Matthew Wolfe Davidson

Matthew Wolfe Davidson is a United States Air Force major general who serves as the deputy director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency since July 13, 2023.[1] He most recently served as the deputy commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command.[2] He also served as the director for operations of the Air Force Special Operations Command, as deputy commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan, and once served as deputy commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command of the United States Space Command and vice commander of the Space Operations Command, United States Space Force. He was also previously assigned as executive officer to the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from June 2016 to April 2018.[3] He was replaced by Michael E. Conley in June 2015.[4][3][5]

Matthew Wolfe Davidson
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1994–present
RankMajor general
Commands held24th Special Operations Wing
724th Special Tactics Group
24th Special Tactics Squadron
320th Special Tactics Squadron
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)

Davidson is a 1993 graduate from Oklahoma State University's Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He is a career Special Tactics Officer and has led special operations forces during operations Provide Comfort II, Assured Response, Joint Endeavor, Enduring Freedom – Philippines, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and led joint operations as the Chief of Staff for Special Operations Command Central. Prior to assuming his current assignment, Davidson served as the Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff.[6][3]

Education edit

  • 1993 Bachelor of Science, Geography, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
  • 1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
  • 2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2004 Master of Science, International Relations, Troy State University, Alabama
  • 2005 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
  • 2006 Master of Military Art and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
  • 2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2012 Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C.
  • 2014 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Naval Station, Va.

Assignments edit

  • January 1994–December 1994, Special Tactics Training Pipeline
  • December 1994–August 1997, flight commander, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • August 1997–August 1998, assistant director of Operations, 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • August 1998–January 2002, flight commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
  • January 2002–May 2003, director of operations, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
  • May 2003–June 2004, commander, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
  • June 2004–June 2005, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
  • June 2005–June 2006, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
  • June 2006–June 2008, Air and Space Strategist, headquarters Air Force, Project CHECKMATE, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
  • June 2008–June 2009, deputy commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, North Carolina
  • June 2009–April 2011, commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, North Carolina
  • April 2011–June 2012, commander, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope Army Field, North Carolina
  • June 2012–June 2013, Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C.
  • June 2013–June 2014, chief of staff, Special Operations Command Central Forward headquarters, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
  • September 2014–June 2016, commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.[7]
  • June 2016–April 2018, Executive Officer to the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
  • April 2018–August 2019, vice commander, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.[6]
  • August 2019–December 2019, Deputy Combined Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command, and Vice Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Force Space Command, Vandenberg AFB, California
  • December 2019–April 2020, Deputy Combined Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command, and Vice Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Vandenberg AFB, California
  • April 2020–August 2022, Director of Operations, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  • August 2022–June 2023, Deputy Commander, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Awards and decorations edit

  Senior Parachutist Badge
  Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
  Special Operations Diver Badge
  Headquarters Air Force Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
  Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
  Joint Service Commendation Medal
  Air Force Commendation Medal
    Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
     Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
     Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  Air Force Recognition Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
  Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  Armed Forces Service Medal
  Humanitarian Service Medal
  Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
  Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
  Air Force Training Ribbon

Effective dates of promotion edit

Rank Date
  Second lieutenant Sept. 23, 1993
  First lieutenant Sept. 23 1995
  Captain Sept. 23, 1997
  Major Feb. 1, 2004
  Lieutenant colonel Sept. 1, 2007
  Colonel Sept. 1, 2011
  Brigadier general July 24, 2018

References edit

  1. ^ "Air Force Special Operations General begins new role as Deputy Director of DTRA". DVIDS. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Senior leader announcement: Week of March 31". Air Force. March 31, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Brigadier General Matthew Wolfe Davidson". United States Air Force. October 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Wall, Mike (November 13, 2019). "US Must Adapt to Fight Growing Space-Based Threats, Air Force Officials Say". Space.com. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Erwin, Sandra (January 31, 2020). "Air Force Special Operations Command officer named to senior post in U.S. Space Force". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Swartzell, Griffin (July 1, 2019). "Constant integration, constant delivery". Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Cheesman, Katrina (August 24, 2015). "Air Force Cross recipient medically retires". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing
2014–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
2016–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Commander of the 14th Air Force, later Space Operations Command
2018–2020
Succeeded by
New office Deputy Commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command
2019–2020
Preceded by Deputy Commanding General for Operations of NATO Special Operations Component Command and Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan
2020–2021
Command disestablished
Director of Operations of the Air Force Special Operations Command
2021–2022
Succeeded by
???
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency
2023–present
Incumbent