Commanding Officer
LtCol Matt W. Stover
Lieutenant Colonel Matt Stover was born in Des Moines, IA and enlisted in the USMCR upon graduation from Prairie City-Monroe High School in 1990. He was activated for service during Desert Shield/Desert Storm and served in an infantry Casualty Replacement Company at Camp Pendleton. While in the reserves he attended Iowa State University and graduated with a degree in Transportation Logistics in 1995.
Following college, he completed The Basic School, naval flight training and winged as a Naval Aviator in March of 1998. He then transferred to HMMT-204 for qualification in the CH-46. Upon completion of his initial fleet tour with the Dragons of HMM-265 in Okinawa, Japan where he deployed multiple times with the 31st MEU, LtCol Stover was assigned to VMR-1 as a Search and Rescue pilot where he flew 11 lifesaving MEDEVAC missions.
LtCol Stover’s tour at VMR-1 was cut short when he was selected for transition training in the KC-130 with VMGRT-253 in January of 2004. Following two Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments with VMGR-252 and 2d MAW Fwd, LtCol Stover was assigned to US Strategic Command for duty with the National Airborne Operations Center at Offutt AFB. While there he qualified as a Nuclear Command and Control Strike Advisor to the President of the United States and Emergency Actions Officer.
Upon completion of this tour, he was re-assigned to 2d MAW Fwd for preparation with the Operation Enduring Freedom 11.1/11.2 Deployment where he served for the year as the FOB Dwyer Airfield Operations Officer. After completion of his tour, LtCol Stover was assigned as the Readiness Officer for 2d MAW until his selection for command of VMGR-152 and subsequent PCS to Okinawa, Japan for duty with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as the Aviation Training System Director.
LtCol Stover is married to the former Kimberly Schippers of Monroe, IA and they have four sons, Gabe, Ethan, Caleb, and Isaac. They reside in Kishaba Terrace, Okinawa, Japan.
Lieutenant Colonel Stover’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Select Marine Corps Reserve Medal.