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Maj. Matt Dougherty Assumes Command

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jeffrey D. Brown
  • 174th Fighter Wing/PAO
Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, NY --  Maj. Matthew J. Dougherty assumed command of the 174th Fighter Wing Maintenance Squadron during a recent ceremony at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York. He previously served as Executive Officer and Maintenance Operations Officer for the 174th.

"We're fortunate to have an officer of the caliber and diverse background as Maj. Dougherty taking command of our Maintenance Squadron," said Col. John Balbierer, 174th Maintenance Group Commander, during the change of command ceremony.

Maj. Dougherty began his Air Force career in 1992 as an active duty avionic sensor mechanic and attained the rank of Staff Sgt. while serving at such far-flung bases as McChord AFB, Washington, Cannon AFB, New Mexico, Osan AB, South Korea and Shaw AFB, South Carolina.

In 1999, he applied for and received a commission through the competitive Airman Education and Commissioning Program (AECP). As part of AECP, he returned home to Rochester, NY to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where he graduated in 2002 as the distinguished graduate with a degree in business management and a commission as a second lieutenant through ROTC.

Between 2002 and 2006, Maj. Dougherty worked at several varied assignments, including:

· 2002-2004 - Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge for the 60th Fighter Squadron under the 33 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL

· 2004-2005 - Propulsion Flight Commander in the 33rd Maintenance Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL

· 2005-2006 - Permanent Change of Station to Pope AFB, NC where he served as Officer in Charge of the 743d AMXS Aircraft Maintenance Unit

During his distinguished maintenance career to date, Maj. Dougherty has worked on such diverse airframes as the A-10 Thunderbolt, F-111F Aardvark, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15C Eagle, C-17 Globemaster, C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, and MQ-9 Reaper.

Maj. Dougherty is a traditional Guardsman who has a full-time job as a program manager for Lockheed Martin Corp. in Owego, New York. He and his wife Samantha have a daughter Kaylee and live in Binghamton.