Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7
Capt. Matthew K. Lewis
Capt. Mathew Lewis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2002, earning his Wings of Gold in Kingsville, Texas in December 2004. He received initial F/A-18C Hornet aircraft training at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California in 2005.
His first operational assignment was with the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, where he flew combat sorties in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). He also took part in the “Partnership of the Americas” deployment aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).
Subsequently selected as a U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Instructor, Lewis served as the AIM-9/Aerial Gunnery subject matter expert for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, supporting air-to-air tactical development as well as the AIM-9X block II “Sidewinder” missile and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) programs.
He returned to the fleet in January 2012 as the VFA-15 “Valions” Training Officer flying the F/A-18C and in April 2013, he reported to the “Tomcatters” of VFA-31 as a Department Head. He deployed aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve.
Following his Department Head tour, he served at the Pentagon in the Joint Staff J8 Directorate, where he led readiness assessments on Combat Support Agencies Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Defense Information System Agency (DISA) for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He completed his XO/CO tour at the “Tomcatters” of VFA-31 in Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia. During his command tour, the squadron successfully completed two operational Western Pacific deployments with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71.) Following his Command tour, he served at PERS-43 Aviation Officer Distribution in Millington, Tennessee as the O-5 TACAIR detailer and Head Aviation Detailer.
Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration with a Defense Finance and Acquisition subspecialty from the Naval Postgraduate School. He has accumulated over 3,300 flight hours in the F/A-18E “Super Hornet”, F/A-18C “Hornet”, and F-16A “Fighting Falcon”. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Medal (2 Strike Flight Awards), Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), and Navy Achievement Medal, along with various campaign and service awards.