Lyall joined the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) in 2002 as an intelligence analyst.  Since that time, he has held a series of management roles within Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) operations, including a 3-year deployment overseas working closely with allied partners, and a tour as the Manager of CSE’s 24/7 Operations Centre. 

From 2018 to 2022, Lyall was a Director in the Intelligence Operations directorate, focusing on hostile state actors and cyber threats.   During this period, he was also the chair of the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force, an interdepartmental coordination body set up by the Government of Canada to help counter foreign interference in Canada’s federal elections. 

Lyall joined the executive team in CSE’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security in June 2022 and is currently the Director of Risk Mitigation Programs.  This portfolio includes efforts focused on Telecommunications Cyber Resilience, national security reviews of Economic and Research Security programs, Supply Chain Integrity, and Product Assurance and Standards Coordination.  

Lyall holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences (University of Western Ontario), and a bachelor’s degree in Honours History (University of Waterloo).