CAPT Matthew G. Hays

COMMANDING OFFICER, AFLOAT TRAINING GROUP, WESTERN PACIFIC (ATGWP)

29 August 2025 Capt. Matthew Hays is a native of Celina, Ohio. He was commissioned in 2003 through the NROTC program upon graduation from Miami University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He later earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Rochester through the Executive Development Program and a Master’s of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He has also completed both JPME Phase I and II and is a joint qualified officer.

Previous sea assignments include tours as Combat Information Center Officer and Assistant Operations Officer in USS GARY (FFG 51), Navigator in USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19), Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS FITZGERALD (DDG 62), Surface Operations Officer, N3 Directorate in the SEVENTH FLEET Staff permanently embarked onboard USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19), and Executive Officer USS MILIUS (DDG 69).

While ashore he served on the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit Staff, University of Rochester, as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science. He has also served on the PERS-41 Staff, Naval Personnel Command Millington, TN as the Pacific Fleet CRUDES Placement Officer. He has attended the U.S. Naval War College senior officer course, College of Naval Warfare. He most recently served in a joint assignment as the Deputy Division Chief for J36 Space and Integrated Air & Missile Defense at US INDO-Pacific Command in Hawaii. During this tour he graduated from the University of Southern California SHIELD Executive Program in Global Space and Deterrence sponsored by US INDO-Pacific Command and the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA).

He commanded USS MILIUS (DDG 69) in the forward deployed naval forces Japan (FDNF-J) where the ship was awarded the 2022 Spokane Trophy by Commander Pacific Fleet for overall excellence in surface ship combat system readiness and warfare operations. USS MILIUS (DDG 69) was also awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation by the CNO for the period of October 2021 to June 2023 during his command tour for superbly executed sustained at-sea operations. Following completion of that command tour, he then commanded USS JOHN FINN (DDG 113) forward deployed as part of FDNF-J executing high-end at-sea fleet operations in 7th and 3rd Fleets.

His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards.