Matthew Trollinger

LtCol Matthew Trollinger is the U.S. Marine Corps fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is a graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. An infantry officer, he has a diverse background in infantry units, the reconnaissance community, Marine security forces, as well as special operations. Most recently, he completed a tour as commander, 3rd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Prior command assignments were with First Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (1stFAST) Company, Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment; 1st Battalion, 8th Marines as both an infantry company and weapons company commander; and 1st Marine Division as a reconnaissance platoon and infantry platoon commander. Staff assignments include tours as the operations officer for an infantry battalion as well as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). As a captain, he was both the assistant officer in charge and subsequently the officer in charge of the Amphibious Reconnaissance Course in Coronado, CA. From 2004 to 2007, he served at the Joint Warfighting Center, Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), where he received his designation as a joint specialty officer. His operational tours include deployments with MEUs to both the Mediterranean Sea and Western Pacific; unit deployments to Okinawa, Japan; and service in Operations Restore Hope, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, with gold star in lieu of second award, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the combat action ribbon.