Joe Matthews
Bio
Mr. Joseph “Joe” Matthews grew up in Vero Beach, Florida. He currently serves as a contracted military science instructor and adjunct professor of world geography. He retired from the United States Army after 27 years of active federal service. Before arriving at Florida Institute of Technology, Colonel (Retired) Matthews served as the 43rd Commandant of Cadets for the University of North Georgia, the Senior Military College of Georgia.
Mr. Matthews enlisted in the Infantry in the Georgia Army National Guard and received his commission as an Air Defense Artillery Officer through the Reserve Officers Training Corps of North Georgia College in 1994. His assignments were in 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, South Korea and 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.
He graduated from the Military Intelligence Officer Transition Course, Captains Career Course and became a Military Intelligence Officer in 1998. He served in 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, and deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was next assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, as an Army Mission Commander onboard JSTARS during four deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He returned to Fort Drum and deployed with the 10th Mountain Division G-2 staff to Afghanistan. Upon return, he served as the S-2 for 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and returned to Afghanistan. He commanded the 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Meade, Maryland. In his final assignment, he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligences (G-2) for the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Hawaii.
His joint assignments include Chief of Integrated Communications at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany, Senior Operations Leader at the National Security Agency’s Counter-Terrorism Mission Management Center, and Deputy J-2 for the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from North Georgia College, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Force Command and Staff College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal 2nd Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, Combat Action Badge, Army Parachutist’s Badge, Army Aviation Crewmember’s Badge, and Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.
He is married to Sarah Matthews, and they have three adult children. They currently reside in Vero Beach, Florida.
