Colonel Matthew A. Morand is the Commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 765 at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Colonel Morand is responsible for the supervision and training of one of the largest cadet corps in the Air Force, with over 500 cadets. He also serves as the Professor of Aerospace Studies; his staff of motivated, professional officers and non-commissioned officers, administer a robust training program, to include formal classroom instruction, leadership laboratory, physical fitness, and officer candidate mentoring. Colonel Morand instructs the senior level cadet curriculum and prepares our graduating cadets for Active Duty.
Colonel Morand graduated and earned his commission from The Citadel in 1995 as a Distinguished Air Force Graduate. Prior to his current position, Colonel Morand was the Deputy Director of Mission Operations at the NRO in Chantilly, Virginia, where he was responsible for executing space-based intelligence, supporting National, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Agencies. After more than 20 years of service to the Air Force Colonel Morand transitioned to the Space Force, January 7th 2021.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2007 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2008 Masters of Science in Space Studies, American Military University
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
June 95 – April 96: Student, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Initial Qualification Training, 381st Training Group, Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), Calif.
April 96 – March 97: Standardization/Evaluation Missile Deputy Combat Crew Commander, 321st Operations Group, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
March 97 – August 98: Instructor Combat Crew Commander, 321st Operations Support Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
August 98 – January 99: Student, Defense Satellite Communications System III Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
January 99 – September 99: Satellite Vehicle Operator and Crew Commander, 3 SOPS, Schriever AFB, Colo.
September 99 – June 01: Evaluator, DSCS III On-Orbit Engineer and Mission Planner, 3d Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
June 01 – August 02: Executive Officer, 50th Operations Group, Schriever AFB, Colo.
August 02 – June 04: Operations Officer, Vandenberg Tracking Station, Detachment 1, 22nd Space Operations Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
June 04 – June 06: Space and Missile Assignments Officer, AFPC, Randolph AFB, Texas
June 06 – June 07: Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
June 07 – June 08: Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, Kan.
July 08 – July 09: Operations Officer, 12th Space Warning Squadron, Thule Air Base (AB), Greenland
August 09 – May 10: Joint Staff Action Officer, J39 Space & Missile Defense Division, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
May 10 – June 11: Executive Assistant, Director for Operations (J3), The Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
June 11 – June 12: Joint Staff Action Officer, J36 Space and Missile Defense Division, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
June 12 – May 13: Commander, 13th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Air Force Station (AFS), Alaska
June 13 – July 14: Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
July 14 – September 15: Deputy Group Commander, 21st Operation Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
September 15 – July 16: Chief, Senior Leader Management, HQ AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
July 16 – June 17: Director, National Reconnaissance Operations Center, Chantilly, Va.
June 17 – July 19: Commander, Space Operations Group, Aerospace Data Facility East, Fort Belvoir, Va.
July 19 – June 20: Deputy Director, Mission Operations Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
June 20 – Present: Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 765, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Alaska Distinguished Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 13, 1995
First Lieutenant May, 31 1997
Captain May 31, 1999
Major October 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2010
Colonel November 1, 2016
Colonel January 7, 2021 – United States Space Force
(CURRENT AS OF JULY 2022)