Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Biography topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Former four‑star General Lester Lyles reflects on mentors, career and STEM advocacy
Summary
In a Connect with County Leaders interview, retired Gen. Lester Lyles recounts his path from Washington, D.C. schools to the Air Force, describes a mentor who persuaded him to stay in service after Kent State, and highlights his long involvement in STEM education and community life in Fairfax County.
Retired four‑star General Lester Lyles told Connect with County Leaders that mentorship, education and community involvement shaped his 36‑year Air Force career and his post‑retirement civic activities in Fairfax County.
Lyles described choosing McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C., because of its focus on technology, attending Howard University on a combination of family support and scholarships, and going to New Mexico State University for an accelerated master's in mechanical (and nuclear) engineering after the Air Force extended his education.
He said the Kent State shootings initially made him question military service, but a mentor—a white engineer he encountered early in his career—encouraged him to stay. "A mentor doesn't have to look like you," Lyles said, crediting that counsel with persuading him to continue in the Air Force, which became a 36‑year career.
Lyles also recounted early assignments as a rocket propulsion engineer in Los Angeles, later program management on the F‑16 program, and service that included work on space vehicles that are still used today.
On life after the Air Force, Lyles said he and his wife retired to the D.C. area and settled in Vienna, Fairfax County, to be near adult children and because of Metro access to George Washington University where two children pursued graduate study. He noted he turned 80 on April 20.
Beyond service, Lyles emphasized his commitment to STEM education: he spent nine years on the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center board and chaired its education committee, and said the center's programs reach numerous U.S. states and international partners. "I love seeing young people get an interest at a young age in science and technology," he said.
He closed with a lighter note about being a "car guy," attending local Cars and Coffee meets and following motorsports, signing off on the interview with encouragement for community engagement.
The episode ended with the host thanking Lyles for his service and time on the show.
