Colonel Matthew P. Wilson is the Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The group’s mission is to build the future of airpower by training F-35 pilots, F-16 pilots, intelligence and command control warfighters. He oversees the Air Force’s largest operations group comprised of 13 squadrons and over 170 F-35 and F-16 aircraft. Before assuming command at Luke, he served as the Chief of the Command and Control Division, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon. Prior to his assignment at Air Force Headquarters, he commanded the 495th Fighter Squadron, 48th Operations Group, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. Earlier in his career, Colonel Wilson served as a strategist for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon after earning a Master of International Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. His operational experience includes several assignments as an F-16 and F-35 Instructor Pilot in the Combat Air Forces, where he served as a tactical leader in his community, earning placement in the US Air Force Weapons School. Following graduation, Colonel Wilson served globally in several roles as a subject matter expert for both Joint and Coalition contingency and operational planning in Korea, the Indo-Pacific region, Europe and NATO, Africa, the Middle East, and southwest Asia.
Colonel Wilson earned his commission in May 2006 from the United States Air Force Academy. He held a variety of positions in F-16 and F-35 fighter operations at the squadron, group, and wing levels and is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours including 648 combat hours.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2012 Master of Business Administration, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Master of International Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Washington, D.C.
2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2025 Senior Developmental Education, Naval War College, Newport, RI
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2006 – January 2008, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, TX
2. February 2008 – March 2009, T-38 Pilot, squadron scheduler, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
3. April 2009 – June 2009, Student, introduction to fighter fundamentals, 434th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
4. July 2009 – April 2010, F-16 Student, F-16 basic course, 310th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
5. April 2010 – February 2012, F-16 Instructor Pilot, chief of training and scheduling, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
6. February 2012 – July 2014, F-16 Instructor Pilot, flight commander, 79th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC
7. July 2014 – December 2014, F-16 Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
8. January 2015 – January 2016, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Chief of wing weapons, 8th Operations Support Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea
9. January 2016 – July 2018, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Chief of wing weapons, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
10. July 2018 – May 2019, CSAF Scholar, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2019 – June 2021, Joint Strategist, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2021 – December 2022, F-35 Student, F-35 transition course, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
13. January 2022 – May 2023, F-35 Evaluator, Director of Operations, 495th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
14. June 2023 – June 2024, F-35 Evaluator, Commander, 495th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
15. July 2024 – June 2025, Student, Senior Developmental Education, Naval War College, Newport, RI
16. July 2025 – June 2026, Division Chief, Command and Control Division, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
17. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, AZ
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-38, F-16, F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Meal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Colonel Matthew P. Wilson is the Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The group’s mission is to build the future of airpower by training F-35 pilots, F-16 pilots, intelligence and command control warfighters. He oversees the Air Force’s largest operations group comprised of 13 squadrons and over 170 F-35 and F-16 aircraft. Before assuming command at Luke, he served as the Chief of the Command and Control Division, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon. Prior to his assignment at Air Force Headquarters, he commanded the 495th Fighter Squadron, 48th Operations Group, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. Earlier in his career, Colonel Wilson served as a strategist for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon after earning a Master of International Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. His operational experience includes several assignments as an F-16 and F-35 Instructor Pilot in the Combat Air Forces, where he served as a tactical leader in his community, earning placement in the US Air Force Weapons School. Following graduation, Colonel Wilson served globally in several roles as a subject matter expert for both Joint and Coalition contingency and operational planning in Korea, the Indo-Pacific region, Europe and NATO, Africa, the Middle East, and southwest Asia.
Colonel Wilson earned his commission in May 2006 from the United States Air Force Academy. He held a variety of positions in F-16 and F-35 fighter operations at the squadron, group, and wing levels and is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours including 648 combat hours.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2012 Master of Business Administration, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Master of International Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Washington, D.C.
2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2025 Senior Developmental Education, Naval War College, Newport, RI
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2006 – January 2008, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, TX
2. February 2008 – March 2009, T-38 Pilot, squadron scheduler, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
3. April 2009 – June 2009, Student, introduction to fighter fundamentals, 434th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
4. July 2009 – April 2010, F-16 Student, F-16 basic course, 310th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
5. April 2010 – February 2012, F-16 Instructor Pilot, chief of training and scheduling, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
6. February 2012 – July 2014, F-16 Instructor Pilot, flight commander, 79th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC
7. July 2014 – December 2014, F-16 Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
8. January 2015 – January 2016, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Chief of wing weapons, 8th Operations Support Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea
9. January 2016 – July 2018, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Chief of wing weapons, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
10. July 2018 – May 2019, CSAF Scholar, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2019 – June 2021, Joint Strategist, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2021 – December 2022, F-35 Student, F-35 transition course, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
13. January 2022 – May 2023, F-35 Evaluator, Director of Operations, 495th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
14. June 2023 – June 2024, F-35 Evaluator, Commander, 495th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
15. July 2024 – June 2025, Student, Senior Developmental Education, Naval War College, Newport, RI
16. July 2025 – June 2026, Division Chief, Command and Control Division, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
17. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, AZ
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-38, F-16, F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Meal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
(Current as of June 2026)