Colonel Matthew Tanis is the Commander, Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC), Morris ANGB, Tucson, Ariz. He leads a Total Force test center with more than 300 National Guard, Reserve, active, civilian, and government support contract personnel, spread across 13 different geographic locations. He is responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting operational and developmental test and evaluation for mature weapons systems as directed by the Air National Guard (ANG), Air Force Reserve Command, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air Force Special Operations Command. Col. Tanis advises the director of the Air National Guard and the commander of the Air Force Reserve Command on modernization, testing, and tactics development to increase the combat capability across the breadth of their operational systems to include F-35, F-15, F-16, A-10, C-130, MQ-9, HH-60, KC-135, KC-46, C-17, CEAS, CSAR, C3BM, and Special Warfare divisions. As an operational test pilot, he leads complex test missions supporting both F-35A and F-15C/EX development programs based on warfighter requirements.
Col. Tanis is a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He went on to serve as a dual-qualified F-35A and F-15C/EX weapons officer, developing extensive air dominance expertise through multiple overseas assignments in unique theaters around the world. He culminated his time on active duty serving as the Director of Operations at the 433d Weapons Squadron, United States Air Force Weapons School before joining the Massachusetts ANG. There, he fought to keep the aging F-15C relevant against the rapidly evolving global threat, serving as the Weapons Officer, Director of Operations, and finally the commander of the 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Massachusetts. Prior to his current position, Col. Tanis was the Chief of Plans and Programs for AATC, responsible for future strategy and the standup of new Combined Test Forces to service the Air Reserve Component’s modernization imperatives.
EDUCATION
2008 Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2013 Masters of Aeronautical Science, Aeronautics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Florida
2015 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2017 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2020 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
2024 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
May 2008 – December 2009, Student, SUPT, Laughlin AFB, Texas
December 2009 – April 2013, T-6 Instructor Pilot, Laughlin AFB, Texas
April 2013 – June 2013, Student, IFF, Randolph AFB, Texas
June 2013 – February 2014, Student, F-15C B-Course, Kingsley Field ANGB, Oregon
February 2014 – January 2017, F-15C Pilot, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
January 2017 – June 2017, Student, US Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
June 2017 – July 2018, F-15C Weapons Officer, Kadena AB, Japan
July 2018 – July 2020, F-15C Division Operations Officer, Nellis AFB, Nevada
July 2020 – June 2022, F-15C Weapons Officer, Barnes ANGB, Massachusetts
June 2022 – August 2023, Director of Operations, Barnes ANGB, Massachusetts
August 2023 – March 2025, Commander, 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Massachusetts
March 2025 – June 2025, Student, F-35A Transition Course, Luke AFB, Texas
July 2025 – June 2026, Chief of Plans and Programs (XP), ANG AFRC Test Center, Morris ANGB, Arizona
June 2026 – Present, Commander, ANG AFRC Test Center, Morris ANGB, Arizona
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,100
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38, F-15C/D, F-15E, F-15EX, F-16, KC-135, HH-60 and F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009 River Rat Award, Supervised Undergraduate Pilot Training
2010 Distinguished Graduate, T-6A Pilot Instructor Training
2013 River Rat Award, F-15C Basic Course
2013 Distinguished Graduate, F-15C Basic Course
2014 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 493d Fighter Squadron
2014, 2016 Top Fighter Squadron in the U.S. Air Force, Raytheon Award
2017 Top Flying Award, U.S. Air Force Weapons School
2017 Top Academic Award, U.S. Air Force Weapons School
2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 Instructor Pilot of the Year, 44th FS, 433d WPS, 131st FS.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2008
First Lieutenant May 28, 2010
Captain May 28, 2012
Major January 1, 2018
Lieutenant Colonel March 16, 2022
Colonel June 9, 2026
(Current as of June 2026)