Col. Matthew D. Gorsuch is the Deputy Commander of the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. The wing comprises nearly 1,400 Air Force Reserve members and is equipped with C-130H2 and C-130J aircraft. The wing is employed globally on medium range airlift, tactical airland, airdrop, Modular Aerial Spray System, and Aeromedical Evacuation missions.
Prior to being the Deputy Commander, Col. Gorsuch was the Commander of the 711th Special Operations Squadron, where he led Combat Aviation Advisors (CAA) in the execution of security cooperation, unconventional warfare, and security force assistance in support of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) missions. CAAs are fully trained to assist partner nation militaries, U.S. military officials, and U.S. Embassy leadership on tactical, operational, and strategic concepts. Col. Gorsuch was a Legislative Fellow and Legislative Liaison for the Secretary of the Air Force, who directly advised the Secretary, Chief of Staff, and Chief of Space Operations on all Congressional engagements. He interacted directly with members of Congress during senior leader engagements, official travel, and social functions.
Col. Gorsuch graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2001 and was commissioned in the Air Force after graduating from Officer Training School in June 2003. He earned his pilot wings at Vance AFB, Okla., in 2004. Following his tour as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot, C-130 Initial Qualification Training at Little Rock AFB, and MC-130H Initial Qualification Training at Kirtland AFB, he was assigned to the 15th Special Operations Squadron. Col. Gorsuch has flown over 3,000 hours in the T-1A Jayhawk, MC-130H Combat Talon II, C-145A Skytruck, C-208 Caravan and has served in both flying and staff roles supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and JUKEBOX LOTUS. Additionally, he has served as a Special Mission Planner for the 1st Special Operations Wing and as an Assistant Director of Operations for the 7th and 711th Special Operations Squadrons.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Okla.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Correspondence and In Residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Business Administration, Oklahoma State University, Okla.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB Ala.
2014 Achieving Leadership Excellence, London School of Economics Executive Education, U.K.
2018 Air Force Legislative Fellowship, In-Residence IDE, Washington, D.C.
2021 Applied Business Analytics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Executive Education, Cambridge, Mass.
2024 National Defense University, College of Information and Cyberspace, In-Residence SDE, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003 – August 2004, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. October 2004 – March 2005, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. April 2005 – January 2008, T-1A Instructor Pilot, Stan/Eval Liaison Officer, Assistant Flight Commander, 32d Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
4. January 2008 – June 2008, Student, C-130E Aircraft Commander Initial Qualification Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. July 2008 – February 2009, Student, MC-130H Mission Pilot Initial Qualification, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. February 2009 – February 2011, Chief of Plans and MC-130H Aircraft Commander, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. February 2011 – February 2012, Special Mission Planner, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. February 2012 – February 2015, MC-130H Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, Chief Resource Advisor, Chief of Safety, 7th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.
9. May 2015 – June 2017, Combat Aviation Advisor and Assistant Director of Operations, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
10. June 2017 – December 2018, Student-Air Force Legislative Fellow, National Capitol Region, Washington, D.C.
11. January 2019 – April 2021, Legislative Liaison, Secretary of the Air Force, National Capitol Region, Washington, D.C.
12. May 2021 – July 2023, Commander, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
13. August 2023 – July 2024, Student, National Defense University, College of Information and Cyberspace, Washington, D.C.
14. August 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown ARS, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000, including 231 Combat Hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1A, C-130E, MC-130H, C-145A, C-208, C-130H2
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 27, 2003
First Lieutenant June 27, 2005
Captain June 27, 2007
Major Jan. 4, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 19, 2019
Colonel Sept. 13, 2024
(Current as of March 2025)