Colonel Robert P. Lyons, Jr., is the Director, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Engineering and Manufacturing Development (E&MD), reporting to the JSF Program Executive Officer in Crystal City, VA. He is responsible for planning the $20 billion JSF E&MD program, planning and executing the source selection, and producing Defense Acquisition Board documentation leading to a Milestone II decision. The Joint Strike Fighter E&MD Program will develop and test a design for a family of aircraft complementing the F-22 and replacing the USAF F-16 and A-10, USMC F-18 and AV-8B, UK Royal Navy Sea Harrier, UK Royal Air Force GR-7, and augmenting the USN F-18 fleet with a stealthy strike fighter.

The colonel enlisted in the Air Force in 1968, receiving his commission through the Airmen's Education and Commissioning program in 1973 as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School. After completing graduate studies at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), he worked in Wright Laboratories, then at Headquarters Air Force Systems Command (HQ AFSC) as an action officer and technology development planner. Colonel Lyons also worked at the Electronic Systems Division on the development planning staff and the World Wide Military Command and Control Information System (WIS) Joint Program Office as the integration program manager. After Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned to lead the avionics and weapons systems computer resources development in the Advanced Tactical Fighter and F-22 System Program Office (SPO). He spent a short time as the Assistant Director of the F-15 SPO before being assigned as the Deputy Director of Integrated Engineering and Technical Management for ASC. Colonel Lyons served as the AFMC Liaison and the Air Force Director in the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) then JSF office until his selection as the JSF X-32 Program Manager. He was assigned to lead the JSF E&MD Directorate in March 1999. Colonel Lyons is a graduate of Squadron Officer's School, Air Command and Staff College, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces (National Security Management Program), Carnegie Mellon Executive Development Course, and the Defense Systems Management College.

050501