Capt Matthew Walls is the Deputy Director of the Systems Engineering Program at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. Prior to this assignment, he served as The Chief of Cyber Weapons and Tactics at Schriever SFB, Colorado. There he was responsible for creating, implementing, and maintaining the first cyber courses taught to Space Operations within their Initial Qualifications Training (IQT) and Advanced Training (AT). Capt Walls oversaw the design and creation of the 68th Cyberspace Squadron for Space Delta 8 to ensure cyber mission defense for GPS, MILSATCOM, UFO, and MUOS satellite constellations. Culminating in the first Mission Defense Team (MDT) for the largest Delta in the Unites States Space Force.

Capt Walls commissioned in 2016 as a Systems Engineer and 4 year collegiate swimmer from the Unites States Air Force Academy. He completed Undergraduate Cyber Training (UCT) in 2017 with an assignment to AFRL/RI in Rome, New York. At AFRL Information Directorate he worked on software defined radios, several SAP programs, and was the Chief of the Commanders Action Group (CAG) for the Director. While stationed at AFRL Capt Walls earned his Master’s in Systems Engineering from Drexel University in 2019. Capt Walls continued his career at Schriever SFB where he implemented some of the first cyber courses and security practices for the Space Force. He is regarded as a Cyber subject matter expert and focuses his research on cyber defense. In 2022 Capt Walls joined the United States Space Force as a 17D.

Master of Science degree in systems engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2019)

Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2016)

Other Courses/Trainings:

Cyber 200, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2021)

CompTIA Security+ Course, Keesler AFB, Mississippi (2017)

Undergraduate Cyber Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi (2017)

Deputy Program Director, Systems Engineering Program, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado (July 2022 – Present)

Cyber Weapons and Tactics, Delta 8, Schriever SFB, Colorado (June 2020 – June 2022)

Cyber Systems Engineer, Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate, Rome Labs, New York (April 2017 – June 2020)

Student, Undergraduate Cyber Training, Keesler AFB, Mississippi (August 2016 – April 2017)

Commendation Service Medal (2020) w/ One Oak Leaf Cluster (2022)

German Proficiency Badge – Gold (2016)

Cyber Defense