Lieutenant Colonel Matthew J Palma

Lieutenant Colonel Palma, raised in Bristol, Rhode Island, graduated from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, in December 1994 with a B.A. in Chemistry. During college he was accepted for the Platoon Leaders Course and graduated from Officers Candidate School in August 1993.

In June 1995, he reported to The Basic School. Upon graduating from the Infantry Officer Course he was ordered to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines where he commanded rifle and weapons platoons and served as the executive officer for Company I. He went on to command the Battalion Mortar Platoon and finished his tour as the Commanding Officer for Company L.

In April 1999, he returned to The Basic School where he served as a Staff Platoon Commander for three consecutive companies and as the Officer In Charge of the Professional Development of Midshipmen. In 2001, he attended Amphibious Warfare School and graduated with honors. He was then selected for the Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program and in May 2002 joined 42 Commando, 3d Commando Brigade, Royal Marines in Plymouth, England as the Second in Command for Company K.

While serving with the Royal Marines, he won the Commando Medal and achieved a Superior Pass on the All Arms Commando Course, participated in combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and deployed to Norway for an arctic ski and survival course. Upon completion of his tour with the Royal Marines, he was awarded the Commander-In-Chief Fleet’s Commendation for his superior performance.

In May 2004, he reported to I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), where he served as the Aide-De-Camp to Brigadier General James L. Williams, Commanding General I MEF Camp Pendleton. In October 2004, he joined 1st Force Reconnaissance Company as the Executive Officer/Rear Detachment Officer In Charge. In February 2005, he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM as the Operations Officer for 1st Force.

In November 2006, he reported to Navy Warfare Development Command in Newport, Rhode Island, where he served as an experiment coordinator in the Maritime Battle Center. In October 2008, he volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as an Individual Augment to the 101st Airborne Division, where he served as the Night Joint Operations Center Shift Director for Joint Task Force 101. Upon his return to Newport, he attended the Naval Command and Staff College and Maritime Advanced Warfighting School as a student. In June 2010, he graduated with a Masters of Arts Degree in Strategic Studies and International Policy and in September, was named as the Vice Admiral Charles H. “Soc” McMorris U.S. Navy, Maritime Advanced Warfighting School Outstanding Graduate.

Most recently, he served as a Planner in the G-5 at Marine Forces Pacific, where he deployed in support of Exercise KEY RESOLVE and Operation PACIFIC PASSAGE.