CWU alum’s distinguished military career continues to impact global security

Holding many influential roles in the U.S. military and defense intelligence over the past 40 years, Richard Matthews has built a career that reflects a lifetime of commitment to both his country and community.

Today, as Senior Advisor and Director for Africa and Near East, Matthews (’84) continues to shape policies that affect not just the U.S. military, but the world.

Born in Sanford, Florida, and raised as an Army brat, he never pictured himself pursuing a military career.

With his father retiring from the Army at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Matthews decided to stay in state and attend Central Washington University. But upon enrolling, he faced challenges with the cost of education.  

“My roommate, Al Tuley, encouraged me to apply for Central’s Army ROTC program,” he said. “The program helped us with resources that we needed to complete our education.”

After completing his degree, Matthews received his commission as a distinguished military graduate and second lieutenant in the U.S. Army through CWU. From there, he was ready to begin forging a professional career.

“CWU equipped me to start the next chapter of my life,” Matthews said. “It prepared me to go out into the world with the confidence that I could make a difference and take care of myself.”

He had planned to serve in the military for a short time before transitioning into a journalism career, but the military—and the opportunity to serve his country—captivated him.

“After graduating from CWU, I had intended to only serve three years and then go to work as a journalist for the Seattle Times,” Matthews said. “But serving my country and seeing the world became exciting, and I relished at the challenges and opportunities that were afforded to me.”

Those initial three years turned into two decades of remarkable service, including international postings in Korea, Germany, and Bosnia. Along the way, he held command and staff positions, including lieutenant, captain, major, and lieutenant colonel. 

He says traveling the world showed him that while people from other countries are all different, we are also more similar than we think.

“We all want the same things in life: to be able to take care of our families, to have a good life and to make a difference,” Matthews said. "I was grateful that in my overseas posts and assignments, I was allowed to be an ambassador of the United States, and in my actions and interactions with others, I always tried to make and leave a positive impression of being an American.”

As he spent his military career rising through the ranks and commanding troops in some of the world’s most volatile regions, Matthews went on to earn a number of prestigious awards, such as the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Joint Commendation Medal.

As part of his military professional education, he also completed Command and General Staff College (CGSC), the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) earning a Master of Science in Military Arts and Science, and MIT’s Seminar XXI earning a master’s certificate in National Security Policy.

Matthews also saw the opportunity for public service.

He received the 2017 NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award for going to Flint, Michigan, in 2016 as part of his senior project at the Washington Adventist University, where he purchased and delivered 200 pallets of water to assist with the city's water crisis.

He would go on to be the Distinguished Graduate of the Department of Religion, earning a Master of Arts in Religion, with concentrations in Metropolitan Ministry, The Chaplaincy, and Ethics and Leadership.

After retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2004, Matthews transitioned seamlessly into the civilian sector, where he continued serving as a government civilian before becoming a senior executive in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.

Even after leaving active duty, his influence continued to grow. In roles that included Deputy Director for Geographic Combatant Command Intelligence Support to Senior Advisor and Director for Africa and Near East, Matthews has used his expertise to shape defense strategies and policies that impact global security.

As he moved from hands-on military command to broader strategic planning, his understanding of policy deepened, and he came to realize the critical role intelligence plays in informing decisions at the highest levels.

“As I have progressed to the strategic levels of our government, I can better understand how and why policy is made and implemented,” Matthews said. “As an intelligence professional, I have learned that the role of intelligence is to inform policy of the tactical, operational, and strategic environment so that the right policies can be developed.”

As he reflects on his career and all that he has accomplished so far, he remembers Central as a place where he built the foundation to make a difference—something that rings true not only to him, but also those he has had the chance to work alongside. 

“I am one of many who have left Ellensburg and gone on to be successful and make a mark on the world,” Matthews said. “It was always special to run into Secretary (James) Mattis in the Pentagon corridors and exchange handshakes when he was the Secretary of Defense. He graduated from CWU in 1971, and I graduated in 1984. He would refer to me as ‘Wildcat 84.’”

Matthews regards CWU as a place that taught him a wide range of skills that prepared him for his career, and he was proud to experience a full-circle moment in 2013 when he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater.

“It was an honor for me to receive that award,” Matthews said. “I am proud that a kid from CWU could grow up and represent our institution around the world. I am in awe that I was chosen to lead soldiers, brief generals, cabinet secretaries, and undersecretaries, and apply the life lessons that I learned throughout my career that began at Central.”

Yet another rewarding part of his journey has been seeing his own children follow in his footsteps. His twin daughters, Sydnee and Nicole, went on to become CWU alumni themselves, and have since built their own successful careers.

"I couldn’t be prouder of them," Matthews shares, reflecting on how his family’s ties to CWU continue to grow. “They’ve made their own names, just as I did.”

Looking back on his career, Matthews advises those looking to follow a similar path to be lifelong learners and choose an educational direction that you will get as much out of as you give.

“If you want a university and programs that will nurture you, care for you, and challenge you, then I highly recommend Central,” Matthews said. “It will equip you with everything you need for life and afford you an opportunity to make a name for yourself. Graduating from Central prepared me for a life I never imagined, and I have accepted every challenge put before me because I was blessed with a good foundation.”