Col. Matthew L. Parker, AMCOM Combined Logistics Command
Col. Matthew L. Parker commissioned as a second lieutenant in aviation in May 2000 from the United States Military Academy before attending the Aviation Officer Basic Course and Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, to eventually become an AH-64A Apache helicopter pilot. His first duty assignment was at Fliegerhorst Airfield, Germany, where he served with 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division as an attack platoon leader and assistant battalion operations officer. While in these assignments, he deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) I from April 2003 until July 2004. Upon returning to Germany, he successfully assessed and was accepted into the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Prior to his attendance to the Regiment’s indoctrination program Green Platoon, he attended the Aviation Captain’s Career Course at Fort Rucker.
Upon completion of Green Platoon, Parker was assigned to 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR as an assistant operations officer where he deployed in support of OIF once again. During this tour of duty, he served as a liaison officer, operations officer, and officer in charge of Army Special Operations Aviation Northern Iraq. Soon after returning from Iraq, Parker was selected as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander of 4th Battalion, 160th SOAR and assisted in standing up this new battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington. Shortly after company command, Parker returned to Fort Rucker and Fort Campbell to transition to become an MH-47G Chinook Pilot. During his time at 4th Battalion from 2006 to 2011, Parker served as the HHC commander, assault platoon leader, company executive officer, and assistant battalion operations officer. Also during this time at 4th Battalion, Parker deployed to Afghanistan 10 times in support of highly trained special operations forces conducting the most demanding missions throughout the theater.
In 2011, Parker left 4th Battalion and returned to Fort Campbell to become the Special Operations Aviation Regiment Assistant S3 for operations and then the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion executive officer in 2012. In 2013, Parker left the Regiment and was selected to serve as the battalion operations officer for 1st Battalion (Attack), 101st Aviation Regiment, “Expect No Mercy.” Following his duty there, Parker was then selected to serve as the chief of air operations at Special Operations Command-South from 2014-2017. He then transitioned to become the J5 chief of plans until 2018 when he assumed battalion command of the 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade for 26 months prior to assignment as the director of the 160th SOAR Special Operations Aviation Advisory Directorate at Fort Campbell in 2020. Following SOAAD, Parker attended Senior Service College at the United States Army War College School of Strategic Landpower at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He is currently in command of the AMCOM Combined Logistics Command at Fort Novosel.
Parker’s military education includes: Aviation Basic Officer Leader Course, Aviation Captain’s Career Course, Intermediate Level Education (CGSC), Joint Professional Military Education Level-II (JPME-II), DCMA Government Flight Representative Course, DISAM Security Cooperation Management Course, Aviation Maintenance Officer Course, Joint Firepower Course, multiple high level Survival/Evasion/Resistance/Escape (SERE) courses, and Senior Service College where he earned a Master of Strategic Studies. He is qualified on the OH-58 A/C, AH-64A, OH-6C, CH-47D, MH-47G, MH-6M, AH-64D, and CH-47F helicopters.
Parker is a native of Snyder, Texas. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in general management and minor in systems engineering from The United States Military Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal as well as the Air Assault, Senior Aviator, and Combat Action Badges.