Mary E. Matthews grew up in West Virginia and graduated from Marshall University with BA in Journalism and minors in Political Science, Military Science, and Spanish. She has masters degrees in Administration from Central Michigan and National Security from National Intelligence University (formerly PGIP), and completion certificate from the InterAmerican Defense College. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army/Military Intelligence branch, she served multiple tours in Europe and Asia, as well as a short deployment to Afghanistan in 2003, before retiring from DIA in 2006 as a Colonel. She completed senior assignments at the National Security Agency and the National Geospatial Agency. Following military retirement, she was hired by the newly formed Office of the Director of National Intelligence before returning to DIA in 2009 on a JDA as the Deputy Director, Joint Task Force—Combatting Terrorism. She subsequently transitioned back to DIA, serving in both the Directorates of Intelligence and Operations, as well as the Director, AMRC, before retiring from DIA a second time in 2017. Mary is currently enjoying helping with grandchildren, as well as volunteering in her local community and with the USO.
