Washington – September 20, 2026 -- General Lester Lyles, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), has been named recipient of the 2026 AFA Lifetime Achievement Award by the Air & Space Forces Association. The award was presented in September 2026 during the Air, Space & Cyber Conference.
Career spanned top Air Force commands and boardroom leadership
General Lyles served as Commander of Air Force Materiel Command and later as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, roles in which he shaped modernization and readiness programs for the service. Following his military career, he took on board positions at General Dynamics Corp. and Battelle Memorial Laboratories, and chaired the boards of USAA, KBR Corporation, and USRA.
National Space Club honored Lyles with Goddard Trophy in 2024
In 2024, General Lyles received the Robert Goddard Trophy for Space Leadership from the National Space Club, adding to a list of career honors recognized across the aerospace and national security sectors.
USRA said the recognition reflects the lasting impact of General Lyles' leadership on the Air and Space Forces and the broader national security community.