Captain M. Matthew Phelps, USMC

Captain M. Matthew Phelps was born on 4 April 1977 in Hinsdale, IL, and was raised in Naperville, IL. He attended Naperville North High School and graduated in 1995. After high school, he attended the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, NY, earning his Bachelor of Music in Applied Music (Horn Performance) in November 2001. He worked for Walt Disney Entertainment in Orlando, FL, as an entertainment coordinator and manager from 1999 to 2002.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 2002 as a musician and was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band in September 2002. After being promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March 2005, he was accepted into the Enlisted Commissioning Program and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in August 2005.

Capt Phelps completed The Basic School in Quantico, VA, in March 2006 and was the honor graduate of Logistics Officer Course 3-06.

In August 2006, Capt Phelps was assigned to Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and served as the Executive Officer of the Remain-Behind Element. In January 2007, he was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment (1/11) as the Battery Executive Officer. In April 2007 he was assigned to the S-4 section, where he served as the Battalion Maintenance Management Officer, Embarkation Officer, and Safety Officer.

Capt Phelps was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant in August 2007 while deployed with 1/11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2007 to April 2008. Following his return from Iraq, Capt Phelps was appointed as Battalion Logistics Officer (S-4), 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

In August 2009, Capt Phelps was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA, where he assumed the duties of Logistics Operations Officer, Assistant Chief of Staff/G-4, MCRD San Diego/Western Recruiting Region. He was promoted to his current rank on 1 October 2009.

In June 2010, Capt Phelps was transferred to Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego where he served as Series Commander, Company I, 3d Recruit Training Battalion. In May 2011, Capt Phelps was assigned to Receiving Company, Support Battalion, where he served as Executive Officer before assuming command of Receiving Company in June 2011.

In July 2012, Capt Phelps transferred to Marine Corps University, MCB Quantico, VA, to attend Expeditionary Warfare School, which he was selected for by the 2012 Commandant of the Marine Corps Career-Level Education Board.

Capt Phelps’ personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (third award) and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.