BGen Matthew Reid '93, USMC (Ret.), to return as Joint Commissioning speaker

Brigadier General Matthew Reid ’93, USMC (Ret.), will return to The Hill on Saturday, May 2, to serve as the guest speaker for Norwich University’s Joint Commissioning Ceremony, addressing cadets as they cross the threshold into military service.

A native of Malone, New York, Brigadier General Reid graduated from Norwich in 1993 with a degree in civil engineering and was commissioned through the NROTC program. More than three decades later, his career was shaped by the values emphasized at the nation’s oldest private military college: leadership, resilience, integrity, and service before self.

For commissioning cadets preparing to take their oath, Brigadier General Reid’s journey offers a perspective shaped by experience, from the classrooms and parade grounds of Norwich to operational leadership in the United States Marine Corps.

While a cadet, Brigadier General Reid fully immersed himself in the Norwich experience. He competed in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track, serving as team captain for all three teams during his junior and senior years. An All-New England honoree in the 800 meters, he balanced athletic excellence with academic rigor, earning the Civil Engineering Award as the cadet most likely to succeed in the field.

Within the Corps of Cadets, he served as a Rook 5 and drill sergeant for Golf Company, roles that required discipline, accountability, and mentoring younger cadets, hallmarks of Norwich’s leadership philosophy.

“Coming back to Norwich for a commissioning ceremony brings a lot back for me. I remember being excited about what lay ahead, the adventure, the unknown — all of it. The world in 1993 felt secure, like we had a pretty clear sense of what the future looked like, and we couldn’t have been more wrong. My generation ended up serving through Iraq and Afghanistan, something none of us saw coming. Today’s cadets are about to step into their own version of that journey. You never really know where the world is going to take you, but you can count on it going in a direction you did not expect.” — BGen Matthew Reid '93

Commissioning at Norwich marked the beginning of a 32-year career as an infantry officer defined by operational leadership and global service. Brigadier General Reid led Marines in nine operational deployments, including multiple tours at sea, two combat tours in Iraq, and two in Afghanistan. He also spent two years living and working in the Middle East, gaining firsthand experience in environments where strategic decisions and tactical leadership meet in real time.

Over the course of his career, he commanded infantry units at every level, from platoon to task force, while serving in real-world operational roles from Second Lieutenant through Brigadier General. Twice awarded for valor in combat, Brigadier General Reid credits the Marines he served with for carrying the hardest parts of those deployments and shaping him as a leader.

His career additionally extended beyond combat deployments. Brigadier General Reid led a recruiting station, served as Coyote 6 in 29 Palms, California, and was selected as a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. At the Pentagon, he played a key role in modernization and strategy efforts as Director of Strategy and Plans, helping shape the future force of the Marine Corps for the next generation of warfighters.

Through each assignment, whether leading Marines in combat, mentoring young officers, or helping chart institutional strategy, Brigadier General Reid’s leadership reflects the foundation laid during his time at Norwich.

“The academics at Norwich taught me how to think and communicate clearly, but Norwich also taught me the human side of leadership. You learn pretty quickly that people are not automatons, and they are not all going to respond to the same approach. People bring different personalities, motivations, and challenges, and learning how to lead across that range was one of the most valuable lessons I took with me into the Marine Corps.” — BGen Matthew Reid '93

Additionally, Brigadier General Reid’s academic aspirations did not end in Northfield. He earned master’s degrees from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National War College, continuing a lifelong commitment to professional development that mirrors Norwich’s emphasis on moral and intellectual growth.

For the cadets who will commission at this year’s ceremony, Brigadier General Reid represents more than distinguished service, he represents continuity as an alumnus who once stood in their shoes, navigated the same demands of academics, athletics, and regimental life, and carried those lessons into a career of service.

Norwich’s mission is to prepare students to lead with honor and integrity in all walks of life. The Joint Commissioning Ceremony is one of its clearest expressions, as graduates accept the responsibilities of military service. Inviting an alumnus whose career reflects that tradition reinforces the connection between Norwich’s values and the profession of arms.

As cadets prepare to take their oath and step into the ranks of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, they will hear from a leader who has experienced the full arc of military service, ranging from the uncertainty of a brand-new Second Lieutenant or Ensign to the weighty responsibilities of General Officer leadership.

Brigadier General Reid’s return to campus is both a homecoming and a reflection on how lessons learned on The Hill carry forward into a career of service. Discipline forged in early mornings, accountability demanded in the barracks, teamwork developed on athletic fields, and character shaped under pressure are not confined to four years. They continue into deployments, into command posts, into strategy rooms, and into the lives of those entrusted to lead.

For the Class of 2026 commissioning cadets, the ceremony will mark a beginning. For Brigadier General Reid, it is an opportunity to give back to the institution that helped launch a lifetime of service. In welcoming him home, Norwich University affirms a tradition that spans generations: leaders are educated here, tested through service, and often return to guide those who follow.