Matt Hamel Email & Phone Number

Matt Hamel was elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Chesapeake for a 4-year term commencing January 1st, 2022. Prior to his election as Chesapeake’s chief prosecutor, Mr. Hamel served on the Chesapeake City Council from 2018 through 2021, when he was elected to his current position as the Commonwealth’s Attorney. He is a licensed attorney in three states (Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania).Prior to elected office, Mr. Hamel founded a law firm that served military service-members and spouses in domestic relations and criminal matters. Prior to entering the civilian legal sector, Mr. Hamel served as a Navy JAG attorney and prosecutor in the Navy's busiest litigation office, as well as a Staff Judge Advocate to several Commands and Staffs. He also volunteered for deployment to Iraq during the surge (2007-2008) and served inside a Detention Facility in Baghdad where he was responsible for the parole style review boards of the Multi-National Force Review Committee and the review of the high value (Deck of Cards) Detainees.Mr. Hamel was selected for promotion to Commander in the Navy Reserves in 2017 and continues to serve as a Reservist JAG Attorney. His military decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Expert Pistol Shot Medal and numerous unit and service awards.Mr. Hamel serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA and he is a life member of VFW Post 2894. Mr. Hamel received his undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law.

Listed skills include Navy, Military, Civil Litigation, Defense, and 34 others.