Robert H Byzewski

“Bob” was born in Albuquerque, NM in February 1950; the son of Clem and Marilyn Byzewski. He was the oldest of eight children. Bob graduated from Rancho High School in Las Vegas, NV and after attending Chaffey Junior College in Alta Loma, CA he was accepted to San Diego State University and the AFROTC program where he graduated in 1972 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, USAF. While at SDSU, Bob was the first AFROTC cadet to earn his silver Jump Wings at Fort Benning, GA. After pilot training, his first assignment was at Altus, OK flying “Tankers” KC-135s. This is where he met and married Jan, the love of his life and her three children, Nick, Stacy, and Jackie.

After the usual road of copilot, aircraft commander, and instructor pilot, Bob was selected for the Air Staff Training (ASTRA) program and went to the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB. There he designed a computer program to analyze daily progress of ISS and SSS PME designation boards. This program was among the things that Bob was most proud of during his AF career. Always challenging himself, Bob transitioned to the “BUFF” B-52 and moved to Minot, ND where he was a B-52 Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation (Stan Eval) and selected as the Bomb Competition Crew. Bob had the distinction of flying the first B-52 into Egypt during Operation Bright Star 1983. During this time, the B-1 program was beginning and as a Major, he was selected as part of the first B-1 operational squadron at Dyess AFB. He flew the B-1 as the Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot and Stan Eval Division Chief. In addition, he was selected as the lead Bomb Competition Crew.

In 1989, Bob was selected for Intermediate Service School and attended the Armed Forces Sports College on a full athletic scholarship. His seminar won both the Softball and Volleyball championships. After a tour at the Pentagon, Bob was selected in 1992 to be the Ops Support Squadron Commander at Castle AFB, CA. During his tenure, his squadron was named Best in ACC.

In 1993, he was selected to attend the Air War College. He attended on an athletic scholarship and double majored in softball and golf. In 1994, Bob was sent back to the Pentagon, to the Joint Staff J-8 and was assigned as the Chief of Air Superiority. He worked F-22 and JSF force structure and acquisition options.

Next, he was assigned as Chief of Space Superiority. He led the first Space Control End-to-End Assessment for the Chairman JCS and was the Joint Staff rep to NRO for the then-new Future Imagery Architecture (FIA). Bob was promoted to O-6 in 1997 and sent to Barksdale AFB, LA to be the Ops Group Deputy Commander and later as Expeditionary Forces Commander at Diego Garcia. After Diego Garcia, he was nominated as a Group Commander and was assigned as the Support Group Commander at Barksdale AFB.

In 1999, he was assigned as the Vice Commander, 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, MO. The biggest mystery in Bob’s career is how he ever got assigned to fly the B-2. In 2001, Bob’s final tour in the Air Force was at Langley AFB, VA to be the Director of Plans and Programs in the Air Force C2 & ISR Center. He retired in 2004 and went to work as a contractor working some of the same programs that he did while he was in the Air Force and finally retired in November 2021.

Bob is a Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.

Bob is survived by his sisters, Judy Byzewski of Monterey Park, CA, Janet Rasmussen of Meridan, ID, Jenice Eckhart (Dan) of Buena Park, CA, Kathy Nielsen (Bob) of Upland, CA, Annette Byzewski of Cathedral City, CA; his brothers, John Byzewski (Chris) of Virginia Beach, VA, Tony Byzewski (Nancy) of Celina, TX; his daughters, Stacy Dufner (Don) of Watkins, MN, Jackie Parent (David) of Saint Jacob, IL; his grandchildren, Christopher Walker of Richardson, TX, Elizabeth Melvin (Matt) of Sanford, NC, Courtney Brown (Kevin) of Watkins, MN, Amelia Delosh-Dufner (Ana) of Davenport, FL, Kara McCalahan (Denny) of Lake St Louis, MO, Brittany Stanczyk (Russell) of Syracuse, NY; and many great grandchildren as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Jan, the love of his life, and his son Nick.

Visitation and Rosary are scheduled at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N Armistead Avenue Hampton, VA on Thursday, December 29, 2022 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. Funeral Services will be Friday, December 30, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Community Chapel, 1792 First Avenue Hampton, VA. Burial will follow after Mass at Parklawn Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.parklawn-woodfh.com for the Byzewski family.