Commanding Officer

Cmdr. Matthew S. Lukevics 

Cmdr. Matthew “Meat Pie” Lukevics, a native of Tampa, Florida graduated and was commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 2005 and was designated a naval flight officer in November 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science - international relations. Lukevics is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Air Intercept Control course and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Lukevics’ operational assignments include tours with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 onboard USS Enterprise as a junior officer and VAW-121 onboard USS Nimitz and USS Abraham Lincoln as a training officer and department head. He has deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and in support of strategic deterrence operations in the Arabian Sea.

Lukevics’ shore assignments include tours with TOPGUN in Fallon, Nevada, Navy Personnel Command, PERS-43 Aviation Officer Assignments in Millington, Tennessee, and CAEWWS in Fallon, Nevada at TOPGUN he served as the command and control subject matter expert, air intercept control division officer, and Naval Aviation Warfare Development Command (NAWDC) journal editor. While at PERS-43, he served as the VAW/Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) assignments officer. At CAEWWS he served as the assistant department head (N6A), Hawkeye tactics and analysis team chairman, and integrated air and missile defense course director.

Lukevics has flown numerous combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. He has accumulated more than 1,900 flight hours in the E-2D, E-2C, FA-18, F-16 and other tactical aircraft. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (3), Navy Commendation Medal (4), and Navy Achievement Medal as well as other individual, campaign, and unit awards.