Col Matthew P. Giese is Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the 412 Test Wing Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, California.. He assists as directed in leading a wing of 8,000 personnel in the developmental test and evaluation of the KC-46, KC-135, KC-10, C-17, F-35, F-22, F-16, B-21, B-1, B-2, B-52, T-7A, RQ-4 and emerging technologies. Additionally, during the commander’s absence and when directed he executes the duties as the Installation Commander, responsible for operating the base and supporting more than 19,500 active duty, reserve, civil service and defense industrial base contractors at Edwards, the second largest base in the U.S. Air Force, and Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
Col Giese entered the Air Force in 1996 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. On active duty, he attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas with a follow-on operational flying assignment in the F-16C at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. After transitioning to the F-15C at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, he was selected for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Col Giese flew as a test pilot in two assignments in the F-16C and F-22 prior to serving on the PACAF A3/5/8 staff as the command F-22 subject matter expert and Evaluator. He separated from active duty in 2011 and joined the 302nd Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska where he flew as an Evaluator pilot in the F-22 for 6 years. Col Giese subsequently served as Joint Air Component Coordination Element (JACCE) Deputy Director, Combat Operations Division Chief, and Commander of the 701st Combat Operations Squadron Detachment 1, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-
Hickam, Hawaii. Prior to his current assignment, Col Giese was the IMA to A3T at HQ AFMC A3/6, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Col Giese has served as an Instructor, Evaluator, Test Pilot, Director of Operations, JACCE Deputy Director, and Commander. He has over 3,000 hours of military flight time in 40 different aircraft types. In his civilian capacity, Col Giese is the Chief Pilot for a major defense contractor and has flown multiple first flights for the USAF and foreign partners.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Biology (Pre-Medicine), USAFA, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
2006 Master of Science, Systems Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Asia Pacific Orientation Course, Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2020 Air Force Reserve Command Squadron Commanders Course, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1996 – May 1997, Athletic Assistant, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. May 1997 – May 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
3. May 1998 – August 1999, F-16 Student, 302nd Flying Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
4. August 1999 – May 2001, F-16C Pilot, 68th Fighter Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
5. May 2001 – September 2001, F-15C Student, 1st Fighter Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
6. September 2001 – June 2004, F-15C Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 19th Fighter Squadron, JBER, Alaska
7. June 2004 – June 2005, Student, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. June 2005 – September 2006, F-16 Test Pilot, 416th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
9. September 2006 – August 2008, F-22 Test Pilot, 411th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
10. August 2008 – October 2011, F-22 Evaluator Pilot, PACAF A3/5/8, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
11. October 2011 – September 2016, Director of Operations, JBER, Alaska (April – May 2013, F-22 Instructor Pilot,
302nd Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
12. September 2016 – July 2020, Chief of Combat Operations/JACCE Deputy Director, 701st COS, March ARB,
Calif.
13. July 2020 – August 2022, Commander, 701st Combat Operations Squadron Detachment 1, Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
14. January 2023 – July 2023, IMA to Chief of Test & Evaluation, HQ AFMC A3/6, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio
15. July 2023 – Present, Senior Advisor to HQ AFMC A3/6, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION [FLIGHT RATED ONLY]
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-38A/C, AT-38B, F-16A/B/C/D, F-15C/D/E/K/SG/SA/QA/EX, F/A-18B, NF-16D, A-10A, KC-
135R, QF-4E, T-1A, T-6, T-6A, T-34C, LJ-24D, HU-16, NP-3D, C-130J, C-12C, T-3, CASA 101, CASA 212, NU-1B,
Grob-103, TG-9A, TG-4A, TH-6B, UH-1N, B-TX, and F-22
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal, 2 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal,2 oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, 4 oak leaf clusters;
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal, 1 oak leaf cluster;
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Long
Air and Space Longevity Service Award, 6 oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
Col. Matthew P. Giese is Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the 412 Test Wing Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, California.. He assists as directed in leading a wing of 8,000 personnel in the developmental test and evaluation of the KC-46, KC-135, KC-10, C-17, F-35, F-22, F-16, B-21, B-1, B-2, B-52, T-7A, RQ-4 and emerging technologies. Additionally, during the commander’s absence and when directed he executes the duties as the Installation Commander, responsible for operating the base and supporting more than 19,500 active duty, reserve, civil service and defense industrial base contractors at Edwards, the second largest base in the U.S. Air Force, and Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.