Command Sergeant Major JamesPeter Matthews

Command Sgt. Maj. JamesPeter Matthews has been a member of the United States Army Reserves for over 31 years.  A native, and lifelong resident of Winsted, CT with his wife Leslie, three children and five grandchildren, he entered the US Army Reserves May 1985, completing basic training and advanced individual Infantryman training at Fort Benning, GA.

CSM Matthews’ has held noncommissioned officer key leadership positions throughout almost his entire career.  His units of assignment include Combat Support Company, 3d Brigade, 35^th Infantry Regiment; 187th Infantry Brigade (Separate); Bravo Troop, 1-110th Cavalry; 304th Transportation Company (Medium Truck), 167th Support Group; 3/310th Regiment, 78th Training Division; Operations Sergeant for the 655th Area Support Group; First Sergeant for the 344th Military Police Company (Guard), 655th Area Support Group; Detachment Sergeant for the 343d Military Police Brigade Liaison Detachment (BLD), 77th Regional Readiness Command; Command Sergeant Major for the 443d Civil Affairs Battalion and 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, 353d Civil Affairs Command, United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operation Command (Airborne); Command Sergeant Major for the 244th Aviation Brigade, 11th Aviation Command; Division Command Sergeant Major for USAR 76th Operational Response Command (formally known as USAR Joint and Special Troops Support Command), Fort Douglas, UT, also duel-missioned as Task Force-76, USARNORTH for Defense in Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) operations; and currently Division Command Sergeant Major for the Army Reserve Aviation Command. 

CSM Matthews’ deployments and Homeland Security missions include Operation Enduring Freedom, Joint Detention Operations Group, Joint Task Force – Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 2002-2003; Operation Iraqi Freedom, 18^th Military Police Brigade, Baghdad, Iraq, 2004-2005; Operation Iraqi Freedom, Task Force Iron, Multi National Division – North, Tikrit, Iraq, 2007-2008; Defense CBRNE Response Force, Task Force-Aviation, Task Force-51, 2011-2012; and Defense CBRNE Response Force, Task Force-76, 2014-2015.

CSM Matthews has completed a multitude of military education to include Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advance Noncommissioned Officers Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course, First Sergeant Course, Command Sergeants Major Designee Course, Sergeants Major Course, Class 01-04, and the Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Class 13-2.

CSM Matthews’ military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit; two Bronze Star Medals; three Meritorious Service Medals; Army Commendation Medal; four Army Achievement Medals; Army Good Conduct Medal; nine Army Reserves Component Achievement Medals; National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star; Iraqi Campaign Medal with 2-Service Stars; Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War On Terrorism Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hour Glass, M-Devise & Numeral-3; four NCO Professional Development Medals; Army Service Ribbon; three Overseas Service Ribbons; five Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbons; Combat Action Badge; Wheeled Drivers Badge; US Army Excellence in Competition Pistol Shot Badge (bronze); Joint Meritorious Unit Award; two Meritorious Unit Commendations; four Overseas Service Bars; the Infantry’s Order of Saint Maurice; and the Aviation’s Order of Saint Michael.

CSM Matthews’ fire service awards and decorations include the first recipient of the West Harford Firefighter Local 1241 Pat Brooks Award; West Hartford Fire Department Driver of the Year Gene Hoffman Award; four Life Saving Awards; and one Unit Citation.

In his civilian life CSM Matthews is a CT State Journeyman Class-A Toolmaker, a career Firefighter, holding the rank of Fire Lieutenant, assigned to Engine Company #5 of the West Hartford Fire Department, West Hartford, CT, is a member of the Winsted Elk’s Lodge #844, the West Hartford American Legion Post #96, a post officer of the Winsted Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #296, and is currently the Post Advisor for Winsted Fire Department’s BSA Fire Explorer Post #911.