Major Tyrel promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in Alaska Air National Guard

Tyrel and his wife Heather live in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo contributed by Eric and Theresa Lyon.
On Dec. 15, 2022, at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, a ceremony was held for Major Tyrel Lyon of Toledo to promote him to Lieutenant Colonel in the Alaska Air National Guard.
Tyrel is the son of Eric and Theresa Lyon of Toledo. He graduated from South Tama County High School in 2001 and attended Kirkwood Community College a year before entering the United States Air Force Academy with his brother Tom Lyon, who also graduated from STC in 2003. He and his brother graduated from the Academy in 2006.
Lt. Col. Tyrel began his career in the C-130 Hercules as a tactical airlift pilot, instructor, evaluator, and Air Force Weapons School graduate. During his time, he was deployed four separate times to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Tyrel joined the Alaska Air National Guard, transitioning to fly the HH-60G Pavehawk in supporting combat search and rescue missions and Rescue for the 11th Air Force and the Alaska NORAD Region.
Since 2021, he has flown 11 civil search and rescue missions, saving 17 lives.
In November 2022, Lt. Col. Tyrel Lyon (Major Lyon at the time) co-piloted the HH-60 alongside commander Lt. Col. Anthony D’Amico, rescuing three boaters stranded in stormy weather on the Kuskokwim River approximately six miles east of Bethel, Alaska.
Lt. Col. Tyrel currently serves in the 210th Rescue Squadron, in the 176th Air Defense Squadron as the Chief of Current Operations, a Guardian Angel Pararescue in the 212th Rescue Squadron, and at the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.