Matthew Lester Email & Phone Number

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Pentagon

Advocates air, space, and cyber power, providing detailed expertise to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations Directorate and other senior leaders within Headquarters, Air Force. Shapes senior Air Force and joint warfighter leadership decisions through program management of Integrated Joint Special Technical Operations (IJSTO) and the Coal Warfighter (CW) Programs.Highlighted Accomplishments:• Managed worldwide release of newest Access Management Program; over 3,400 personnel trained on latest capabilities and equipped to plan, integrate, and execute critical operational assignments utilizing compartmented capabilities. • Educated program managers on sensitive capabilities; advised senior leaders on relevant program issues, security considerations, lessons learned and best practices while facilitating capability usage during eight training events resulting in 1,500-trained personnel.• Administered merger of special access program into new information technology system granting access for 110 units and saving unit program managers 600 man-hours.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Led specialized 234-member team executing compartmented programs for 20 nations at a Combatant Command headquarters located at MacDill AFB, FL; responsible for integrating Special Technical Operations (STO) programs into all contingency and operations planning for U.S. Central Command. Highlighted Accomplishments:• Developed non-lethal weapons options for combat operations usage; integrated with and gained approval from other government agencies resulting in the capture of 327 enemy combatants and seizure of 202 weapon storage facilities.• Director for 27 facilities and over $3M worth of equipment responsible for planning, integrating and executing over 95 sensitive programs; planning efforts led to operational approval resulting in the identification of enemy networks and over 500 enemy losses.• Presented key national leaders with consequences of using non-lethal capabilities; created detailed briefing highlighting critical pitfalls and benefits culminating in Presidential approval.

Colorado Springs, Colorado Area

Selected for three positions of increasing responsibility finishing as the third in command for 100+ personnel providing 24/7 operations of the $6.2B Air Force Satellite Control Network; responsible for managing command and control, space access and orbital analysis operations supporting 150+ U.S. and allied satellites for 29 operational centers. Highlighted Accomplishments:• As a Network Crew Commander, led immediate changes to real-time schedule integrating 356 system outages into an overwhelmed network, saving over 1,000 satellite operational missions.• As the Flight leader for the Weapons and Tactics flight, led three mission assurance exercises and a no-notice department evacuation event validating agency processes and procedures guaranteeing uninterrupted satellite center operations. o Temporary Assignment in Tampa Florida: As a Special Technical Operations planner, provided critical integration for Special Operations personnel. During seven-month temporary assignment, started weekly multi-agency conferences with support personnel, preparing warfighters for a variety of daily missions resulting in the detention of over 200 enemy combatants.• As the Assistant Director of Operations, directed emergency response during a critical space launch; ensuring retargeting of tracking antennas; decisive leadership resulted in continuation, and success of a $133 million dollar international space station resupply operation.

Louisville, Kentucky Area

Instructed, trained, evaluated and recruited officer candidates while serving in two leadership positions. As the Commandant of Cadets, served as direct liaison between the Professor of Aerospace Studies and the officer candidate team mentoring cadets through an aggressive training program. As the recruiting and admissions officer, managed a $15K recruiting budget promoting Air Force opportunities to eligible students across a metro area of over 1.2M individuals.Highlighted Accomplishments:• Designed high school recruiting fair exposing 45 students and families to program resulting in four scholarship winners. Created spend plan and devised new print ads exposing commissioning program benefits to 35,000 high school and university students. o Selected to fill leadership position, as a Flight Training officer, during six week cadet field training. Provided instruction, mentoring and around-the-clock support to 21 cadets during their mandatory officer training event. Counseled one cadet and helped him determine his future goals, ultimately resulting in his decision to return to civilian life. • Established cadet challenge resulting in nine cadets prepared for field training; revised instructor training and initiated academic counseling policies assuring no loss of scholarship for three students.

Cavalier Afs, North Dakota

Selected for two positions of increasing responsibility culminating as the Chief, Standardization and Evaluation Branch. The weapons system expert responsible for standardizing training and evaluation for 25 crewmembers, tasked with operating the world’s most capable phased array radar. Highlighted Accomplishments:• Subject matter expert and standardization lead for 25 member crew force operating $1.2B radar system; improved crewmembers’ evaluation plan culminating in more rigorous evaluations and crews that are more proficient. Revised evaluation process resulting in certification of seven evaluators, easing scheduling conflicts and ensuring compliance with higher headquarters directives.• Critical response team lead; trained four new members on crisis response procedures; scheduled mandatory training for team raising operational readiness levels 80%; lead controller during vital 2-day event certifying team readiness for contingencies. • Community leader and role model; took on additional duties of dormitory manager and team fitness lead. Also served the community as a Sunday school teacher, and Meals on Wheels volunteer. Guaranteed elderly residents in a sparsely populated rural area received hot meals as well as ensuring housing availability for newly assigned members.

Master Of Education - Med, Education

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Human Resources Development