He joined the School in July 2005. Previously he was the director of policy and communications for the Air Force Association (AFA) in Arlington, Va. He oversaw all facets of AFA communications including media relations, marketing, Web site operations, planning for national conferences and symposia, and the writing of national security policy papers. Prior to joining AFA, Byars was president of Creative Communications Works, a public relations consulting company in Fairfax, Va. Before entering the private sector, Byars was a lieutenant colonel and public affairs officer in the U.S. Air Force. He has a broad background in government communications that includes serving as public affairs officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon and deputy publisher for Pacific Stars and Stripes daily newspaper in Tokyo.