Former chapel manager navigates his way through Air Force

Published Nov. 14, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Valerie Smock
910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Editor's note: The following is the third part of a three-part series about 910th Airmen who reclassified from another AFSC, unit or service.

It's safe to say helping others is in his blood. From one mission to another, he continues to guide Airmen. U.S. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Matthew Muha, navigator with the 910th Operations Support Squadron (OSS), spent much of his life ensuring he has taken care of the people around him. Muha continues to follow that path in leading people to where they need to be.

Muha enlisted in the Air Force in 1988 as a chapel manager. He said he joined the military for the benefits, unaware of what he was about to embark upon.

"I joined pre-Desert Storm and Desert Shield, before anyone really knew what the Middle East was like," he said. "I wound up spending four years with Desert Storm and Desert Shield at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates."

After his time on active duty he decided it was time to try out the Air National Guard. There, Muha was an administrative specialist and he worked in supply at Rickenbacker Air Force Base, Ohio.

As if Muha wasn't busy enough, he added even more to his resume. He became a part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) while a student at the University of Dayton. He received an engineering scholarship and earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. After obtaining his degree he continued to further his career.

"I went active duty as an intelligence analyst at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and while there I was able to travel to Moscow and Tokyo," Muha said.

Once his tour was complete, he became a navigator with the Ohio Air National Guard. At that time, Muha attended flight school and was promoted to the rank of captain.

Muha was in the Air Force 10 years before flying, and after his stint with the Air National Guard, he joined the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in 2008. Once he started flying, he was hired as a navigator.

"Navigators are mission planners," he said. "We work with the pilots and crew before the mission to see what the requirements are and what everyone needs. When flying, we manage timing control, the route and route guidance. We also run a defensive system during combat and simulated combat, as well as executing the air drop and backing up the pilots."

It is some of those pilots and other service members who have noticed his enthusiasm and dedication.

"He is a hard worker; he is organized and always gets the job done," said Lt. Col. Isaac Oh, chief pilot with the 910th OSS. "He is very even-tempered and patient and always willing to listen to his fellow crew members."

When Muha isn't backing up pilots, he is spending his time supporting his civilian employer. He is the deputy director with the Computational Science and Engineering Office for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

It isn't all work for this busy man. There is some time for fun outside of work. Muha enjoys skiing, golfing and cars.

"I have a Nissan GTR; it's a super car, a race car," he said. "I took my car to Mid Ohio to Track Days. Track Days or Track Sessions is a place for people to bring their cars to show off and basically race against yourself."

When he isn't racing cars, he is racing to the gym. Muha said he is into physical fitness, running and lifting weights. On top of all he does, he still finds time to spend moments with his family. He and his wife have been married for 14 years and have two children.

His family is a big supporter of his Air Force career but the military has been a part of his life since he was little. His dad was in the Army and went to Vietnam. He said his dad kept quiet about the military so he wasn't aware of how it worked.

"When I enlisted I thought it was like Gomer Pyle, where you got up every morning and did physical training and you lived in the barracks," he said. "I really grew up when I joined the Air Force and got out on my own."

Since he has been involved in the military, Muha said he has a sense of personal fulfillment and mission.

"At some point, people wonder if they are even contributing," he said. "I've flown missions for Haiti and Hurricane Katrina. From these missions I got a sense of purpose and a sense of impact that a civilian job would never come close to."

From the start, Muha thought this would be a short-term deal. He expected to only serve four years and get out; however, after 23 years, he is now a lieutenant colonel.

"I remember coming on base as an Airman Basic," Muha said. "Now when I go through the gate they salute me and say, 'hello colonel.' I look in the mirror and think wow, where did the time go? I don't know where I'd be without the Air Force."