Matthew Congrove, Lieutenant Colonel, CAP
Lt. Col. Congrove was selected as the Texas Wing Public Affairs Officer of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and received the same award from Florida Wing in 2006. He served as a member of the working group that updated the Public Affairs regulation set in 2017 and played a key role in developing the new Marketing and Communications program in 2022. He was assigned to Civil Air Patrol headquarters as the National Brand Manager and was a Master-rated Public Affairs Officer.
Lt. Col. Congrove was a member of the Volunteer University faculty and taught levels 1 through 4 of the professional development program as well as the Squadron Commander Course. He completed the highest tier of the program, Level 5, and received Gill Robb Wilson Award #3,885.
He served in public affairs for one squadron and one group in Texas Wing, three squadrons and two groups in Florida Wing, and served as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for Headquarters Florida Wing. He also served as the Deputy Director of Information Technology in Florida Wing. During his time with Headquarters Florida Wing he designed the Florida Wing patch.
Previously, Lt. Col. Congrove was a squadron commander for the Texas Wing 435th in San Marcos, TX, where he led the unit to their selection as Texas Wing's Squadron of Merit and a national Unit Citation award in 2016.
Lt. Col. Congrove joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1999 as a cadet, re-joining as an officer in 2006. He retired in January 2024 after 20 years of service. He was a mission-rated Public Information Officer with FEMA NIMS/ICS training, and served on various high-profile missions including Hurricane Harvey, Falcon Virgo supporting Super Bowl LI, Falcon Virgo supporting National Capital Region (Washington, D.C.) defense, a Florida Wing and Texas Wing USAF OPSEVAL, and NASA-Kennedy Space Center support operations.
Additionally, Lt. Col. Congrove was a commercial-rated pilot with multi-engine and instrument endorsements.
Assignments
- December 2020 – January 2024 National Headquarters, Maxwell AFB, AL National Brand Manager
- December 2017 – January 2024 435th, Texas Wing, San Marcos, TX Public Affairs Officer, Professional Development Officer
- January 2016 – November 2017 435th, Texas Wing, San Marcos, TX Commander
- May 2015 – December 2015 435th, Texas Wing, San Marcos, TX Public Affairs Officer
- December 2015 – October 2017 Group V, Texas Wing, San Antonio, TX Public Affairs Officer
- July 2012 – May 2015 122nd, Florida Wing, Merritt Island, FL Administrative Officer, Public Affairs Officer
- September 2010 – July 2012 Headquarters, Florida Wing, Homestead ARB, FL Deputy Director of Marketing & Public Affairs
- July 2008 – August 2010 Headquarters, Florida Wing, Homestead ARB, FL Deputy Director of Information Technology
- May 2007 – June 2008 293rd, Florida Wing, Patrick SFB, FL Public Affairs Officer
- December 2006 – November 2007 Group IV, Florida Wing, Titusville, FL Public Affairs Officer
- November 2006 – May 2007 Group II, Florida Wing, Jacksonville, FL Public Affairs Officer
- June 2006 – November 2006 242nd, Florida Wing, Orlando, FL Administrative Officer, Personnel Officer
Achievements
- Public Affairs Officer of the Year 2017 Texas Wing
- Commander, Unit Citation Award 2016 National Headquarters
- Commander, Squadron of Merit 2016 Texas Wing
- Public Affairs Officer of the Year 2016 Texas Wing
- Public Affairs Balsem Award 2016 National Headquarters
- Public Affairs Award of Excellence 2016 National Headquarters
- Public Affairs Officer of the Year 2015 Texas Wing
- Public Affairs Balsem Award 2015 National Headquarters
- Public Affairs Award of Excellence x2 2015 National Headquarters
- Public Affairs Certificate of Merit 2015 National Headquarters
- Public Affairs Officer of the Year 2007 Group IV, Florida Wing
- Public Affairs Officer of the Year 2006 Florida Wing
Awards & Decorations
- Air Force Organizational Excellence Award 20 September 2016
- Exceptional Service Award 1 December 2021
- Meritorious Service Award with one bronze clasp 28 January 2018
- Wing Commander's Commendation 08 June 2017
- Achievement Award with one bronze clasp 15 March 2016
- National Commander's Unit Citation 19 February 2012
- Unit Citation with three bronze clasps 1 July 1999
- Gill Robb Wilson Award 16 December 2020
- Paul E. Garber Award 09 August 2020
- Grover Loening Award 17 February 2012
- Leadership Award with two silver stars, one bronze star 05 December 2006
- Membership Award 20 June 2006
- Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Award 19 October 2006
- General H. H. "Hap" Arnold Achievement 14 July 2001
- Command Service Ribbon 13 January 2017
- CAP Crisis Service Ribbon 1 December 2021
- Red Service Ribbon with 20-year longevity device 14 July 2001
- Search and Rescue "Find" Ribbon 10 December 2006
- Disaster Relief Ribbon with "V" device, one bronze clasp 24 August 2008
- Homeland Security Ribbon 25 March 2009
- Community Service Ribbon with two bronze clasps 30 December 2015
- Encampment Ribbon 14 July 2001
Effective Dates of Promotion
- Lieutenant Colonel 13 January 2021
- Major 08 July 2015
- Captain 16 June 2008
- 1st Lieutenant ยน 21 June 2006
- 2nd Lieutenant 25 January 2007
- Technical Flight Officer 05 December 2006
- Flight Officer 14 August 2006
Schools
- Group Commander Course 30 January 2021
- National Staff College 9 December 2020
- Region Staff College 25 July 2020
- Training Leaders of Cadets 30 August 2017
- Unit Commander Course 15 April 2016
- Corporate Learning Course 25 March 2007
- Officer Basic Course 06 November 2006
- Squadron Leadership School 15 October 2006
Specialty Ratings
Emergency Services Qualifications
- Air Mission Scanner
- Ground Ground Team Member 3, Urban Direction Finding
- Support Flight Line Marshaller, Public Information Officer, Radio Operator, Staff Assistant
Flight Qualifications
- Rating Commercial Pilot
- Endorsements Multi-Engine, Instrument
- Aircraft Flown C-152, C-172, PA-28/R, PA-44, GA-8, Z-242