Matthew D. Matter is a native of Koloa, Hawaii. His education includes a B. A. in Political Science from Colorado State University, a M. A. in International Relations from Webster University, and a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences from the U. S. Army War College. Mr. Matter enlisted in the Army in 1984 and was commissioned in May 1986. He served as detachment executive officer for ODA 534, C CO, 5th BN, 19th SFG. Following the artillery basic course he was assigned as FSO C Company, 1st BN, 5th IN and FDO A BTRY, 1st BN 4th FA, Camp Pelham, ROK. From 1989 to 1992, he served, as FSO C CO, 2nd Ranger Battalion, and subsequently BN FSO 2nd BN 1st IN at Fort Lewis WA.
 
Following the Infantry and Field Artillery Officer Advanced Courses he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina serving as the DIVARTY Assistant Operations Officer and the Operations Officer. He served as a Battery Commander in 1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment (Airborne) and as a Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander in United States Army Special Operations Command. He deployed to support OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti in 1994, Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR/GUARD and FORGE in 1996 and 1998 in Bosnia Herzegovina, and Operation DESERT THUNDER/FOX in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1998 and 1999. In 1999, Mr. Matter was assigned as the Executive Officer of 3rd Battalion 314th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Drum, New York. He was later assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Army Staff as a planner and executive officer.
 
During the crisis actions on 11 September 2001, Mr. Matter was an original member of the crisis action team establishing operations in the Army Operations Center. On 1 October 2001, he was reassigned to the Land Information Warfare Activity, later 1st Information Operations Command (Land) as a field support team chief where he deployed to support multiple joint special operations task forces in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
 
Mr. Matter returned to Fort Bragg in 2003, performing duties as Troop Commander, D Squadron, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta until 2005, participating in multiple combat operations during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He then reported to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G7 returning to Iraq for combat operations in 2005 through 2006 in Multi National Division–North. In October 2006, he was assigned to Standing Joint Force Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, as the Director of Fires and Information Operations. Recalled to Iraq in February of 2007 to serve as the MNF-I Commander’s personal advisor for Counter IED Operations, Mr. Matter authored a critical Counter IED Manual. He also provided support in 2009 to a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force in Afghanistan. In late 2009, he returned to Fort Bragg for the third time as the Assistant Chief of Staff G7, XVIII Airborne Corps deploying for Operations UNIFIED RESPONSE and NEW DAWN in Iraq as the USF-I J39 until he was injured. He returned to the United States in April of 2011. He was temporarily reassigned to the Office of Defense Representative Pakistan in December of 2011 as the A/DCG OPS and J35/J5 for 18 months supporting OEF. From 2013 through 2015Colonel Matter served as the USAREUR G7 and Effects Coordinator for U. S. Army Europe.
 
Mr. Matter reported as the Chief of Staff, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center in November 2015.

Last Updated: 31 May 2023