Captain Matthew L. Tardy was raised in South Holland, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998 with a degree in

Business Administration. Following graduation, he attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his commission.

Tardy was next assigned to USS DEWERT (FFG 45) where he was the AntiSubmarine Warfare Officer and Engineering Assistant and completed a

SOUTHCOM Counter Narcotics deployment. In 2001, Tardy was assigned to the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) where he was the Forward Propulsion Group

Officer and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Tardy reported to Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) in 2003 where he earned a Master of

Science in Computer Science.

Following NPS, his initial Engineering Duty Office tour was at the Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (SERMC) in Mayport, Florida, where he served

as a Ship Repair Officer for FFG, DDG, and CV Selected Restricted Availabilities. In 2007, Capt. Tardy reported to the FFG CLASSRON in

Mayport, Florida, where he was assigned as the Maintenance and Modernization Business Plan Officer. Tardy next reported to the Supervisor of Shipbuilding

Bath, in Mobile, Alabama, in 2008 as the Test Officer supporting delivery of USS INDEPENDENCE (LCS 2). Following LCS 2 delivery, he served as the

Deputy PMR for the JHSV program in Mobile, Alabama. In 2011, Capt. Tardy reported to Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (CNSL) as the N43 Amphibious Class

Type Desk Officer and Manager. While at CNSL, Tardy volunteered for an Individual Augmentee assignment to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa,

where he completed a year-long deployment to Djibouti, Africa, as the Engineering Operations Officer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Tardy

reported to the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast in 2013 as the LCS Program Manager’s Representative where he led the waterfront team in the delivery

of LCS 6 and LCS 8. In 2016, Tardy reported to Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) as the PMS 501 Freedom Variant

Production Officer Principle Assistant to the Program Manager. In 2018, Tardy reported to Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (DASN) for Ships as the Chief of Staff.

Capt. Tardy began serving as the Major Program Manager for Surface Ship Modernization at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters in April 2020.

On May 12, 2023, Capt. Tardy assumed command of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division. As the 40th commanding officer to lead the organization

since its founding as the Experimental Model Basin in 1898, he leads more than 2,800 employees providing the Navy with a broad range of technical products

and support services related to surface and undersea platforms.

Capt. Tardy is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community, and his personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold

stars, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one

gold star.