Colonel Matthew A. Bartlett is the Vice Commander, 435th Air Expeditionary Wing (U.S. Africa Command) and the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing (U.S. European Command), Ramstein Air Base, Germany. These specialized wings provide battlefield and expeditionary Airmen to combatant commanders and are capable of responding to humanitarian and contingency operations throughout the world. The two wings are comprised of five groups, 22 squadrons, and four detachments and more than 3,000 personnel at 11 installations in Germany, Italy, Poland, and across four airfields across Africa.
The 435th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen operate MQ-9, C-130, HC-130J, HH-60, and Guardian Angel pararescue teams to conduct tactical airlift, personnel recovery/casualty evacuation, and multi-role attack operations. The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing Airmen build expeditionary airfields on demand, provide joint Airpower integration, enable multi-theater sustainment and support, deliver premier specialty training, and build partner capacity.
Colonel Bartlett received his commission through ROTC with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia in January 2000. A career navigator, he has served in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and multiple humanitarian relief and contingency operations throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia and he has commanded at the squadron and group levels. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Bartlett was the Commander of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and the Director of Air Forces Africa’s Joint Air Component Coordination Element at Camp Lemonnier, Republic of Djibouti.
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
1. Mar 2000-Feb 2001 – Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (JSUNT), Randolph AFB, TX
2. Feb 2001-Apr 2002 – Student, C-130 Navigator Initial and Mission Qualification, Little Rock, AFB, Arkansas and MC-130P Navigator Mission Qualification, Kirtland AFB, NM
3. Apr 2002-Jun 2005 – MC-130P navigator, instructor navigator, and evaluator navigator, 67th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
4. Jun 2005-Dec 2005 – Student, MC-130 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV and Hurlburt Field, FL
5. Jan 2006-Oct 2006 – Group MC-130P standardization and evaluation navigator, 352nd Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, UK
6. Nov 2006-Dec 2006 – Student, Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
7. Dec 2006-Aug 2010 – Weapons Instructor, Flight Commander, and Assistant Operations Officer, 14th Weapons Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
8. Sep 2010-Jun 2011 – Deputy Branch Chief, HQ AFSOC Mobility Requirements and MC-130J Initial Cadre combat systems officer, Hurlburt Field, FL
9. Jun 2011-Jun 2012 – Student, US Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
10. Jun 2012- Aug 2013 – Special Assistant to the Commander and Interim Operations Officer, 415th Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM
11. Aug 2013- June 2014 – Program Integration Officer, Special Mission Aviation C-130J Center of Excellence, 58 Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM
12. Jul 2014-Oct 2014 – Commander, 353d Expeditionary Special Operations Group and Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Detachment, Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines
13. Jun 2014-Jun 2016 – Operations Officer, 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
14. Jun 2016-Jun 2018 – Commander, 9th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
15. July 2018-Jun 2019 – Student, The Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, D.C.
16. Jun 2019-Jun 2020 – Chief, Force Assessment, Sufficiency, and Readiness Branch, Forces Division, Joint Staff J8, The Pentagon
17. Jun 2020-May 2020 – Deputy Director and acting Director, Irregular Warfare Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, The Pentagon
18. Jun 2021-May 2022 – Commander, 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Director, Air Forces Africa Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Camp Lemonnier, Republic of Djibouti
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
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)
Distinguished Graduate, The Eisenhower School, National Defense University
Distinguished Graduate, MC-130P & C-130E Initial Qualification Courses
Distinguished Graduate, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training
Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
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 June 2022)