Lt Col Matthew T. Brown is the Commander, 455th Flying Training Squadron, 479th Flying Training Group, 12th Flying Training Wing, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The 455 FTS operates twenty-four T-6A Texan II aircraft to conduct primary training for all Combat Systems Officer students in the U.S. Air Force. Lt Col Brown is responsible for overseeing the safety, supervision, training, curriculum development and standardization of 455 FTS instructor pilots and students. He also performs flight duties as a T-6A instructor and evaluator to train both students and the 455 FTS instructor pilots.
Lt Col Brown earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Florida State University in 1997 and his navigator wings at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, in 1998. He later earned his pilot wings at Columbus Air Force Base, MS, in 2002. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Director of Operations at the 479th Operations Support Squadron, NAS Pensacola, FL.
Lt Col Brown has served as an instructor pilot and flight evaluator in the T-6A, mission commander and instructor pilot in the B-1B, and Weapon Systems Officer on the B-1B. He has deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM where he amassed over 500 combat hours. Lt Col Brown is a senior pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours in the T-34C, T-1A, T-39, T-37, T-38, B-1B, and T-6A.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Florida
2001 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2010 Air Command and Staff College (in correspondence)
2011 Masters of Science degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2014 Air War College (in correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1997 – January 1999, Undergraduate Navigator Student, Training Squadron 4, Training Squadron 86, and Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School, NAS Pensacola, Florida.
2. February 1999 – September 1999, B-1B Initial Qualification Weapon Systems Officer, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas.
3. October 1999 – May 2001, B-1B Weapon Systems Officer, Flight Scheduler, and Executive Officer, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas.
4. June 2001 – October 2002, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Student, 41st Flying Training Squadron and 50th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
5. November 2002 – April 2004, B-1B Initial Qualification Pilot, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas.
6. May 2004 – March 2007, B-1B Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas.
7. April 2007 – September 2009, T-6A Instructor Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, Operations Officer, Training Squadron FOUR, NAS Pensacola, Florida.
8. October 2009 – June 2010, T-6A Instructor Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, Executive Officer, 479th Flying Training Group, NAS Pensacola, Florida.
9. July 2010 – June 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
10. July 2011 – September 2013, Chief of Special Activities, J-3 Information Operations Directorate, Headquarters United States Central Command, Tampa, Florida.
11. October 2013 – October 2014, Director of Operations, 479th Operations Support Squadron, NAS Pensacola, Florida.
12. October 2014 – Present, Commander, 455th Flying Training Squadron, NAS Pensacola, Florida.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot and Navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft flown: T-34C, T-1A, T-39A, T-37, T-38, B-1B, and T-6A.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Navy Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 10 May 1997
First Lieutenant 10 May 1999
Captain 10 May 2001
Major 1 Oct. 2006
Lieutenant Colonel 1 Feb. 2012
(Current as of Mar 2016)