COL Matthew R. Tyler was born in Seattle and raised in Charleston, S.C. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1991 upon graduating as a distinguished military graduate from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
He most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineer Division, for U.S. Army Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany. Prior to serving at USAREUR, he attended the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
His other assignments include service as Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Battalion Adjutant, 17th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Mechanized), 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Following the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, COL Tyler served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Murray State University in Kentucky. After completion of his teaching assignment, he served with the 65th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Light), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His positions included Assistant Division Engineer, 3rd Brigade Engineer; and Commander, C Company, 65th Engineer Battalion. COL Tyler then joined the Engineer Observer/Controller Team at the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Polk, La., and served as a Platoon Senior O/C, Engineer Company Senior O/C, Engineer Team Senior O/C, and Chief of Engineer Plans and Operations for the training center. After attending Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., he joined the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga., and served as the S3/Operations Officer for the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, managing reconstruction within the brigade’s area of operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. COL Tyler then completed an assignment as the Secretary of the General Staff and served as the acting Chief, Military Personnel Division, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Washington and went on to command the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) at Fort Belvoir, Va. Following battalion command, he served as Division Engineer for the 1st Cavalry Division and CJ-7 Engineer, CJTF-1, RC-East in Afghanistan.
COL Tyler is a graduate of Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, the Sapper Leader Course, Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from The Citadel, a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Murray State University, Master of Science in Military Operations Art & Science from the Air University and a Master of Science in National Security Studies from the National Defense University. He is also a certified Project Management Professional.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (silver oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (four oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Bronze deFleury Medal and Order of Saint Maurice Medal.