Brigadier General 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, Brigadier General Byrum reported to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA. Between 2002 and 2013 Brigadier General Byrum served three tours with the Red Devils of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232. During these tours he deployed five times, land based and onboard the USS NIMITZ, flying combat missions in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom as well as missions throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Outside the cockpit Brigadier General 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. Brigadier General Byrum was also 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 Brigadier General Byrum deployed the Black Knights 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, Brigadier General Byrum worked in the J-8 as a lead program and budget analyst before being selected to serve in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2022 to 2024, Brigadier General Byrum commanded Marine Aircraft Group 31 in Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC, flying as an instructor in F-35s and F/A-18s. Following command, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps where he served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation prior to assuming the duties of Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory / Futures Directorate and Vice Chief of Naval Research in February 2026.
Brigadier General 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, a distinguished graduate of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy and was selected for the Tim Day fellowship.
Brigadier General Byrum's awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Air Medal with Numeral "7".