John Lyons OBE, MSc, MBA

Cyber & Transformation Leader | Strategy into Programmatic and Operational Execution | Defence and into the Private Sector

Corsham, England, United Kingdom

About

Senior cyber and digital operations executive over 25 years in Defence, building to 15+ years of direct experience delivering strategic transformation. From architecting federated SOCs and leading cyber incident response, to building Defence’s strategic information advantage capabilities and directing capability development, I operate at the intersection of strategy, systems architecture, and operational delivery. Awarded an OBE for leading the design and implementation of Defence’s information operations hub, I’ve held critical leadership roles across cyber resilience, secure communications and international interoperability across Development, Delivery and Operations. What motivates me most is bridging ambition and reality — taking organisational vision, translating it into technical choices, delivering those and then driving their operational exploitation to meet that strategic intent. Whether designing future capability, leading incident response, or shaping doctrinal frameworks, my focus is always on delivering step-change value to the mission and customer. I’m now transitioning from uniformed service into the private sector and seeking new challenges where I can apply that rare blend of strategic leadership, technical depth, and cross-stakeholder delivery.

Experience

  • Operational Head – Defensive Cyber Operations at Strategic Command
    Jul 2023 - Present · 3 yrs

    • Functional lead for Defence’s federation of Security Operations Centres (SOCs), overseeing both strategic coordination and direct operational delivery across four local SOCs. • Directed incident response for some of the most serious strategic cyber incidents affecting UK Defence. • Led doctrinal and conceptual development of pre-emptive Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO). • Developed multi-layered cyber defence campaigns against persistent threats.

  • Deputy Head – Strategic Information Operations at UK Ministry of Defence
    Jul 2023 - Jul 2023 · 1 mo

    • Built and lead the MOD’s strategic IO hub, integrating information activities with operational planning and national policy. • Built strategy, directed campaigns, challenged policy and assured operations. • Championed interoperability, influence operations, and cross-domain coordination with national, NATO and other allies. • Appointed OBE for outstanding leadership and delivery at the strategic level.

  • Deputy Programme Director – Land Offensive CEMA at British Army
    Jun 2018 - Jun 2021 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    • Led development of future technical architecture to be responsive to current and next generation threats. • Integrated and launched the strategic roadmap and programme delivery model. • Oversaw delivery of £100M+ capabilities, including a previously initiated ECM/C-IED programme. • Unified stakeholder engagement across MOD, Defence Digital, and industry partners.

  • Strategic Command (On-site)
    • Capability Sponsor – Force Protection
      Jan 2016 - Jun 2018 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      • Led modernisation of critical Force Protection programmes; focussed on C-IED ECM and C-CBRN. • Managed significant annual spend; realigned priorities to emerging threats and rapid tech cycles. • Integrated strategic, operational and programmatic risk, capability assurance, and developed long-term strategy. • Built compelling businesses cases to enable transformation and effective governance to deliver it – while balancing against the cost of maintaining critical operational outputs.

    • Joint User – Interoperability Solutions
      Aug 2014 - Dec 2015 · 1 yr 5 mos

      • Defined and assured coalition comms solutions to ensure interoperability, resilience, and security. • Balanced user demand for agile comms with strategic risk management. • Assured delivery of interoperability sub-programme across national, international and Defence stakeholder groups. • Secretariat for a wider £1Bn Portfolio; building, refining and assuring governance and performance so that all levels have the necessary evidence to support meaningful challenge.

    • ICS Programme Manager
      Sep 2012 - Aug 2014 · 2 yrs

      Managed c£100M change programme delivering over 30 tactical C4I projects in support of UK forces in on deployed operations. • Converted complex, urgent operational requirements into supplier-aligned, deliverable solutions. • Embedded assurance, stakeholder communication, and delivery acceleration at every stage.

  • British Army (5 yrs 4 mos)
    • MSc ICT Student and Army Officer
      Sep 2011 - Nov 2012 · 1 yr 3 mos

    • Head of Operations – UK Signal Regiment
      Aug 2009 - Aug 2011 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      • Directed training, readiness, and operational deployments for c300 personnel. • Redesigned pre-deployment training regime to integrate up and across the OSI model; from applications and systems to Operational and Tactical CIS, and into Force Protection roles and equipment. • Directed live operations and planning to maintain services as part of UK forces and as Deputy Director of the UK/US Regional Command (South West) Network Operations Centre.

    • Chief of Staff for MoD Overseas ICT Delivery
      Aug 2007 - Aug 2009 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Coord of policy and delivery of ICT change programme to non-operational deployed locations (eg Germany, Falklands, Gibraltar, Cyprus etc)