Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett, the Adjutant General of Florida, announced recently the selection of Col. James “Don” Tyre as Chief of Staff, Florida Army National Guards.

Tyre current serves as Commander, 164th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade and has been selected for promotion to Brigadier General. Tyre will succeed the current Chief of Staff, Col. David “Benny” Nelson, who will retire in the coming months.

“I have known Col. Tyre for many years and have tremendous respect for his experience, maturity and leadership,” said Maj. Gen. Burnett, “He is the right leader for this important assignment.”

Before selection to command the 164th Brigade, Tyre was Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Florida Army National Guard. He served previously as Chief, Mobilization and Readiness Division, Joint Forces Headquarters and Deputy Operations Officer for the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Centers, the nation’s first Army National Guard-US Army, multi-component unit.

Tyre has served in a variety of leadership assignments, including command of B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 265th ADA and the 269th Engineer Company. He later served as Executive Officer, and then Commander, 2nd Battalion, 265th ADA (Avenger).

Tyre enlisted in the Florida National Guard in 1969. He served 10 years as a non-commissioned officer before entering the Florida National Guard Military Academy. He was commissioned in the Engineer Branch in 1980. His military education includes the US Army Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College.

Tyre resides with his wife, Mary, in Orlando. They have three daughters: Mandy Tyre (Jacksonville); Jamie Danielson (West Palm Beach) and Lindsey LaPrees (St. Augustine).

He is the son of the late Joseph “Dick” and Josie Tyre. His brother, Rick, lives in Live Oak and brother, David, lives in Mayo. His two sisters, Brenda and Wanda, live in Live Oak.