Dayton Loyd is a highly decorated combat veteran that served in uniform for 40 years; first in United States Army and then in the IL National Guard. He served around the world in many countries with distinguished combat tours in Afghanistan and Africa. Additionally, Dayton Loyd had a vastly successful career in the US Intelligence community, retiring in 2025. He served as a government expert in the fields of Intelligence, Terrorism, National Security, Artificial Intelligence, Foreign Threats and Cyber Warfare.

Dayton is also well known in the non-profit sector serving as the Mid-West Regional Director for the Parents Television Council (PTC) and the Southeast Chairman for the Employer Support of Guard and Reserves (ESGR).

Dayton is a former assistant professor of military science at SIUC, a former correctional officer for the IDOC, and a former engineer for the IDOT where he was the onsite engineer for many roads and bridges built throughout southern IL.

Dayton holds undergraduate degrees from Southern IL University Carbondale and the Command and General Staff College. He earned a Master’s certificate in Cyber Security-CIO from the National Defense University and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence (MSSI) from the National Intelligence University (NIU). NIU is a highly selective university that only offers admission to a small population, and it is distinct in that all course work is classified as Top Secret.

Dayton is an avid outdoorsman, a private pilot, a certified master scuba/rescue diver, a military trained skydiver, and a skilled woodworking craftsman.

He is married to Lieutenant Colonel Daniele Loyd, United States Air Force, and they have four adult children.

Dayton and his family are devoted Christians; proud patriots, strong conservatives, and their family values include the belief in serving others and defending American strengths.