Lt. Col. Justin Lyon serves as the 412th Communications Squadron commander at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He leads an integrated team of over 300 military, civilian and contractor professionals who operate and maintain a $72 million Command, Control, Communications and Computers systems infrastructure for the 412th Test Wing, USAF Test Pilot School, AF Research Laboratory, NASA’s Neil Armstrong Flight Research Center, and other associate units on the USAF’s second largest base. Previously, Lyon was the 51st Communications Squadron commander at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. In this position he was responsible for delivering communications capabilities that directly support the 51st Fighter Wing main operating base as well as four co-located operating bases. His team also led the charge in assuring warfighting communications in any “Fight Tonight” scenario. Furthermore, his squadron was responsible for assuring cyberspace operations across the Korean peninsula.
Lyon entered the Air Force in May 2008 through ROTC from Cedarville University, a cross-town school with Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He completed communications officer training in September 2008, and in seventeen years of active duty since has held various communications positions at the squadron, wing, and major command levels. Lyon is married to the former Ana Pimentel and they have one son and two daughters; David, Margaret and Isabel.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio
2008 Basic Communication Officer Training, Kessler AFB, Miss. 2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Arts, WWII Military History, American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va. 2019 Leader Development Couse, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2024 Air War College (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 2008 – April 2010, NOSC Crew Commander, AFCENT A6O, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
2. May 2010 – January 2011, Deputy Chief, Network Engineering and Support Team, AFCENT A6O, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. January 2011 – August 2011, OIC, Communications Flight, 682d Air Support Operations Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. August 2011 – August 2012, Deputy Director of Logistics, 682 ASOS, Pope Army Air Field, N.C.
5. September 2012 – April 2014, Chief of Maintenance, 682 ASOS, Pope AAF, N.C.
6. May 2014 – July 2015, Director of Logistics, 682 ASOS, Pope AAF, N.C.
7. July 2015 – July 2018, Chief, Information Operations Assessments, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Ft Belvoir, Va.
8. July 2018 – December 2020, Director of Communications, 33d Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. December 2020 – June 2022, Director of Operations, 96th Communications Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
10.June 2022 – June 2024, Deputy Chief, Cyperspace Operations Division, Operations and Communications Directorate, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
11. June 2024 - June 2026, Commander, 51st Communications Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
12.June 2026 - Present, Commander, 412th Communications Squadron, Edwards AFB, Ca.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2015 – July 2018, Chief, Information Operations Assessment, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Ft Belvoir, Va., as a Major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with second oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013 Member of Chief of Staff Flight Squadron Officer School
2013 Member of Squadron Right-of-Line Flight Squadron Officer School
2013 Member of Top Third Flight Squadron Officer School
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Master Cyberspace Operations
PUBLICATIONS
“The Effectiveness of Operation Fortitude in World War II,” American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va., 2016
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member, Air Force Association
Member, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
Member, National Rifle Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2008
First Lieutenant June 1, 2010
Captain June 1, 2012
Major April 1, 2018
Lieutenant Colonel February 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2026)