Col. Matt Eakins
Commander @ Volk Field Air National Guard Base
Prior to assuming command at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Colonel Matthew E. Eakins was the Commander of the 115th Mission Support Group, assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing, located at Dane County Regional Airport, Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin. He commanded over 420 Airmen and civilians managing and directing base support, security, logistics, communications, emergency management, personnel and services activities for 1,200 people, supporting F-16 operations. His organization is also charged with providing these services to state and local communities during domestic operations as directed by the Governor of Wisconsin. Col Eakins also served as Chairman of the Mission Support Group Advisory Council, representing 90 mission support groups to the Director of the Air National Guard.
Col Eakins is a 1996 graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he received his commission in the United States Air Force. On active duty, Col Eakins served as a Transportation Officer and Logistics Readiness Officer and his assignments included Aerial Port Operations, Vehicle Operations, Logistics Plans, and Command Post. He held these positions in multiple commands to include Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and United States Strategic Command.
Col Eakins joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 2007, where he transitioned into aircraft maintenance. For 9 years he served as the Commander of the 115th Maintenance Operations Flight and the 115th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron where he was responsible for 230 military members and 23 F-16 aircraft.
Col Eakins has deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Japan in support of the US Pacific Command Theater Security Package and to Qatar as the Senior Air Reserve Component (ARC) Advisor to the Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Commander.
Col Eakins’ military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two 2 Bonze Service Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.
