Earl G. Matthews | |
---|---|
Acting General Counsel of the Department of the Army | |
In office June 2017 – January 2, 2018 | |
Appointed by | Donald Trump |
Succeeded by | James E. McPherson |
Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Department of the Army | |
In office June 21, 2017 – July 22, 2018 | |
Appointed by | Donald Trump |
Succeeded by | Robert J. Sander |
Personal details | |
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Education | Villanova University (BA) Harvard Law School (JD) Georgetown University (LLM) National Intelligence University (MS) Army War College (MS) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 2000–present |
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | DCNG, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, JFHQ |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Bronze Star Medal (2) |
Earl G. Matthews is an American government official and attorney who held senior positions within the Department of the Army and at the White House during the administration of President Donald Trump. Matthews was a member of Trump's Department of Defense transition team and was appointed as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, James N. Mattis on January 20, 2017.[1][2][3] Matthews was subsequently appointed as the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Army on June 21, 2019.[4] He served as Acting General Counsel of the Army from June 21, 2017, until James E. McPherson was sworn in as General Counsel on January 2, 2018.[5][6]
Matthews continued as Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Army until he was detailed to the White House to serve as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Defense Policy and Strategy on the National Security Council staff in late May 2018.
Matthews was formally succeeded as Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Army by Robert J. Sander on July 22, 2018. Matthews was named as a Deputy Assistant to the President in January 2019 and continued to serve as Senior Director for Defense Policy and Strategy on the National Security Council (NSC) staff until his resignation from the White House in November 2019.
In December 2020, Matthews was appointed to the Defense Business Board.[7] In January 2021, he was also appointed to Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America created in the 2021 NDAA.[8]