CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Airman 1st Class Matthew Rowley is a member of the 437th Airlift Wing Command Post and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for two years.
He is currently deployed to Balad AB, Iraq as a command post controller with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. As a deployed command post controller, his duties include maintaining positive control of Air Mobility Command and United States Air Forces Central aircraft and initiating response and alerting the base of threats.
Airman Rowley contributes to the mission by directing emergency responses and flying operations and continually briefing all commanders on significant events involving military members.
"Without a doubt, the best thing about working in the command post is knowing what is going on around the base all of the time. It also puts me into a position to meet many people out of my career field," said Airman Rowley. "One time on a night shift, an inbound aircraft called needing emergency medical support for one of their patients. Coordinating the emergency response that helped to save the life of a 6-month old Iraqi child is definitely the most interesting experience of this deployment."
This "warrior of the week" hails from Groton, Conn., and enlisted in the Air Force more than two years ago to serve his country after 9/11 and to start his own life away from home.
"I would like to honorably complete my military career and start a new career in politics, hopefully rising to the position of state senator," said Airman Rowley.
Here, he has worked several nights with Airmen Against Drunk Driving, as well as helped collect contributions from his unit for the Combined Federal Campaign the last two years.
"Airman Rowley is a hard-charging, spirited troop who always gives 110 percent," said Master Sgt. Dale Bailey, 437 AW Command Post superintendent. "From the time he arrived from tech school in June '06, he was begging to deploy. In January of this year; he finally got his wish. Currently, he's deployed to Iraq providing outstanding command and control to the warfighters. During his deployment, he has coordinated the rapid response for more than 50 attacks on coalition forces as well as the medical evacuation for a critically burned Iraqi infant. I am proud of his commitment and representation as a Team Charleston member."