Ace Lyons is a hard-liner and a backer of Richard Marcinko for much of Richard's career. Ace advances rapidly in the Navy and becomes the Operations Chief (Ops Chief) for the Navy. In this capacity, he is able to back Richard in the formation of the Red Cell unit. Richard meets Ace Lyons while Richard is working on intelligence in the Pentagon. Ace gives Richard the freedom to expand his work into Special Operations and anti-terrorism.