EDUCATION AND HONORS
PERSONAL
- Graduated as the Outstanding Senior Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Arizona and entered the USMC in 1963
- Spent two years overseas as an Infantry Lieutenant, serving as a Platoon Commander; was wounded and received citations for Valor to include the Silver Star, the Purple Heart Medal, the Navy Commendation medal with Combat “V”, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
- Named Chamber of Commerce Small Business Veteran Advocate of the Year 1984
- Named “Veteran of the Year 2008” by the USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion, NMCSD
- Named “Volunteer of the Year 2008” by the Armed Services YMCA Naval Medical Center San Diego
- Named "Volunteers of the Year-2011" with Barbara by the Naval Medical Center San Diego
- Named "Veteran of the Century" in 2012 by the San Diego United Veterans Council
- Received the " 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award-Support of Veterans" from the San Diego Veterans Museum and the United Veterans Council
- Received the "2013 Keith R Turnham Humanitarian of the Year Award" from the San Diego Human Relations Commission
- November 20, 2013 was proclaimed " Jack Lyon Day" in San Diego by the Mayor Todd Gloria
- Went into business in 1968 as a founding shareholder in Qualified Plan Consultants in San Francisco. Moved to San Diego in 1975 and founded the Lyon Organization, a firm specializing in retirement plan administration which was acquired in 1988 by Dun & Bradstreet Corporation.
- Became President and CEO of Dun & Bradstreet Pension Service, with six offices nationwide, hundreds of employees and over 5,000 corporate clients.
- In 1980, participated in the first “rap groups” at the newly formed Vet Center in San Diego.
- In 1981 founded the Vietnam Veterans of San Diego and served as President, Chairman of the Board and later Board Member. The organization continues to thrive under the name of Veterans Village of San Diego. It currently has a multi million dollar budget and is the premier community based non-profit organization for combat veterans in the Nation. It serves over 450 veterans in its residential treatment program for substance abuse and combat stress – it is the “best of the best” to quote the VA.
- Was a founding member of the United Veterans Council, San Diego.
- In 1983, with then Mayor Pete Wilson, ran the most successful jobs program in the Nation for combat Vietnam Veterans creating over 1,500 jobs in 1983. The program is ongoing.
- In 1988 journeyed to Kazakhstan in the Soviet Union at the request of the Soviet and U.S. Governments to work with the recently returned Soviet combat veterans after their tours in Afghanistan. PTSD and combat stress are indeed human conditions and universal . Featured in an Emmy Award documentary of that trip called “Brothers in Arms”.
- Keynote speaker on Combat Stress Injury at the SUMMIT, a gathering of mental health professionals, the VA, and other support organizations, San Diego 2007.
- Keynote speaker on Combat Stress Injury to the Public Defenders Office, County of San Diego, providing training for the members, 2007.
- Volunteer at the Armed Services YMCA for Med-Evacs from Iraq and Afghanistan at the NMCSD from 2004 to present.
- Continue to facilitate Combat Stress groups within the USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion at NMCSD and to work with wounded Marines one on one to deal with integration of the experience into life “back home”.
- Provided training to the Police Force of the VA Hospital (VALJMC) on the interaction with Veterans who may have Combat Stress/PTSD.
PERSONAL
- I currently live in San Diego with my wife Barbara. We have been together for over 30 years and she is a true blessing. Barbara is a sixth generation San Diegan and works as a Yoga instructor.