An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Commander Matthew T. Diederich

A native of Roeland Park, Kansas, Commander Diederich graduated from Kansas State University in 2003, earning a Bachelor of Science in Airway Science. CDR Diederich was commissioned through the Navy Officer Candidate School and reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for flight training in October 2004. He earned his Naval Aviator Wings with the VT-21 Redhawks in Kingsville, Texas in April 2007 and reported to the VFA-122 “Flying Eagles” in Lemoore, California for initial fleet training in the F/A-18E/F.  CDR Diederich began his operational flying in February 2008 with the “Royal Maces” of VFA-27 based in Atsugi, Japan. 
 
While a “Royal Mace”, he made two WESTPAC deployments aboard the USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) and one WESTPAC deployment aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).  CDR Diederich rejoined the VFA-122 “Flying Eagles” in March of 2011 as an Instructor Pilot where he earned Instructor of the Year for 2013.  CDR Diederich returned to the fleet as an Air Wing Landing Signals Officer (LSO) with Carrier Air Wing THREE where he deployed aboard USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and earned the 2014 Bug Roach LSO of the Year Award.
 
Following his CAG Paddles tour, CDR Diederich was hand selected to serve as AIRLANT LSO where he completed 12 Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualification detachments and three carrier air wing Flight Deck Certifications with zero safety incidents. He was also instrumental in the release of F/A-18E/F Magic Carpet to the fleet.  In the fall of 2016, CDR Diederich reported to the VFA-105 “Gunslingers” and deployed onboard the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE where he served as the Safety, Administrative, Maintenance, and Operations Officer. 
 
After his Department Head tour, CDR Diederich was hand selected to serve as the Deputy Fleet Maritime Liaison for Naval Special Warfare Development Group where he earned his Jump Wings from the Joint Basic Military Free Fall course. 
 
CDR Diederich reported to VFA-151, the Vigilantes, as the Executive Officer in September 2021 and led the squadron on a 7th Fleet deployment which concluded with supporting Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises in 2022 aboard the USS ABRAHAM

 

Last Updated: 8 March 2023


Guidance-Card-Icon Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon