Major General  Stwewart Byrne was born, February 9, 1940, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He received a bachelor of commerce degree in business management from the University of Louisville in 1962. His military education included Squadron Officer School, 1966; Air Command and Staff College, 1975; and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 1977.

General Byrne received his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the ROTC and entered the Air Force in 1962. He completed pilot training at Moody AFB in May 1963, and was selected for instructor pilot training at Randolph AFB. He became a T-33 instructor pilot and later an academic instructor and T-38 instructor pilot at Laughlin AFB. November 1966, he transferred to Cannon AFB, for F-100 training and was reassigned to Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, April 1967. He was credited with 294 combat missions in the F-100 and was honored to be one of three Air Force pilots decorated by President Johnson at Cam Ranh Bay, December 1967.

In May 1971, Byrne resigned his regular commission, returned to the United States and joined the 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, flying the RF-101. He was hired as a full-time Flying Training Instructor and served as tactics officer; chief of standardization and evaluation; chief of command post; and deputy director of operations. He transitioned to the RF-4C and in July 1978 became commander, 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. General Byrne assumed the position of wing deputy commander for operations, December 1979 and served in that position until, February 1982. The Kentucky Air National Guard was recognized as the top Air National Guard flying unit with presentation of the Spatz trophy, won the national “Photo Finish� flying competition, and received the Air Force Outstanding Unit award during this period. He returned to active duty in February 1982, and served as the Air National Guard Advisor to the commander, 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB. He was transferred to Langley AFB, July 1986, where he served as advisor to the commander, Tactical Air Command.

Upon his return to Louisville, July 1990, he became vice wing commander, 123rd Tactical Airlift Wing flying the C-12 and C-130B aircraft. He was reassigned as chief of staff, Headquarters, Kentucky ANG, Boone Center, Frankfort, Kentucky, August 1991. In April 1992, Byrne assumed command of the 123rd Airlift Wing and transitioned into new C-130H aircraft. He was responsible for the construction of an entirely new Air National Guard base at Louisville, Kentucky while having the newly equipped aircraft deployed to Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Central and South America. His unit was presented its eighth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for accomplishments during this period and was recognized with the Rusty Metcalf trophy as the top Air National Guard airlift/tanker unit. He became the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, May 1995, and remained in this position until his retirement from active service, May 1998.

His major military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Metal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with fourteen Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He also received the National Guard Bureau Eagle Award and the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal.

After a thirty-six year military career, Major General Byrne entered private industry as general manager, Garceveur Corporation. He was president of the Shively Kiwanis Club, served as an advisory board member for the Salvation Army, was chairman of the Louisville Armed Forces Committee, and vice president of the National Guard Association of Kentucky. He is currently a board member of the Louisville Executive Club and is an active member of Rotary International. Other civic Affiliations include the Air Force Association, National Guard Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, 20th Fighter Wing Association, Super Sabre Society, Experimental Aircraft Association, Boy Scouts of

America, Memorial Order of World Wars, and The Military Officers Association. He is a military command pilot and a commercial rated civilian pilot with 6,500 flying hours in assorted military and civilian aircraft. He currently enjoys flying the family Mooney aircraft which he has owned for over 25 years.