Capt Matthew Garza

Biography

Captain Matthew D. Garza is the Operations Flight Commander at Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 605, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina. He leads the Operations and education planning of a 106-cadet detachment.

 Before his assignment as an AFROTC Instructor, Captain Garza served in the 8th Combat Training Squadron (CTS), Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, as the Operations Flight Commander. In this role, he oversaw student management of the largest delta, assisted with instructor development, and led general engineering projects for the squadron.

Before his time at the 8 CTS, Capt Garza served as a MILSATCOM Operator, executing spacecraft C2 for the Military Strategic Tactical Relay (MILSTAR) and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite constellations. 

Capt Garza was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Before joining the Military, he was a high school Math teacher for seven years. Captain Garza received his commission at Officer Training School in 2019 into the United States Air Force and transferred to the United States Space Force in 2020.

 ASSIGNMENTS

  1. Sep 2019 – Aug 2020, Student, 533d Training Squadron, Vandenberg SFB, CA
  2. Aug 2020 – Apr 2021, Student, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever SFB, CO
  3. Apr 2021 – Jun2022, MILSATCOM Operator, 4th Space Operations Squadron, Schriever SFB, CO
  4. Jun 2022 – Jun 2023, Instructor, MILSATCOM SGLS SVO Training, 8th Combat Training Squadron, Schriever SFB, CO
  5. Jun 2023 – Nov 2023, Senior Instructor, 8th Combat Training Squadron, Schriever SFB, CO
  6. Nov 2023 – Jul 2024, Flight Commander, Operations Support, 8th Combat Training Squadron, Schriever SFB, CO
  7. Jul 2024 – June 2025, Recruiting Flight Commander, AFROTC Detachment 605, Greensboro, NC
  8. Jun 2025 – Present, Operations Flight Commander, AFROTC Detachment 605, Greensboro, NC

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 27, 2019
First Lieutenant September 27, 2021
Captain September 27, 2023

(Current as of Sep 2025)