James Lyons
Birth nameJames Aloysius Lyons Jr.
Born(1927-09-28)September 28, 1927
New Jersey, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2018(2018-12-12) (aged 91)
Warrenton, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1952–1987
Rank Admiral
Commands heldCommander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Battles/warsCold War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Commendation Medal (2)

James Aloysius "Ace" Lyons Jr. (September 28, 1927 – December 12, 2018) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1985 to 1987. He later served as chairman of the Center for Security Policy's Military Committee.[1]

Military career

James Lyons enlisted in the Navy Reserve shortly after World War II and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1952. He earned post-graduate degrees from the Naval War College and the National Defense University.

Lyons served in the Navy for over 35 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. He commanded the USS Charles S. Sperry (DD 697) and USS Richmond K. Turner (DLG 20) and fulfilled several on-land assignments. He earned appointments as the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Senior U.S. Military Representative to the United Nations, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations.[2]

Later activities

In the 2010s Lyons became active in Frank Gaffney's Center for Security Policy (CSP),[3] including its "CounterJihad" project.[4][5] He was a co-author of the CSP "Team B II" report Shariah: The Threat To America in 2010.[6] In 2015, at a launch event for the CSP report The Secure Freedom Strategy: A Plan for Victory Over the Global Jihad Movement, Lyons claimed that Muslim Brotherhood members had infiltrated "every one of our national security agencies," and made reference to the claim that then-CIA director John Brennan allegedly was a secret Muslim convert.[7]

On March 1, 2018, The Washington Times published an opinion column by Lyons about Seth Rich, a Democratic Party staffer whose unsolved murder in Washington D.C. has frequently been the subject of right-wing conspiracy theories. In the column, Lyons falsely claimed it was "well known in the intelligence circles" that Rich and his brother Aaron sold a trove of non-public Democratic National Committee emails to the news leak media outlet WikiLeaks, whose publication of the confidential messages caused chaos in the Democratic Party during the 2016 United States presidential election.[8] Aaron Rich sued and the article was retracted with an apology.[9][10]

Lyons died on December 12, 2018. He was 91.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Gaffney, Frank (December 13, 2018). "Rest In Peace, Admiral 'Ace' Lyons". Center for Security Policy. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  2. ^ "Find an Obituary - www.usna.com". www.usna.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018.
  3. ^ "Adm. James "Ace" Lyons (Ret.)". Center for Security Policy. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  4. ^ "Ace Lyons". CounterJihad. Center for Security Policy. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Counterjihad Panels at CPAC. securefreedom. Center for Security Policy. March 3, 2016.
  6. ^ Shariah: The Threat To America: An Exercise In Competitive Analysis. Center for Security Policy. 2010. ISBN 978-0982294765.
  7. ^ Spinelli, Dan (June 26, 2018). "Bolton's Top Aide Has Cozied Up to Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorists". Mother Jones.
  8. ^ Swaine, Jon (October 1, 2018). "Washington Times retracts false article on murdered DNC staffer Seth Rich". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Farhi, Paul (October 1, 2018). "Washington Times retracts column that floated Seth Rich killing conspiracy". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  10. ^ Darcy, Oliver (October 1, 2018). "The Washington Times settles lawsuit with Seth Rich's brother, issues retraction and apology for its coverage". CNN. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
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