Col Matthew R. Altman is the Commander, 633d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. As the Joint Base Commander, he commands three groups, providing installation support to more than 18,000 Air Force and Army personnel, including Headquarters Air Combat Command, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, four operational wings, eight brigades, and more than 20 major associate units. Col Altman is also responsible for providing mission-ready expeditionary Airmen to combatant commanders in support of joint and combined operations worldwide. Col Altman entered the Air Force in 2002 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Notre Dame where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Master of Business Administration. Col Altman has commanded two civil engineer squadrons and served on combatant command and major command staffs, as well as three base level engineer assignments. Additionally, he was assigned as a Defense Legislative Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski. In total, Col Altman has over 21 years of command, civil engineering and staff experience including three deployments to Southwest Asia in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Commander, 47th Mission Support Group at 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
2002 Master of Business Administration, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
2007 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Doctor of Philosophy, Organizational Management, Capella University, Minneapolis, Minn.
2021 Master of Arts, National Security & Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I. (Distinguished
Graduate)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002 – June 2003, Water Program Manager, 45th Civil Engineer Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
2. June 2003 – July 2004, SABER Chief, 45th Civil Engineer Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
3. July 2004 – July 2005, Chief, Downrange Programs, 45th Civil Engineer Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla. (September 2004
– January 2005, Engineering Flight Chief, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
4. July 2005 – July 2007, Chief, Maintenance Engineering, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Dover AFB, Del. (May 2006 –
September 2006, Flight Commander, 451st Civil Engineer Flight, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan)
5. July 2007 – August 2008, Flight Chief, Readiness & Emergency Management, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Dover
AFB, Del.
6. August 2008 – September 2009, Chief, Programs Development, 65th Civil Engineer Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores,
Portugal (March 2009 – September 2009, Facilities Engineer Team Director of Operations, 25th Naval Construction
Regiment, Forward Operating Base Wolverine, Afghanistan)
7. September 2009 – July 2010, Chief, Project Management, 65th Civil Engineer Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores,
Portugal
8. July 2010 – September 2011, Chief, O&M Program, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB,
Germany
9. October 2011 – May 2012, Chief, MILCON Program, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB,
Germany
10. May 2012 – June 2013, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe, Air Forces
Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. June 2013 – December 2014, Secretary of the Air Force Legislative Fellow, Washington D.C.
12. December 2014 – June 2017, Legislative Affairs Officer, North American Aerospace Defense Command and
United States Northern Command, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. June 2017 – June 2018, Commander, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
14. June 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
15. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
16. July 2021 – July 2023, Commander, 47th Mission Support Group, Laughlin AFB, Texas
17. July 2023 – Present, Commander, 633d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2014 – June 2017, Legislative Affairs Officer, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United
States Northern Command, Pentagon, Washington D.C., as a major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee, 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla.
2006 Major General Lupia Award Runner-up, Headquarters Air Mobility Command
2007 Professional Engineer Certification, Del.
2009 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 65th Air Base Wing, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
2010 Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee, 65th Air Base Wing, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
2010 Newman Medal, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe
2010 Young Member Medal, Society of American Military Engineers
2011 Air Force NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year
2011 Sverdrup Medal, Society of American Military Engineers
2011 Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee, HQ USAFE A4/7, Ramstein AB, Germany
2015 Field Grade Officer of the Year, U.S. Northern Command
2017 Fellow, Society of American Military Engineers
2021 President’s Medal, Society of American Military Engineers
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 18, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major July 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2016
Colonel March 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2023)