Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Deardorff is the commander of the 103rd Operations Group at Bradley Air National Guard Base, Connecticut. As the group commander, he is charged with providing the 103AW with rapid global mobility via expert Tactical Airlift. He oversees the operational and training activities of 2 squadrons of more than 140 airmen.
Lieutenant Colonel Deardorff received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Tech and was commissioned in 2005 through Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He has participated in a wide assortment of operations in the C-130 community ranging from combat, humanitarian, flight safety, domestic operations. He has flown 768 combat sorties in direct support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERRENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL, SPARTAN SHIELD, and OCTAVE QUARTZ.
Prior to his current assignment, Lt. Colonel Deardorff was the commander of the 103d Operations Support Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, East Granby, Connecticut.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Art Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2013 Masters of Science Degree in International Relations, American Military University, West Virginia
2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 2005-April 2006, Executive Officer, 97 Training Squadron, Altus AFB, OK
2. April 2006-September 2007, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
3. September 2007-April 2008, Student, C130H Formal Training Unit, Little Rock AFB, AR
4. April 2008- September 2011, Operational C-130H Pilot 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
5. September 2011-April 2012, Operational C-130H Pilot, 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
6. April 2012-August 2015, Flight Safety Officer, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
7. August 2015-January 2018, Air Advisor C-130H Pilot, Bradley ANGB, CT (April 2017-July 2017, C130H Pilot, Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
8. January 2018-October 2020, Operational C-130H Pilot, Bradley ANGB, CT (June 2019-Septmeber 2019, C-130H Pilot, Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
9. October 2020 - March 2023, Commander, 103d Operations Support Squadron, Bradley ANGB, CT (August 2022-December 2022, C-130H Pilot, 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and OCTAVE QUARTZ, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti)
10. March 2023–Present, Commander, 103d Operations Group, Bradley ANGB, CT
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 3,300
Aircraft Flown: C-130E, C-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force with 2 oak leaf clusters
Achievement Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with 6 oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star
Humanitarian Service Medal with 2 service stars
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, June 2005
First Lieutenant, June 2007
Captain, June 2009
Major, November 2015
Lieutenant Colonel, July 2021
(CURRENT AS OF MAY 2023)