Matt Byrd

Vice President

Matt Byrd serves as vice president of aviation marketing for Hillwood, overseeing aviation development opportunities for Hillwood worldwide. Byrd was directly involved in bringing Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to the AllianceTexas development and continues to serve as a relationship manager for Lockheed Martin as well as Bell Helicopter Textron.

Prior to rejoining Hillwood, Byrd served as director of corporate best practices for Perot Systems Corporation. His responsibilities included identification and implementation of Best in Class ideas, processes and methodologies across Perot Systems’ operations. Byrd was responsible for Perot Systems’ Quality Program serving as Co-Chairman for the PSC Quality Committee. In this capacity he focused on implementation of ISO 9000 and a Capability Maturity Model throughout the company’s business units.

Byrd previously served as vice president of Hillwood Strategic Services, a division of Hillwood, where he was responsible for coordination and development of Hillwood’s consulting and development projects outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. One area of focus included Norton Air Force Base which has since been developed into AllianceCalifornia by Hillwood.

Before joining private industry, Byrd built experience in the public sector, working for both NATO and the United States Air Force. Byrd served in Germany, working for NATO as the Chief of Force Requirements. During this period in NATO history, Byrd was involved with the accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland into NATO. In this capacity, he had the opportunity to work in nearly all Eastern European countries, flying and assessing their fighter aircraft.

Prior to his experience in Europe, Byrd served 14 years in the United States Air Force as an Air Demonstration Pilot with the Thunderbirds, an Instructor Pilot in both the F-117A Stealth Fighter and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. A Desert Storm veteran in the Stealth Fighter and a planner of the Air Campaign in Kosovo, Byrd has served around the world. He continues to fly as an Air Force Reserve Instructor Pilot with the 97th Flight Training Squadron based in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Byrd received a Bachelor of Science in Math of Operations Research from the United States Air Force Academy. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He earned his Master of Science from Troy State University. Byrd serves on The Dallas Committee on Foreign relations and The Falcon Foundation Board of Trustees.