Major (Ret) Matthew "Lee" Lambert served over 20 years in the Army National Guard, with all 20 years on Active Duty or Reserve status with the National Guard. Major (Ret) Lambert is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, serving in a joint service position with the United States Marine Corps in the Iraqi Al Anbar province. He has also been deployed to tours in Korea and Panama and participated directly in numerous domestic response missions within the State of Alabama. He started his military career as an enlisted soldier in the 731st Maintenance Battalion, Tallassee, Alabama. He served as an enlisted soldier for eight years, being promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was later commissioned in the US Army Chemical Officers Corps after graduating as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from OCS (Alabama Military Academy) 200th Regiment at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in July 2001.

 

Major (Ret) Lambert has held numerous leadership positions, including two Company Commands, Battalion Executive Officer, Group Operations Officer, and Brigade Operations Officer. His last assignment for over five years was serving as the 226 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Training Officer for the Alabama Army National Guard. He was also the Task Force South (Mobile, AL) Operations Officer for all hurricane and domestic operations from 2004 – 2011 with the Alabama National Guard.   

 

Major (Ret) Lambert holds a bachelor's in Human Resources Management from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Chemical, Quartermaster, Logistics, and Military Police Officer Basic and Advanced Courses at the US Army Command and General Staff College.

 

His Military awards include The Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with bronze star, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon. Major Lambert earned the following awards from the State of Alabama: the Alabama Commendation Medal, the Alabama Global War on Terrorism Ribbon, the Alabama Special Service Ribbon second award, and the Alabama Faithful Service Medal with five Saint Andrews Cross.

 

Since his retirement in 2014, he has been an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Alabama. He was elected by the VFW Department of Alabama membership in 2016 to serve as the Department Quartermaster. He was assigned as VFW Department of Alabama Adjutant and Quartermaster in 2017, where he manages the day-to-day operations of the VFW Department of Alabama in Montgomery. He is a VFW Life member of Post 5035 Tallassee, Alabama, where he is an active member. Currently, Serves as a Board member of the Alabama Military Hall of Honor. He also has served in the following capacities within the VFW Department of Alabama: Commander VFW Post 5660 Fairhope Alabama, member of the Department Budget and Finance Committee, District 8 Quartermaster, and Department of Alabama National Delegate on the Organizational and Finance Committee. In addition, he was appointed as VFW National Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Alabama 2016-2017. Lee is also a Life Member of Disabled American Veterans and a member of the Military Officers of America Association and the American Legion Department of Alabama. Lee is also an Alabama Masonic Lodge #161 Penick member and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason at the Montgomery, Alabama Valley. He is also affiliated with and recognized as an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.

 

Major (Ret) Lambert and his wife Valisa reside in Prattville, Alabama, and have three children: Abby, Caleb, and Nevaeh. He is the son of Army veteran Ferrell Lambert and Floy Lambert, both from Tallassee, Alabama.