CH-46 Helicopter Hydraulic Technician. He was commissioned via the Warrant Officer Program in 1998. He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics. He also graduated from Marshall University with a Master’s Degree in Professional Leadership.
His enlisted service includes assignment to: Station Operations and Maintenance Squadron and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 165 in Kaneohe Bay as well as HMX-1 in Quantico as an enlisted Marine (1987-1998).
His Warrant Officer assignments include HMM-164 in El Toro (1998-1999), HMM(T)164 in Camp Pendleton (1999-2001), Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367 in Camp Pendleton (2001-2003) as a Chief Warrant Officer, and MALS-14 in Cherry Point (2003-2004). In 2004 he was select to serve as a Limited Duty Officer (LDO).
His LDO service includes assignments to MALS-14 in Cherry Point (2004-2006), MALS-12 in Iwakuni Japan (2006-2009), HMLA(T)-303 for 10 months in Camp Pendleton (2009-2009), MALS-11 in Miramar (2010-2011), 3dMAW ALD Forward (2012), MALS-24 in Kaneohe Bay (2012-2015), and at HQMC in the Aviation Hallway where he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and 6004 Occupational Sponsor (2015-2017). During his time at HQMC, he applied to redesignate from the Restricted Officer ranks to the Unrestricted Officer ranks in 2017.
His unrestricted officer billets include OPNAV N98 (2017-2018) managing the 1A5A and 1A6A budget for rework and overhaul of all Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and engines. He commanded Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 in Beaufort SC (2018-2020). On his previous assignment he served at the Assistant Chief of Staff for Aviation Logistics Division for Marine Forces Pacific.