RA Matthew J. Kawas

Rear Admiral Matt Kawas is a native of Matawan, New Jersey, a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and a 1996 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.  A nuclear-trained surface warfare officer, he commanded USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) and USS Freedom (LCS 1), served as reactor officer on USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), and commanded Destroyer Squadron 2. As Commodore, he led five DDGs and served as the Atlantic Fleet theater anti-submarine warfare task group commander and sea combat commander for Ford Carrier Strike Group. Ashore, he served on the Atlantic Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, an action officer in Homeland Division, Joint Staff Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate and as principal military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He most recently served as Deputy Commander, US Naval Forces Central Command.