Chief Master Sgt. Matthew A. Pease is the Command Chief of the 23d Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 23d Wing is home to the legendary "Flying Tigers" and consists of five groups with 23 squadrons comprised of more than 4,000 Airmen, more than 700 civilian employees, and 61 aircraft. The wing provides A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft for close air support, forward air control, and combat support for combatant commander requirements worldwide. The 23d Wing also provides combat search and rescue, and personnel recovery capabilities through the employment of HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft, and Guardian Angel weapon systems. As command chief, Pease maintains a liaison between the wing commander and those who execute the mission, primarily focusing on the enlisted force and families. He advises the commander and senior leadership on mission effectiveness, professional development, military readiness, training utilization, health, morale and welfare of the command’s personnel and takes actions to address shortfalls and challenges.
Chief Master Sgt. Pease is from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, where he enlisted in the Air Force in August 1998. He began his career as a security specialist and has served in a variety of assignments including Phoenix Raven Team Leader, International Military Police Squadron Operations Superintendent, Additional Duty First Sergeant, Security Forces Manager, and Senior Enlisted Leader of a combined Expeditionary Operations and Mission Support Squadron. He has served in multiple joint and combined assignments working side-by-side with coalition partners from 11 Nations and three joint services. He has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Freedom’s Sentinel.
EDUCATION
1998 Law Enforcement Apprentice, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2003 Airman Leadership School, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
2005 Electronics Security System Operations Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
2007 AMC Phoenix Raven Course, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
2010 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2011 Joint Senior Enlisted Professional Military Education, Air University, by correspondence
2012 Associate in Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force
2014 Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Management and Technology, Alexandria, Va.
2015 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2019 Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex, Ala.
2021 Master of Science in Homeland Security, University of Management and Technology, Alexandria, Va.
2023 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation & Group Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Wing Command Team Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1998–September 1998, Trainee, Basic Military Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 1998–January 1999, Student, Law Enforcement Specialist Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. January 1999–June 2001, Entry Controller, 99th Security Support Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
4. June 2001–June 2002, Desk Sergeant, 12th Space Warning Squadron, Thule Air Base, Greenland
5. June 2002–June 2010, Installation Patrolman; Security Forces Controller; NCOIC, Personnel Security; Phoenix Raven Team Leader, 437th Security Forces Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. (August 2002–December 2002, Security Forces Controller, 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Doha, Qatar); (November 2003–May 2004, Desk Sergeant, 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron, Eloy International Airport, Manta, Ecuador); (September 2005–March 2006, Theater Internment Facility Team Leader 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq); (February 2009–July 2009, Raven Program Manager, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
6. July 2010–July 2012, NCOIC, Operations; NCOIC, Standardization and Evaluation; Superintendent, Plans and Programs, 65th Security Forces Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
7. July 2012–August 2016, Flight Chief; Superintendent, Logistics & Resources; Superintendent, Plans & Programs; Superintendent, Operations & Training, 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England (January 2015 – July 2015, Security Forces Operations Superintendent, 870th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Chabelley Airfield, Republic of Djibouti)
8. August 2016–August 2017, Superintendent, Logistics & Resources, 8th Security Forces Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
9. August 2017–May 2018, Operations Superintendent, International Military Police & Civil Guard, Geilenkirchen AB, Germany
10. May 2018–May 2021, Security Forces Manager, 52d Security Forces Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
(November 2020–April 2021, Superintendent, 455th Expeditionary Support Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
11. May 2021–July 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 65th Air Base Group, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
12. July 2023–July 2024, Senior Enlisted Leader, 96th Mission Support Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
13. July 2024–Present, Command Chief, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (October 2024–April 2025, Command Chief, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 NCO of the Year, 65th Mission Support Group, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
2012 USAF Outstanding Large Security Forces Squadron, 48th Security Forces Squadron RAF Lakenheath, England
2014 CMSgt Fred Archer Tuskegee Nominee, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England
2016 Lance P. Sijan Nominee, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England
2017 Outstanding Team of the Year, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
2017 Lance P. Sijan Nominee, 8th Mission Support Group, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
(Current as of July 2026)