Matthew Moury: Associate Under Secretary, Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security

Service Branch: Navy

Years of Service: 30: 8 years active duty, 22 years Navy Reserve

Would you like to share any details of your military history, awards you may have received or other accomplishments?

My father was one of the first Navy jet pilots.  He was in the first squadron to fly jets off of straight deck carriers.  He was my inspiration for joining the Navy.  I attended the Naval Academy and after receiving my commission I went into the submarine force.  I served on submarines for eight years before I left active duty and joined the reserve.  I spent 22 years in the Navy Reserve, mostly in operational billets and had command of two Reserve Units.  I retired after 30 years at the rank of captain.   My son followed me to the Naval Academy and after he graduated he went into the Marine Corps and is a helicopter pilot flying CH-53Es. 

Please take a moment to reflect on your thoughts when considering your service uniform.  What does your service uniform represent to you?

I was always very proud of my service to my country.  More importantly, my wife, Jan, was even more proud of me being in the Navy.   Despite the hardships she had to endure raising our two young children alone when I deployed and putting up with me being gone on my Navy Reserve weekends and duty, she pushed me to continue my service and to stay in the Navy.  If it weren’t for her encouragement I would not have been as successful or stayed in the service for 30 years. 

Military service can have a profound and lasting impact on those who serve. Your perspective is unique in having seen both the military and the civilian sides of service.  What story could you share of service before self?

I am constantly amazed at our young people who join the military.  Less than 1% of our youth between the ages of 18 and 24 join the service.  They join despite the knowledge that there is a high probability they will see conflict, that they will spend long periods of time away from friends and loved ones and that they won’t get rich.  This is the ultimate example of service before self.