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MCAS Beaufort Leaders
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Leaders
H&HS COMMANDING OFFICER
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher E. Lyon

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Lyon was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in History from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 2006. Following graduation from The Basic School in Quantico, VA, he attended Naval Aviation training in Pensacola, FL, conducting primary flight training with VT-2, advanced helicopter training with HT-18, and was designated a Naval Aviator in September 2008. After flight school, First Lieutenant Lyon was assigned to HMLA/T-303 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton for initial training in the AH-1W Cobra.  In April 2009, after completing the FRS, he reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267).   

During his time with HMLA-267, First Lieutenant Lyon deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from August 2009 to December 2009, and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from May 2011 to November 2011. During his tour with HMLA-267, he held the billets of Schedule Writer and Flight Equipment OIC.  

In February 2012, Captain Lyon reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) and helped to transition the squadron from MCAS Camp Pendleton to its new location at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI. He successfully completed Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in October 2013, and he served in a variety of billets at Scarface, to include Flight Line OIC, Quality Assurance Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, Pilot Training Officer, and the Director of Safety and Standardization.   

In August 2015, Captain Lyon reported to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) in Quantico, VA. He was promoted to Major in 2016, and he served as the Assistant S-4 Officer, Operations Schedule Writer, and Quality Assurance Officer. He served as a Command Pilot and flew missions in support of the President and Vice President of the United States in the VH-3D “Sea King” and VH-60N “White Hawk” helicopters.   

In September 2019, Major Lyon reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) to serve as the Assistant Operations Officer and convert to the AH-1Z Viper.  In February 2020, Major Lyon took over as the Operations Officer. In November 2021, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Unit Deployment Program and in December, he became the 31st MEU H-1 Detachment OIC with VMM-262 (REIN). He deployed aboard the USS New Orleans for 31st MEU 21.1.

In June 2021, Major Lyon reported to HQMC, Programs and Resources (P&R) at the Pentagon.  He served as Program Coordinator and Air Combat Element (ACE) Analyst for MAGTF Integration Branch (RPM), as well as the PBR-24 Coordinator for the Marine Corps. In March 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 

In April 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Lyon reported to MCAS Beaufort, and he assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), the Swamp Foxes, in June 2023.

Lieutenant Colonel Lyon has accumulated over 2,700 hours in Naval Aircraft, and his personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal-Strike/Flight with numeral 5, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is married to wife Kayla, a former Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, and has three children: Addison, Aidan, and Austin.