Steve Wayne was born on August 20, 1942, in Spencer, West Virginia. He entered Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas, on November 10, 1964, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on February 10, 1965. Lt Wayne was awarded his pilot wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas, in March 1966, and then completed Pilot Flight Officer training and F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training before deploying to Southeast Asia in December 1966. He served with the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from December 1966 to July 1967, and was credited with the destruction of 2 enemy MiG-17 fighters in aerial combat in May 1967. After returning from Vietnam, Lt Wayne completed Interceptor Pilot Training at Perrin AFB, Texas, and then served as an F-106 Delta Dart pilot with the 498th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Paine Field, Washington, from April to September 1968, and then with the 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Hamilton AFB, California, from September 1968 to January 1973. His next assignment was as an F-106 instructor pilot and training section chief with the 4756th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Florida, from January 1973 to January 1974, followed by service as an instructional systems development officer with the Air Defense Weapons Center at Tyndall AFB from January 1974 to August 1975. Maj Wayne next served on the staff of Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson AFB, Colorado, from August 1975 to June 1978, followed by service as commander of Detachment 1 of the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, from June 1978 to June 1981. Col Wayne served as chief of Stan Eval for the 325th Tactical Training Wing at Tyndall AFB, Florida, from October 1981 to July 1982, and then as commander of the 95th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron, also at Tyndall, from July 1982 to July 1984. His next assignment was as chief of Fighter Operations with Headquarters Air Defense Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, Virginia, from July 1984 to August 1985, followed by Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1985 to June 1986. Col Wayne next deployed to South Korea where he served as chief of the Strategy and Policy Division on the staff of U.S. Forces Korea from June 1986 to June 1988. His final assignment was at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from July 1988 until his retirement from the Air Force on September 1, 1992, where he served as Assistant Deputy for Operations with Headquarters 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

First Lieutenant Stephen A. Wayne distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 10 March 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Wayne was flying as the copilot of the lead element on the return from a 1,000 mile flight in which heavy flak damage was encountered. He noticed that the wingman's aircraft was in trouble and was advised that the aircraft was extremely low on fuel. Realizing that the wingman's aircraft would not make it out of North Vietnam, Lieutenant Wayne assisted in implementing maneuvers to literally push the aircraft across the border. The attempt was successful and consequently allowed the crew to avoid becoming prisoners of war. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Wayne has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.