Matt Lesnowicz
Colonel, United States Marine Corps

  Colonel Matt Lesnowicz graduated from the University of San Diego and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the NROTC program in May 2002.  Following The Basic School and Infantry Officer’s Course, Second Lieutenant Lesnowicz was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Twentynine Palms, California.

   In July of 2003 he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) serving as Rifle Platoon Commander in Alpha Company in An Najaf, Iraq.  In August 2004 1st Lieutenant Lesnowicz deployed to OIF in Al Qaim, Iraq.  He was then assigned as Executive Officer, Weapons Company in May of 2005 and again deployed to OIF in February 2006 to Al Qaim, Iraq.  Upon promotion in October 2006, Captain Lesnowicz was assigned as the Assistant Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.

   In March 2007 Captain Lesnowicz received orders to Naval Special Clearance Team ONE (later designated Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit One).  He was assigned as the Officer in Charge, Dive Company, Very Shallow Water Mine Countermeasures Task Unit in San Diego, CA.

   In September of 2009, Captain Lesnowicz reported to 1st Battalion, 1st Marines in Camp Pendleton, California.  He commanded Bravo Company until April 2010.  He was then assigned to 1st Marine Regiment as the Headquarters Company Commander.  Captain Lesnowicz deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in September of 2010 with RCT-1 to Southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  In January of 2012, Captain Lesnowicz then reported to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to serve as Maritime Raid Force Commander during the WestPac 2-12 deployment.

   In July of 2015, Major Lesnowicz began service as a Plans Officer at US Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa.

   In July of 2018, Major Lesnowicz was assigned as Operations Officer, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and deployed to USCENTCOM as Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command supporting Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel.

  In June of 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Lesnowicz assumed duties as Inspector-Instructor, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. 

  In 2024 Colonel Lesnowicz served in the Security Cooperation Office, US Embassy Buenos Aires, Argentina.

  Colonel Lesnowicz is currently assigned as the Chief of Staff of JIATF-South.

  Colonel Lesnowicz is a graduate of Basic Reconnaissance Course, Marine Combatant Dive School, Basic Airborne Course, Expeditionary Warfare School (non-resident), Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the School of Advanced Warfighting, the Defense Language Institute, and La Escuela Superior de Guerra Conjunta de Las Fuerzas Armadas Argentinas in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

  He and his wife, the former Meredith Noel Jordan have three children: Canoa (19), Kincaid (18), and Julia (12).

  Colonel Lesnowicz' personal awards are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.