Capt. Matthew J. Kiser
Commanding Officer, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20)
12 April 2023
Capt. Matthew Kiser grew up in Bedford, Texas, graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Commissioned as an Ensign in August 2000, he earned the title of Naval Aviator in February 2002.
Sea duty assignments include HSL-46, deploying twice with USS Klakring (FFG 42) supporting Standing NATO Force Atlantic and Standing NATO Maritime Group One operations and exercises; Expeditionary Strike Group Two/ Commander Task Force 51/58/59/151 while forward deployed to NAVCENT; and HSM-51 serving as Officer-in-Charge for detachments deploying with USS George Washington (CVN 73) as part of Carrier Air Wing Five, as well as USS Mustin (DDG 89). He commanded HSM-71 assigned to Team “Shogun” of Carrier Air Wing Three, deploying with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
During this tour the “Raptors” were awarded the Battle “E”, Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation, HSM Wing Pacific “Golden Wrench” and multiple Retention Excellence Awards. Ashore and staff assignments include VX-1 where he ultimately served as the MH-60R Operational Test Director; U.S. European Command (EUCOM) J-6 serving as the C4/Cyber Liaison Officer to NATO Headquarters; and OPNAV N9I serving an extremely short stint as Deputy Branch Head for Joint/Navy Requirements Integration.
He recently completed a tour as Executive Officer aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), deploying to the Mediterranean and North Arabian Seas as part of Carrier Strike Group Two while supporting Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. During this tour “Mighty IKE” earned the Battle “E” and the RADM James “Jig Dog” Ramage Award. He is the Prospective Commanding Officer of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) homeported in Gaeta, Italy and will arrive in March 2023