Lieutenant Colonel Matthew F. Kloby is a native of Old Bridge, NJ and graduated Old Bridge High School in 1999. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kean University in 2004. Second Lieutenant Kloby was commissioned in 2004 and completed The Basic School in 2005.
Upon completion of flight training, First Lieutenant Kloby was designated a Naval Aviator in October 2007 and reported to VMMT-204. Shortly after arriving, First Lieutenant Kloby received orders to VMU-2 and deployed to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 08.1 as an Unmanned Aircraft System Mission Commander.
Captain Kloby returned to VMMT-204 in August 2008 and completed MV-22B training. He reported to VMM-162 and assumed duties as the Flight Equipment OIC in December 2008. As part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Captain Kloby deployed aboard the USS NASSAU in support of Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE and other operations.
Following the return from deployment with the 24th MEU, Captain Kloby assumed duties as the VMM-162 Ground Training Officer for the pre-deployment training cycle in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 11.2. During the deployment, he assumed the duties as the Quality Assurance Officer.
Following the squadron's return from Afghanistan, Captain Kloby attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 13.1. Upon graduation, he became the Pilot Training Officer, preparing the squadron for deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF). Captain Kloby took over duties as the Operations Officer upon arrival to Morón Airbase, Spain in December 2013.
Returning from the deployment with SPMAGTF-CR-AF, Major Kloby departed VMM-162 and joined VMMT-204. From September 2014 through March 2016, he served as the VMMT-204 Pilot Training Officer and Operations Officer.
In March 2016 Major Kloby executed orders to VMM-365, serving as the Aviation Combat Element Aircraft Maintenance Officer aboard the USS BATAAN and the MV-22B Detachment OIC ashore at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti with the 24th MEU in 2017.
In November 2017, Major Kloby transferred to the Pentagon for OPNAV N98, Air Warfare Directorate as the MV-22 Resources Officer. LtCol Kloby returned to VMMT-204 in December 2020 and completed MV-22 refresh training in May 2021. In June 2021, LtCol Kloby assumed command of VMMT-204, serving as the Commanding Officer of the Raptors until April 2023. LtCol Kloby is currently serving as the MAG-26 Executive Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Kloby has logged over 2,000 total flight hours and earned an Executive Master’s in Business Administration from Naval Postgraduate School in 2021. His personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, Strike/Flight Air Medal with Numeral Four, the Joint Commendation Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.