Lieutenant Colonel Matthew J. Riley is the Commander of the 24th Fighter Squadron at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. He is responsible for leading a team of 135 active-duty Airmen consisting of pilots, maintainers, medical, communications and administrative support personnel in one of the largest Total Force integrated units within Air Combat Command.
Lieutenant Colonel Riley entered the Air Force through Reserve Officer Training Corps in May 2009 as a graduate of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2011, and has accumulated more than 2400 hours in the T-6A, T-38C, F-15E and the F-35A. Operationally, LT Col Riley hashad three combat deployments in support of OperationENDURING FREEDOM, Operation INHERANTRESOLVE, Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL, OperationRESOLUTE SUPPORT ,and Operation ATLASGuardian. Prior to his current position, the Lt Col was theChief, Air Superiority Branch, Headquarters Air Force,Pentagon, Washington D.C.
EDUCATION
2009 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
2010 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.November 2009 – October 2011, student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2.October 2011 – November 2011, student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3.November 2011 – September 2012, F-15E Upgrade Pilot, 333th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
4.September 2012 – March 2015, F-15E Instructor Pilot, Scheduling Officer, Weapons and Tactics Officer, 389th FighterSquadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
5.March 2015 – January 2019, F-15E Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Instructor Course, 333d Fighter Squadron, SeymourJohnson AFB, N.C.
6.January 2019 – August 2022, F-35, F-35A Evaluator Pilot, Director of Operations, 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
7. August 2022 – June 2023, Combat Air Forces Fellow, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington DC
8. June 2023 – March 2024, Chief of Air Superiority Branch, A5/7DC, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington DC
9. April 2024 – Present, Commander, 24th Fighter Squadron, NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2400, including 700 combat hours
Aircraft: flown: T-6A, T-38C, F-15E and F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with one bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Joint-Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air Force Anthony B. Shine Award, Hill AFB, Utah
(COA May 2024)