Col. Robert F. Lytle is Vice Commander of the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He is responsible for a wing tasked to support worldwide mobility and combat employment operations. He assists in the management and oversight of day-to-day operations and serves as the wing’s senior officer in the absence of the commander.
Colonel Lytle graduated from the University of Oklahoma where he received his Bachelor of Science in Aviation in 1995. Prior to being selected for Officer Training School in 1996, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1991 to 1996 as a 2WX1 Weapons Loader. Colonel Lytle attended Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1997 where he earned his pilot wings in 1998. He was then assigned to the 93d Fighter Squadron at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. He has cumulated an astounding 4,445 F-16 flight hours and with minimum time upgraded to four-ship flight lead and F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Lytle was Chief of Combat Air Force Requirements Division (A5RC), Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.
He is a combat-proven command pilot with multiple deployments to Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. Due to Homestead’s strategic location, Colonel Lytle was also a critical reason for the successful support of Noble Eagle/POTUS tours.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science in Aviation, University of Oklahoma
2007 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Air War College, by correspondence
2022 Master of Arts in Education, Trident University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1991 – 1991, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. 1991 – 1991, Student, Aircraft Armament School, Lowry AFB, Colo.
3. 1991 – 1996, Weapons Loader, 924th Fighter Group, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
4. 1996 – 1996, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. 1997 – 1998, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
6. 1998 – 1998, Introduction Fighter Fundamentals, Randolph AFB, Texas
7. 1998 – 1998, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. 1998 – 2014, Instructor Pilot/Evaluator, 93rd Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
9. 2014 – 2017, Director of Operations, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
10. 2017 – 2019, Commander, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
11. 2019 – 2020, AFWIC, AS/GPA Functional Integration Team, HAF, Washington, D.C.
12. 2020 – 2021, CAF Requirements Division Chief, HAF, Washington, D.C
13. 2021 – 2022, Military Director of Staff, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah
14. 2022 – Present, Vice Commander, 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,742 hours
Combat hours: 912 hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-35A
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and eight oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
AF Longevity Service with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 5 “M” Devices with two oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
AF Training Ribbon
NATO Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 4, 1996
First Lieutenant Oct. 4, 1998
Captain Sept. 13, 2001
Major March 29, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 6, 2013
Colonel May 1, 2020
(Current as of March 2022)