Matlock Receives Legion Of Merit Award

Col. James T. Matlock III, a doctoral student in human resource development in the Department of Educational Administration and Human Development, was recently honored with the United States Air Force Legion of Merit Award.

Matlock, who currently serves as the division chief of communications and information technology at the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, was recognized with the award for outstanding service as commander of the 147th Mission Support Group, 147th Reconnaissance Wing. He led the transition of his Fighter Wing to a new mission, creating a human resource plan to realign, reassign and retrain his personnel. The colonel led the Emergency Operations Center during Tropical Storm Eduardo, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Dolly, and the Installation Control Center during Hurricane Ike, playing an important role saving lives and property.

“It is an honor to be able to perform the Air Force’s mission,” Matlock said. “The decoration is symbolic of the high mission accomplishment standards achieved by the men and women of the 147th Reconnaissance Wing.”

Matlock is now at work on his dissertation proposal. His research interests include organizational development, performance improvement and scenario planning. After completing his degree, he plans to use his doctorate to facilitate these areas at the readiness center.

The colonel has served in the U.S. Air Force for 32 years in a number of different roles, ranging from a ground radio repairman to a commander. In his present role, he creates and coordinates communications and information technology policies, plans and programs for more than 106,000 National Guard members in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.