Col Matthew A. Bartlett is the Commander, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. This specialized wing is comprised of three groups, 12 squadrons, and four detachments with more than 1,400 personnel at 11 installations in Germany, Italy, Poland, the United States, and other partner nations across Europe. The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing Airmen provide joint Airpower integration, information superiority, and airspace awareness; build expeditionary airfields on demand; enable multi-theater sustainment and support; deliver premier specialty training; build partner capacity, and respond to humanitarian and contingency operations throughout the world.
Colonel Bartlett, a career navigator, served in multiple humanitarian relief and contingency operations throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia and has commanded at the squadron and group levels. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Bartlett was the Vice Commander of the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing (AFAF) and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing (USAFE).
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
2005 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2011 Master of Aeronautical Science (with Honors), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
2012 US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2019 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, National Defense University
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. March 2000 - February 2001, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, TX.
2. February 2001 - April 2002, Student, C-130 Navigator Initial and Mission Qualification, Little Rock, AFB, Arkansas and MC-130P Navigator Mission Qualification, Kirtland AFB, NM
3. April 2002 - June 2005, MC-130P Nav, Instructor Nav, & Evaluator Nav, 67th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
4. June 2005 - December 2005, Student, MC-130 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV and Hurlburt Field, FL
5. January 2006 - October 2006, Group MC-130P Stan/Eval Nav, 352nd Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, UK
6. November 2006 - December 2006, Student, Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, AL
7. December 2006 - August 2010, Weapons Instructor, Flight Commander, & Assistant Operations Officer, 14th Weapons Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
8. September 2010 - June 2011, Deputy Branch Chief, HQ AFSOC Mobility Requirements & MC-130J Initial Cadre combat Systems Officer, Hurlburt Field, FL
9. June 2011 - June 2012, Student, US Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
10. June 2012 - August 2013, Special Assistant to the Commander & Interim Operations Officer, 415th Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
11. August 2013 - June 2014, Program Integration Officer, Special Mission Aviation C-130J Center of Excellence, 58 Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM
12. July 2014 - October 2014, Commander, 353rd Expeditionary Special Operations Group & Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines
13. June 2014 - June 2016, Operations Officer, 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, JP
14. June 2016 - June 2018, Commander, 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
15. July 2018 - June 2019, Student, The Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, D.C.
16. June 2019 - June 2020, Chief, Force Assessment, Sufficiency, & Readiness Branch, Forces Division, Joint Staff J8, The Pentagon
17. June 2020 - May 2021, Deputy Director & Acting Director, Irregular Warfare Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, The Pentagon
18. June 2021 - May 2022, Commander, 449th Air Expeditionary Group & Director, Air Forces Africa Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Camp Lemonnier, Republic of Djibouti
19. June 2022 - June 2023, Vice Commander, 435th Air Expeditionary Wing/435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein AB, GE
20. June 2023 - Present, Commander, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein AB, GE
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 3200, including over 430 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: MC-130J, MC-130P, HC-130J, EC-130J, C-130H/J, MH-53, MC-130H, C-130E, T-43A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards)
Meritorious Service Medal (5 Awards)
Air Medal (3 Awards)
Aerial Achievement Medal (2 Awards)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (4 Awards)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training
2002 Distinguished Graduate, MC-130P & C-130E Initial Qualification Courses
2019 Distinguished Graduate, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant January 2000
First Lieutenant February 2002
Captain February 2004
Major October 2009
Lieutenant Colonel January 2015
Colonel December 2020
(Current as of April 2024)