Senior Chief Matthew Oswald is a native of Farmington, Connecticut and enlisted in the U.S. Navy to attend recruit basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois in October 2005. Upon completing boot camp, he reported to Sonar Technician (Surface) Apprentice and SQQ-89 Technician schools in San Diego, California.
His first assignment was to USS Reuben James (FFG 57), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he was promoted to Second Class Petty Officer. He then attended the Sonar Supervisor courses of instruction in San Diego and then reported to USS Chafee (DDG 90), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Having served 5 years on board, he made multiple deployments to the Western Pacific and was ultimately promoted to Chief Petty Officer. His first shore tour was as an instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island earning his Master Training Specialist certification. Following his Surface Ship Antisubmarine Specialist course in San Diego, he reported to USS Benfold (DDG 65), Yokosuka, Japan as the Leading Chief Petty Officer for Combat Acoustics division. Through an extremely high operational tempo, he was selected for Senior Chief Petty Officer and assumed duties as Weapons Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. He was previously assigned to Farragut Technical Analysis Center in Washington, D.C. and served as both Deck and Operations Departments Leading Chief Petty Officer on USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
He was selected to the CSEL program in March of 2025, is a graduate of CMC/COB Course class 286, from the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy 226 (Khaki), and holds an Associate’s Degree in General Studies from the Community College of Rhode Island.
Command Senior Chief assumed command of Naval Support Facility Develesu, Romania in September of 2025.
His personal awards include STENNIS Organization “Look Ahead” (E7-E9) Leadership Award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), Enlisted Surface and Aviation Warfare Insignias and other various unit and service awards.
Last Updated: 2 October 2025