Speakers

Matt Lewis was born and grew up in Cardiff. A graduate of the Universities of Aberystwyth and St Andrews, he commissioned into The Royal Regiment of Wales in 2001 and served all his early career at Regimental Duty, including operational tours of the Balkans and Iraq.
His Staff career began in 2010, when was assigned to DCDS Personnel (now CDP) in the MOD before returning to The Royal Welsh as a Rifle Company Commander. In January 
2014 he deployed to Kabul as SO2 Campaign Plans in the CJ5 of HQ ISAF. There he led the ‘Five Eye’ Operational Planning Team that transitioned the NATO mission to ‘Resolute 
Support’. After two years teaching Operational Planning on ICSC(L), he promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and ‘re-badged’ from R WELSH to R IRISH in time to attend ACSC.
Taking command of 1 R IRISH in October 2017, he deployed again to Afghanistan to command the Kabul Protection Unit during the 2019 Presidential Elections. He returned as 
MA to Commander Field Army before promoting to Colonel and leading the J5 Branch of the SJFHQ until 2023. After a year as Chief of Staff of the Land Warfare Centre he attended 
HCSC.
He was appointed Deputy Colonel of The Royal Irish Regiment in 2023 and assumed command of 11 Brigade in June 2024.
Matt is married to Rhian and they have four children. He has cultivated an eclectic taste in music and is the President of Army Rowing