Cmdr. Matthew E. Dryden
Commanding Officer, PATRICK GALLAGHER (DDG 127)
04 September 2024
The son of a career Air Force Master Sergeant and enlisting in 1999, Matthew E. Dryden is a 2005 graduate of the Citadel, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Politics and Military Affairs with a minor in Diplomatic and Military History. He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
His assignments at sea include tours aboard the cruisers USS VICKSBURG (CG 69) as the Electrical Officer and Fire Control Officer from 2006 to 2009, USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG 58) as the Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer from 2013 to 2015, and USS GETTYSBURG as the Executive Officer (CG 64) from 2021 to 2022. He commanded USS WHIRLWIND (PC 11) from 2015 to 2017.
During his sea tours, he completed multiple deployments to the U.S. Fifth and Sixth Fleet Areas of Responsibility.
Ashore, Dryden served on the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. Fifth Fleet, as an instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School Command, and as the Executive Officer of Afloat Training Group, Norfolk.
He reported to PCU PATRICK GALLAGHER in March, 2024.
Personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, along with various meritorious, service, and campaign awards.