2008 Parade Grand Marshal - Colonel Matthew H. Arens

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