LTC Matthew G. Elledge

LTC Matthew G. Elledge

Commanding Officer 1^st Battalion 22^nd Infantry

4^th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

March 21, 2007 - June 17, 2009

LTC Matt Elledge was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate
and Infantry Officer from Missouri Southern State Univesity in 1989.

Upon completion of initial training at Ft. Benning, Georgia he was assigned
as a Bradley Platoon Leader in the 3rd Battalion 41st Infantry Regiment,
1st Tiger Brigade, 2nd Armored Division where he deployed in support of
OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and OPERATION DESERT STORM.
While serving in the 3rd Battalion 41st Infantry Regiment LTC Elledge also served as a
Line Company Executive Officer, Scout Platoon Leader, HHC Executive Officer,
Battalion S-4 and deployed to OPERATION INTRINSIC ACTION
and OPERATION IRIS GOLD in the Emirate of Kuwait.

As a Captain, LTC Elledge attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at
Ft. Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation he was assigned to 3rd Battalion 14th Infantry regiment,
10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, NY, as the Battalion S-4.
In 1995 he assumed command of B Company 3-14 IN.
After command he was assigned as a Senior Battalion Advisor to the Saudi Arabian
National Guard in 1997. In 1998 LTC Elledge assumed command of D Company,
3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) until he was selected
to serve as the Regimental S-3 in the summer of 2000.

After graduating from the Army's Command and General Staff College and the
School of Advanced Military Studies in 2003, LTC Elledge was assigned as
the Chief of Plans 4th Infantry Division during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
Upon redeployment he served as the Battalion S-3 in 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment,
2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. The following year LTC Elledge served as
the Executive Officer for 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
where he deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

LTC Elledge's military schools include the School of Advanced Military Studies,
the Command and General Staff College, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course,
the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger and Airborne School.
He has earned a Bachelors Degree in Education from Missouri Southern State University,
and a Masters Degree in Military Operations from the U.S. Army
School of Advanced Military Studies.

His awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal
with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge (Second Award),
the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.

LTC Elledge has one son, Ben.

**********************

Updates:

Matthew Elledge's name was received by the United States Senate for confirmation
of his appointment to the rank of Colonel in November 2010. (The exact date of his
promotion to Colonel is unknown by this website.)

In a formal Change of Command ceremony held on June 28, 2012,
Colonel Matthew Elledge became the Garrison Commander of Fort Hood , Texas.

Col. Matthew Elledge (far right) presents his first salute as the new commander of the Fort Hood Garrison
June 28, 2012 at the III Corps Flag Pole on Fort Hood.
Christie Vanover, Chief, Command Information

Col. Matthew Elledge, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood commander, accepts the garrison colors from Installation Management Command
Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Reuben Jones during a change of command ceremony outside the III Corps Headquarters building
at Fort Hood June 28, 2012. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Design Editor

Garrison command changes hands

Email Print Share By Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

July 5, 2012 | News

A June 28 ceremony outside III Corps Headquarters saw U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood send off one commander as another took his place.

Col. Mark Freitag passed the Garrison Command colors onto Col. Matthew Elledge. Freitag leaves Central Texas to become
the deputy commander, U.S. Army Alaska at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Elledge takes over the Garrison Command following completion of a fellowship at Texas A&M University.

In his remarks following the passing of the colors to the new commander, Maj. Gen. Reuben Jones, the deputy commanding general
for operations for U.S. Army Installation Management Command, said Elledge has a head start on his new assignment.

“He’s been on the installation since January,” Jones said of Elledge, who made good use of the proximity of his educational opportunity.
“It’s the mark of a leader who wants to be ready from day one.”

Jones, likewise, commended Freitag for his two-year tenure as the installation commander at the Great Place, noting the myriad
of Army and Department of Defense-level awards and recognition Fort Hood has achieved in that time, including earning
Army Community of Excellence status both years.

III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. also praised Freitag and his wife, Patty,
for their efforts to make the Great Place greater.

“Mark and Patty, thank you for your service to these Soldiers, their Families and Fort Hood,” Campbell said. “Be proud in all
you’ve done for the Great Place. I know we could not have asked more of you as you ensured the highest of standards
and continued success here at Fort Hood.”

In welcoming Elledge, Campbell said he’s the right man for the job.

“He’s a proven combat warrior who brings a wealth of experience to the job,” Campbell said.

In his farewell address, Freitag thanked his Garrison Command team.

“Well done,” he said. “Your work has not gone unnoticed. Fort Hood Garrison has won DoD, Army, IMCOM and state recognition
for the great work being done by your garrison team. They are effective, efficient and always looking for better ways to do
the business of the garrison.”

To his successor, Freitag referred to an oft-used analogy he uses to describe the Garrison Command, calling it his “horse.”

“Feed the horse. Groom the horse. Love the horse,” he told Elledge. “It will be a superb ride.”

In his brief remarks, Elledge joked that it was important for him to get a head start on his new assignment.

“Gen. Jones, thank you for those kind remarks. I am dedicated to this job,” he quipped, “but Mark figured out I was kind of slow.
He knew I’d have to have a long transition, and he did a great job.”

Joking aside, Elledge offered a message to the service members who make up the Great Place.

“To the commanders, Soldiers and Families,” Elledge said, “Sam and I are so honored to serve you. We will work hard
to make sure that you and your Families are taken care of, so that you can stay focused at the mission at hand.”

To his new command teammates, Elledge said, “All I ask is that we never settle and continue to work to make Fort Hood
a better place every day. Our Soldiers and Families deserve nothing less.”

From the Fort Hood Sentinel

Below is the official biography of Colonel Matt Elledge as Garrison Commander of Fort Hood,
taken from the Fort Hood website:

Colonel Matthew G. Elledge
Garrison Commander
Fort Hood, Texas

COL Matt Elledge was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate and an infantry officer in 1989.
Upon completion of initial training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, he was assigned as a Bradley platoon leader in the
3rd Battalion 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Tiger Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, where he deployed in support
of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

While serving in the 3rd Battalion 41st Infantry Regiment, COL Elledge also served as line company executive officer,
scout platoon leader, HHC executive officer, battalion S-4, and deployed to Operation Intrinsic Action and Operation
Iris Gold in the Emirate of Kuwait. As a captain, he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Ft. Benning,
Georgia. Upon graduation, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, at
Ft. Drum, NY, as the battalion S-4. In 1995, he assumed command of B Company 3-14 IN. After command,
he was assigned as a senior battalion advisor to the Saudi Arabian National Guard in 1997.

In 1998, COL Elledge assumed command of D Company, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). In 1999,
he served as the company commander for the Honor Guard, 3rd US Infantry Regiment, until he was selected to serve
as the regimental S-3 in the summer of 2000. After graduating from the Army's Command and General Staff College
and the School of Advanced Military Studies in 2003, COL Elledge was assigned as the chief of plans, 4th Infantry
Division, during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Upon redeployment, he served as the battalion S-3 in 2nd Battalion,
8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

The following year, COL Elledge served as the executive officer for 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and deployed
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in May 2007 *. Upon redeployment, COL Elledge took command of 1st Battalion,
22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in July 2009. *
COL Elledge's military schools include the School of Advanced Military Studies, the Command and General Staff
College, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the Infantry Officer Basic Course, and the Ranger and Airborne School.
He has earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in military operations from the US Army
School of Advanced Military Studies.

His awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Combat
Infantryman's Badge (second award), the Expert Infantryman's Badge, and the Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.

* Note: The dates of May 2007 and July 2009 must be in error. In May of 2007 Elledge was with 1-22 Infantry at Fort Hood, Texas.
Elledge and 1-22 Infantry deployed to Iraq in February/March 2008 and returned to Fort Hood by the end of March 2009.
Elledge relinquished command of 1-22 Infantry in June 2009.

Top photo of Colonel Matthew Elledge as Garrison Commander of Fort Hood US Army photo

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