Col. Matthew Howard serves as the Deputy Commander for the 131st Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. In this capacity, he is second in command of the National Guard's only B-2 Spirit stealth bomber wing providing combat-ready Airmen for both state and federal missions. He is additionally responsible for the Air National Guard's B-2 and T-38 Talon aircraft operations.
Col. Howard received his commission through Air Force ROTC at Oklahoma State University in May 2002. Following pilot training, he flew F-15 Eagle fighter jets at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. While at Mountain Home, he deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle working with the Icelandic Defense Force. In 2008, he transitioned to the F-22 Raptor fighter, and was assigned to Langley AFB, Virginia. While at Langley, he deployed twice to the Indo-Pacific Command region and was a key planner for the first F-22 deployment to the Middle East. He has additionally served as an F-22 instructor, providing foundational lessons for new Raptor pilots
Col. Howard joined the Missouri Air National Guard in 2014 to fly the B-2 at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. While at Whiteman, he has deployed multiple times to the Indo-Pacific region, planned a B-2 Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission to the United Kingdom in March 2020, and led the B-2’s first BTF mission to Iceland in August 2021. Prior to his current position, the colonel served as the 131st Operations Group Commander, 131st Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Masters of Business Administration, Trident University, CA
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 U.S. Air Force B-2 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002–February 2003, Assistant Scheduler, 325th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
2. February 2003–November 2004, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 25th Fighter Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. November 2004–July 2005, Student Pilot, 1st Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. July 2005–June 2007, Standards and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 390th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Id.
5. June 2007–September 2008, Chief of Combat Training, 366th Operations Support Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Id.
6. September 2008–November 2009, Chief of Mobility, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
7. November 2009–June 2011, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
8. June 2011–December 2011, Instructor Pilot, Asst. Director of Operations, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
9. December 2011–July 2012, Instructor Pilot, 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. July 2012–October 2013, Instructor Pilot, Current Operations Flight Commander, 325th Operations Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. October 2013–September 2014, Instructor Pilot, Executive Officer, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. September 2014–August 2016, B-2 Pilot, Asst. Director of Operations, 110th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
13. August 2016–July 2017, Instructor Pilot, Asst. Director of Operations, 110th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. July 2017–June 2018, Weapons School Instructor Pilot, 325th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
15. June 2018–August 2019, Director of Operations, 110th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
16. August 2019–October 2020, Deputy Commander, 131st Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
17. October 2020–April 2023, Commander, 110th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
18. April 2023–December 2023, Commander, 131st Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
19. December 2023–Present, Deputy Commander, 131st Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A/C, F-15C/D, F22, B-2
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Service Medal with N Device
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters
Developmental Special Duty Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Missouri National Guard Expeditionary Ribbon
Missouri National Guard Long Service 5 Year Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major June 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel July 31, 2017
Colonel July 20, 2023
(Current as of January 2024)