COL. MATTHEW H. ARENS is the vice commander, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. As vice commander, he assists the wing commander in leading more than 3,000 people, overseeing base property and capital assets totaling more than $2.8 billion, and controlling an annual budget exceeding $249 million. The wing's overall mission is to provide worldwide air refueling and combatant commander airlift support in addition to the support of Headquarters U.S Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, and 50 other mission partners that call MacDill home. Colonel Arens entered the Air Force in September 1983 through an ROTC commission from the University of Illinois. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours in the T-37, T-38, KC-135A/E/R, RC-135 and KC-10A, including combat and combat support missions in Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Restore Hope. Prior to assuming his current position, Colonel Arens was the Chief, Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century for Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Illinois
1990 Master of Arts in Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle University
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Southwest Asia Medal with two campaign stars
Kuwaiti Liberation Medal