Col Byrum graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1998 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. 

Following flight school and F/A-18 replacement pilot training, Col Byrum reported to MCAS Miramar, CA.  Between 2002 and 2013 Col Byrum deployed five times, carrier and land based, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 flying combat missions in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as well as missions throughout the INDOPACOM AOR. 

Outside the cockpit Col Byrum served as the Air Officer for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion where he was the Air-Fires Officer for the Marine Corps’ first ever Special Operations Task Force in Herat, Afghanistan.  Col Byrum was the Air Officer Department Head at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 where he was responsible for Joint Terminal Attack Controller training and Close Air Support standardization for the Marine Corps. 

Selected to command Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, in 2018 Col Byrum deployed the squadron to Isa Air Base, Bahrain where they flew combat missions over Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. 

Assigned to the Joint Staff in 2019, Col Byrum was the lead program analyst for Marine Corps Programs, TACAIR, and Electronic Warfare before selection as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Following his time on the Joint Staff, Col Byrum served on the staff of the Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policy and Operations.

Col Byrum is a graduate of the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course (TOPGUN), the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI), the Expeditionary Warfare School and Marine Corps Command and Staff College Distance Education Programs, and a distinguished graduate of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

Col Byrum’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal with numeral “7”, and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star.