Adrian R. Byers
Delaware State University Grad
Undergraduate Pilot Training
Business Express Airlines and US Airways
C-5 Galaxy & KC-135R Stratotanker
15th Air Force Chief of Staff
Commercial B757/B767 and B787 pilot
Adrian R. Byers graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 1990 and Delaware State College in 1994. He majored in Aviation Management and earned his CFI and CFII Certificates, Commercial license, and multi-engine rating Flying Piper Cherokees, Piper Warriors, and Cessna aircraft.
He joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves at Dover AFB in 1995. He completed Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, AL, in 1995 and Undergraduate Pilot training at Laughlin AFB, TX, in 1997, before being selected by the 326th Airlift Squadron to fly the C-5 Galaxy.
He began his civilian commercial aviation career with Business Express Airlines flying SAAB 340 A/B’s in 1998 and joined US Airways in 1999 flying the MD 81/82 and Airbus A319/A320/A321.
After September 11, 2001, 1LT Byers entered active duty and was assigned to Travis AFB, CA, and Grand Forks AFB, ND, which enabled him to transition from the C-5 Galaxy to the KC-135 R Stratotanker. He was later assigned to the US Joint Forces Command, with the Washington Liaison office, assigned to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, J8, before taking his first command at McDill AFB, Florida.
In August 2015, he returned to the Air Force Reserve as the Fifteenth Air Force Chief of Staff, and resumed his civilian commercial career flying Boeing B757/B767 and Boeing B787-8/9 Dreamliners.
