COLONEL KURT A. MATTHEWS

Col. Kurt Matthews is the Vice Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. The 22nd Air Force has command supervision of the Air Force Reserve’s tactical air mobility operations and other vital mission sets to include distinguished visitor airlift, undergraduate pilot training, flight test operations and a highly mobile civil engineering response force. With more than 12,000 Reserve Airmen and 64 unit-equipped aircraft, 22nd Air Force contributes daily to the Air Force’s worldwide operational mission. Reserve aircrews within 22nd Air Force accomplish a variety of C-130 missions to include aerial spray, fire suppression, weather reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop and aeromedical evacuation.

Colonel Matthews is a 1990 graduate of the University of Miami, where he earned a regular commission as an Air Force ROTC distinguished graduate. His previous commands include the 308th Rescue Squadron, 919th Special Operations Group, and the 920th Rescue Operations Group. As an HH-60G Pave Hawk combat rescue pilot, he has flown in Operations Provide Comfort II, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and conducted rescues in hurricanes Floyd, Katrina and Rita. Additionally, he is a 2001 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and completed Air Force Special Operations Command’s Air Commando training in 2016

Prior to his current assignment, he was the commander of the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., where he led 2,000 personnel assigned to four groups, 18 squadrons, and three flights including three geographically separated units.

EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, University of Miami, Fla.
1997 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2001 Masters of Aeronautical Science with honors, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1991–Apr 1992, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. April 1992–August 1992, Aerial Port Duty Officer, Dover AFB, Del.
3. August 1992–September 1993, HH-60G Helicopter Pilot, Homestead AFB, Fla.
4. September 1993–May 2006, HH-60G Helicopter Pilot, Squadron Weapons and Tactics, Patrick AFB, Fla.
5. June 2006–June 2008, Space Operations Officer, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
6. July 2008–June 2010, HH-60G Helicopter Pilot, group Weapons and Tactics, Patrick AFB, Fla.
7. June 2010–November 2012, Commander, 308th Rescue Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
8. November 2012–June 2014, Personnel Recovery/Special Operations Branch Chief, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
9. June 2014–May 2016, Commander, 919th Special Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla.
10. May 2016–December 2016, Commander, 920th OG, Patrick AFB, Fla.
11. December 2016–December 2019, Commander, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla.
12. December 2019–Present, Vice Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,150
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, UH-1, HH-60G, C-145A, HC-130P/N

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Joint Service Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 10, 1990
First Lieutenant May 10, 1993
Captain Aug. 8, 1996
Major April 20, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel April 20, 2008
Colonel Sept. 1, 2013

(Current as of December 2019)