Lyle Bien

Lyle G. Bien (born December 1, 1945) is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy. He served during the Vietnam War, where he instructed students on piloting the F-14 Tomcat, and later became an instructor at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He served as deputy commander of the United States Space Command between 1996 and 1998.

He is the recipient of several military awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, 11 Air Medals, a Meritorious Service Medal, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross.

At the time of his retirement in 1999, Bien was the highest-ranking naval officer in South Dakota history,

Later career

In 1981, Bien became an instructor at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN).

Bien served as a Navy advisor at The Pentagon. As part of preparations for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War, Bien served as the senior Navy strike planner between October 1990 and March 1991 under Norman Schwarzkopf in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Bien joined the Naval Space Command for one year. He then reported as commander of Carrier Group Seven, which included the USS Nimitz and her assigned ships.