Colonel Matthew A. Crawford

Colonel Matthew A. Crawford, 47, of Riverview, Florida, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family and friends, on February 25, 2025, after a two-year battle with cancer. Matthew was born on November 2, 1977, to Ronald and Janice (Cramer) Crawford in Darlington, PA. After Matthew graduated from Blackhawk High School in 1996, he pursued a degree in philosophy from Western Kentucky University. While attending WKU, Matthew joined ROTC and in June of 2002, received his commission in the Infantry upon graduation. Matthew’s first duty assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division.

COL Crawford served from Second Lieutenant to Major in the 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne from 2002-2011. During that time, COL Crawford served as a rifle platoon leader, anti-armor platoon leader, rifle company executive officer, Brigade assistant S3, Squadron S2, and Cavalry Troop Commander. COL Crawford’s additional assignments included Battalion S3 of the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Huachuca, AZ, S2 of 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, CO, and as an Army Fellow on the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group in Crystal City, VA. COL Crawford’s more recent assignments included serving as the Deputy Director of Intelligence at Special Operations Command Central in Tampa, FL, as the Battalion Commander for Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne, and as an Army War College Fellow at Princeton University. He was most recently assigned to Special Operations Command Central in Tampa, FL.

Matthew’s operational deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom 1, Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09, and Operation Enduring Freedom 10-11. He also had additional deployments to Germany, Estonia, and Lithuania in support of Special Operations Command Forward North and West Africa and Special Operations Command Forward Eastern Europe.

COL Crawford’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Military Art and Science from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and he served as a Department of Defense Fellow at Princeton University in 2023. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Captains’ Career Course, the Source Operations Course, the Interrogation Management Course, the Joint HUMINT Operations Course, and the Command and General Staff College.

COL Crawford’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. He was authorized to wear the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Action Badge, Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Matthew was a passionate lifelong learner, who enjoyed reading, constantly seeking new knowledge and perspectives. He cherished spending time with his friends and ARMY buddies, bonding over online video games that provided a means to stay connected to those that meant so much to him. With a great sense of humor, he had the ability to make anyone in the room smile and brightened the atmosphere with his presence. A devoted Star Wars fan, Matthew found joy in both the epic saga and the community it fostered. He took great joy in sharing fine dining experiences with his wife and especially relished taking his children to Disney, where they created memories that will last a lifetime. A proud native of Western Pennsylvania, Matthew was an avid supporter of the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, always keeping a special place in his heart for his beloved teams. His infectious enthusiasm for life, love for family, and loyalty to his passions will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Boyd Crawford, and his children, Reagan Elizabeth and Jack Hayden from Riverview, FL; his father, Ronald Crawford from Darlington, PA; his brother, Ronald (Michelle) Crawford from Butler, OH; his sisters, Kathleen (Mark) Czartoryski from Chippewa, PA and Kay O’Neill (Bill Reed) from Darlington, PA; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Janice Crawford.

Services in honor of Colonel Matthew A. Crawford will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made towards the Colonel Matthew A. Crawford WKU ROTC Scholarship Fund at https://www.wku.edu/chf/matthew-crawford/index.php