Colonel Robert F. Lytle is the Vice Commander of the 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. 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.

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. After, Lytle began Undergraduate Pilot Training and 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. Due to his vast experience, Colonel Lytle was selected as the Division Chief of Combat Air Force Requirements (A5RC), Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Lytle was the Vice Commander of the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, AFRC first combat-coded F-35A wing.

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 Aviation, 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 – 2023, Vice Commander, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah

14. 2023 – Present, Vice Commander, 301st FW, Fort Worth, Texas

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot

Flight hours: More than 4,915 hours

Combat hours: 912 hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16C/D, F-35A

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster

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