Col. Roy R. Byrd

BA 1976, Political Science

Col. Roy R. Byrd received a bachelor degree in Political Science from Purdue University and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through the NROTC program in May 1976. During his career as a Marine Officer he commanded at multiple levels. As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle, weapons; and assault amphibian vehicle platoon commander in the 1st Marine Brigade. As a captain and major, he commanded an assault amphibian vehicle company in the 1st Marine Division and 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. As a lieutenant colonel he commanded the 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division. Upon promotion to colonel he commanded The Basic School. His staff assignments included Officer Course Supervisor and Tactics Instructor, Assault Amphibian School; Assistant Operations Officer and Logistics Officer, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division; Operations Officer, 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division; Deputy Director, Readiness Division, Inspector General Marine Corps; Deputy Executive Secretary, Department of Defense; Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense; Chief, Marine Forces Division, United States Military Training Mission, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Senior Military Advisor to the Commander Royal Saudi Marines and Special Naval Forces; and Director Marine Corps Security Cooperation Education and Training Center.

In June 2006 after retiring from active duty, Col. Byrd joined EDO Corporation, an aerospace, defense, intelligence, related engineering and professional services company; as Vice President USMC Relations, Washington Operations. At EDO he was responsible for strategic marketing and customer relations in support of expanding the Marine Corps market segment. He also served as the CEO’s change agent for new initiatives and strategic planning across all six corporation market sectors.

On December 20, 2007 EDO Corporation merged with ITT Corporation to form a top-ten U.S. defense technology and services supplier. In January 2009 Col. Byrd officially joined the Domestic Business Development team at ITT’s Defense Electronic & Services Group Headquarters in Mclean VA as Director, Marine Corps Programs. In addition to many of the responsibilities he inherited from EDO, he assumed responsibility for all related domestic business development activities across all defense business value centers; and support of relevant non defense enterprises. As the lead business development executive within this market segment his portfolio comprises over $1B in current and projected revenue.

Col. Byrd holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, where he was a distinguished graduate; additionally, he completed numerous formal courses at various Department of Defense schools and the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State. He and his wife Pat, Purdue 1978, reside in Alexandria VA; their son, Sean, is a Graphic Designer in Fairfax VA.