CDR Matthew R. Furtado

Commanding Officer, USS Decatur (DDG 73)

06 July 2023

Commander Matthew R. Furtado is a native of Raynham, Massachusetts. He graduated from Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont, in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He holds an Associate of Arts in German from the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, California and a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

His initial sea assignment as a division officer was in USS Antietam (CG 54) as Gunnery Officer and Boarding Officer. During his tour, ANTIETAM conducted an Arabian Gulf deployment as part of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. His follow-on sea tour was in USS McClusky (FFG 41). While aboard, he served as Main Propulsion Assistant and completed a Counter-Narcotics Deployment to U.S. 4th Fleet. CDR Furtado attended language training in German at the Defense Language Institute and reported to FGS Brandenburg (F 215), home-ported in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, as an exchange officer and Assistant Navigator.

As a Department Head, CDR Furtado served in USS Gridley (DDG 101) as Engineer Officer and completed another deployment to the Arabian Gulf, this time in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Thereafter he assumed responsibilities as Material and Logistics Officer with Destroyer Squadron 21. During that posting DESRON 21, as part of Carrier Strike Group Three, conducted a deployment to the western Pacific as Sea Combat Commander.

From 2017 to 2020 he served as an instructor in the Maritime Warfare Directorate (N73) at the Surface Warfare Officer School and attended the Naval War College, both in Newport, RI.

Most recently, CDR Furtado served as Executive Officer of USS Decatur (DDG 73) from November 2021 to April 2023.

CDR Furtado’s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various campaign, unit, and service awards.