Colonel Matthew Robbins

Colonel Robbins hails from Chesterfield, MA. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1989 and served as an Electronics Technician Second Class and Nuclear Reactor Operator until being nominated to the United States Naval Academy. Commissioned with a degree in Mathematics in 1995, Second Lieutenant Robbins attended The Basic School and trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL for designation as a Naval Aviator in 1997. In 1998, he qualified in the CH-53D with HMT-301 at MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI, and joined HMH-366 where he remained until the squadron de-activated in 2000. He served as NATOPS Officer, Flight Line Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and ultimately as the Maintenance Officer. He augmented the 1999 MISTEX exercise in Okinawa, completed CAX 9/10-98 at 29 Palms, CA, deployed to Dhaka, Bangladesh to support HMX-1 during the historic first POTUS visit to that country in 2000, and partnered with HMH-463 aboard the USS Boxer during the multi-national RIMPAC 2000 training exercise. Reassigned to HMH-463, Captain Robbins served as Logistics Officer and then as Assistant Operations Officer upon graduation from WTI 2-01. In 2001, he joined other 1st and 3D MAW personnel in Guam to form the Aviation Combat Element of SPMAGTF – Koa Thunder in support of the biannual TRUEX for the 31st MEU. In June 2002, Captain Robbins reported to Norwich University as the Marine Officer Instructor where he also served as G Company, 4th Platoon Commander, Officer Candidate School. He provided academic and practical courseware covering the Evolution of Warfare and Amphibious Warfare as well as instruction and leadership for midshipmen and cadets. Major Robbins then returned to MAG-24 as Director of Safety and Standardization for HMH-363. In 2006, he attended the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program Management Course enroute to Exercise DESERT TALON before deploying with the squadron as Maintenance Officer to support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Al Asad, Iraq. In recognition of the squadron’s success, HMH-363 earned the 2007 Commandant’s Aviation Award. Post deployment, Major Robbins served as Executive Officer before being invited to MAWTS-1. From 2008 to 2011, he served as Assault Support Department Head, Director of Safety and Standardization, and Operations Officer, participating in numerous WTI Courses and assessing multiple ACE units in preparation for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM during ENHANCED MOJAVE VIPER pre-deployment exercises.