ARLINGTON, Va. - Senior officials, distinguished guests, family and friends looked on as Matthew Easley was promoted to major general.
Lt. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, Director of the Joint Staff, hosted the promotion ceremony in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes on December 21, 2020.
Poppas highlighted Maj. Gen. Easley’s love of his family, friends, and his commitment to his work as part of his success story.
“He's been called a general, commander and a boss, but Matt’s favorite title is dad. Thank you for supporting him throughout his service to this great country and all the prayers you’ve prayed for him. We thank you for the way you have helped him develop into such a great leader. It takes a support network to get us where we are,” Poppas said
Poppas who also attended the United States Military Academy at West Point with Easley, noted several reasons for his promotion, namely his commitment to mentoring others.
“His commitment to academic excellence is outstanding. He has a master's degree in electrical engineering and since one wasn’t good enough, he had to go back and get another masters in computer science,” Poppas said. “Matt defines excellence and all that goes with it including mentorship, strength and outreach which makes everybody around him better. That's the legacy we all want to have, Matt, and that's the reason we’re here today.”
Easley wrapped up the ceremony by thanking, his family, colleagues and former classmates from his matriculation days at West Point for helping him during his life and career while fostering his love and commitment to his dreams.
“I would not have been able to make it to West Point without their love. My mother was also dramatically influential on me. She just pushed me and told me what I could do. This is a support network that gives you and pushes us to become better people, it includes my father, grandfather and great uncle who all served in the military,” Easley said.
“Service to our nation and our Army isn’t something that just happens. This is something that becomes a part of you and you live throughout your whole life. It’s all led me to my position within cybersecurity for the Army. We have a lot to do to improve our networks while improving efficiency while making our Soldiers faster and more secure. We have a great team and it's going to be an amazing journey,” he concluded.
Easley received his commission from the U.S. Military Academy where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Electronic Engineering and Engineer Physics. He also holds masters degrees in electrical engineering from Kansas State University, computer science from the University of Colorado, and strategic studies from the Army War College.
His prior command and operational assignments include Director, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, Army Futures Command, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Deputy Commanding General – Cyber, 335th Signal Command (Theater), East Point, Georgia; Chief of Staff, 335th Signal Command (Theater) (Provisional), Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; Commander, 505th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, Las Vegas, Nevada; Commander, 319th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Camp Buehring, Kuwait; Instructor at Command and General Staff College; and company-grade positions,121st Signal Battalion, Fort Riley, KS (1ID) and 32nd Signal Battalion, Germany (V Corps).
Easley currently serves as the Director for Cybersecurity and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in the office of the Army Chief Information Officer (CIO). He assumed that role in September 2020.
For more information about Army CIO, please visit our website at: https://www.army.mil/ciog6
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