Col. Matthew W. Caudell is Deputy Wing Commander at the 172nd Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, Jackson, Mississippi. The 172nd Airlift Wing is comprised of fourteen local units and two geographically separated units capable of supporting airlift, aeromedical evacuation, tactical airlift control, combat civil engineering, air control, and combat readiness and training. He assists the Wing Commander in providing global strategic and tactical airlift in support of National Command Authority objectives and the objectives of the Governor of Mississippi. Col. Caudell directs the day-to-day operations, maintenance and support of the Wing’s nine assigned C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. He implements the Wing Commander’s vision as he trains, equips and maintains combat mission-ready operational and support forces to meet federal and state response requirements.
Col. Caudell received his commission in the U.S. Air Force from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999. Upon graduation, he entered the active-duty Air Force as a civil engineer officer. His experience includes base development, contract project management, environmental engineering, technical design, RED HORSE, airborne operations, academic instruction, asset management and IG inspections. Col. Caudell has deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, New Horizons Joint Task Force Guyana 04, Civic Action Team Palau and Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Caudell served as the 172nd Mission Support Group Commander, directing and leading more than 450 personnel in six squadrons and flights, including Force Support, Civil Engineering, Security Forces, Logistic Readiness, Communication and a Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron gained by U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Colorado with more than 10 years of civil and structural engineering experience.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Science, Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1999–September 2002, Contract Programmer; Officer-in-Charge of Base Development; Deputy Environmental Flight Chief, 347th Civil Engineer Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
2. September 2002–August 2005, Project Engineer; Commander, Airborne Flight, 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
3. August 2005–July 2006, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Institution Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
4. July 2006–July 2009, Structures Division Chief; Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
5. July 2009–August 2011, Asset Optimization Branch Program Manager; Command Civil Engineer Inspector; Facilities Support & Emergency Services Branch Chief, Office of the Inspector General, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. September 2011–July 2018, Base Civil Engineer; Commander, 172nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
7. January 2023–Present, Deputy Wing Commander, 172nd Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” Device and six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence
Award National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star
Air Force Training Ribbon
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Mississippi War Medal
Mississippi Longevity Medal with three oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major Dec. 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel April 21, 2013
Colonel July 1, 2018
(Current as of May 2024