BRIGADIER GENERAL MATTHEW J. FRENCH
Brig. Gen. Matthew French is the Chief of Staff of the Florida Air National Guard (FLANG), Joint Force Headquarters Florida National Guard, St. Augustine, Florida. He serves as the principal advisor to the FL ANG Commander and is responsible for strategic planning and guidance for the state’s wide range of air and space missions. He directs the force development programs and initiatives impacting over 2000 Airmen in diverse units across Florida. General French also serves as a Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander for First Air Force, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
General French received his commission in June 1999 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has served in a variety of operational fighter assignments in U.S. Air Forces Europe and Pacific Air Command. He instructed at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School before transitioning in 2010 from the active duty Air Force to the Florida Air National Guard. He has commanded an operations group and maintenance squadron, and served as the Air National Guard Advisor to an Air Force Major Command. General French is a command pilot with over 2,600 hours in the T-37, T-38, and F-15A-D. He has deployed in support of NATO Alert in Iceland, Operation ATLANTIC RESOLVE in Europe, and flown numerous missions in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE in the United States. Prior to his current assignment he was the commander of the 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Florida.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Air National Guard Intermediate Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officers Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2016 Air National Guard Commander Development Course
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of Arts in Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
2019 NATO Senior Officer Policy Course, Oberammergau, Germany
2021 North American Aerospace Defense Command/ U.S. Northern Command (NORAD/NORTHCOM) Joint Task Force Commanders Course, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 NORAD/NORTHCOM Dual Status Commanders Course, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2024 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1999 - May 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base (AFB), Miss.
2. June 2001 - December 2002, Student, F-15C Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. January 2002 - January 2005, F-15C Mission Commander, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 493d Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
4. January 2005 - December 2006, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander and Group Standardization and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 67th Fighter Squadron and 18th Operations Group, Kadena Air Base (AB), Okinawa, Japan
5. January 2007 - June 2007, Student, U. S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. June 2007 - June 2008, Weapons Officer, 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
7. June 2008 - June 2010, F-15C Weapons Instructor, Assistant Director of Operations and Wing Standardization and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 433d Weapons Squadron and 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. July 2010 - June 2012, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 125th Operations Group, Jacksonville International Airport (IAP), Fla.
9. July 2012 - December 2014, Director of Operations, 159th Fighter Squadron, Jacksonville IAP, Fla.
10. January 2015 - May 2016, Commander, 125th Maintenance Squadron, Jacksonville IAP, Fla.
11. June 2016 - April 2018, Commander, 125th Operations Group, Jacksonville IAP, Fla.
12. May 2018 - December 2019, Air National Guard Advisor to Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
13. January 2020 - February 2022, Commander, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville IAP, Fla.
14. November 2022 - Present, Chief of Staff, Florida Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, St. Augustine, Fla.; dual-hatted, June 2023 - Present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, CONR-1AF, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,600
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15A-D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Commercial Pilot, Major U.S. Airline
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major Nov. 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 29, 2013
Colonel June 1, 2017
Brigadier General June 5, 2023
(Current as of July 2024)
