Colonel Matthew T. Hoyt is the Deputy Commander, at 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan. The fighter wing is composed of nearly 3,000 personnel and sustains forces and facilities worth over two billion dollars. The installation totals 11,000-people and supports eight associate units from four U.S. military services (Air Force, Navy, Army and Space Force) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Colonel Hoyt commissioned as an Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate at the University of Illinois in 2005. He is a Command Pilot with extensive experience in USINDOPACOM, US Pacific Air Forces, US Air Forces in Europe, and Air Education and Training Command.
Prior to serving as the 35th Fighter Wing Deputy Commander, Colonel Hoyt served as Senior Director, Joint Operations Center, HQ USINDOPACOM.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of IL, Urbana-Champaign
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev
2018 Master of Arts, Defense and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval Station Newport, RI
2018 Advanced Strategist Program Advanced Studies Group, Naval Station Newport, RI
2022 Master of Science, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, National Defense University, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2005 – April 2006, Tactics Officer, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
2. May 2006 – January 2007, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Whiting Field, FL
3. February 2007 – November 2007, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, OK
4. December 2007 – Jan 2008, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Laughlin AFB, TX
5. February 2008 – January 2009, Student, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, Luke AFB, AZ
6. February 2009 – June 2010, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
7. July 2010 – January 2014, Flight Commander and Chief of Stan Eval, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
8. February 2014 – June 2014, Student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev
9. July 2014 – July 2017, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Chief Instructor, 54th Operations Support Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
10. July 2017 – June 2018, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, RI
11. June 2018 – Sep 2018 Student, Advanced Studies Group, Advanced Strategist Program, Newport, RI
12. October 2018 – June 2019, Director of Operations, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
13. July 2019 – May 2021, Commander, 52d Operations Support Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
14. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, National Defense University, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, VA
15. July 2022 – July 2025, Crisis Planner, Deputy EA to the Commander, and Senior Director of the Joint Operations Center, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, HI
16. July 2025-Present, Deputy Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2022 – June 2023, Crisis Planner, Future Operations Division, USINDOPACOM, as a lieutenant colonel
2. June 2023 – July 2025, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, and Senior Director of the Joint Operations Center,
USINDOPACOM, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 1,800 with 295 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, F-4, T-38, T-34C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major Dec 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel Oct 1, 2018
Colonel Apr 1, 2024
(Current as of August 2025)