Jeff W. Mathis III

Jeff W. Mathis III (December 5, 1955 – June 3, 2016) was a career officer in the United States Army. A longtime member of the Army National Guard, Mathis attained the rank of major general before retiring in 2014. A veteran of overseas deployment to Africa during the Global War on Terrorism, he was most notable for high-profile command assignments including Joint Task Force – Civil Support (2012–2014) and I Corps (2009–2010).

Early life Jeff Walter Mathis was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on December 5, 1955, the son of Jeff Hudson Mathis II and Georgia Virginia “Ginny” Wells. He was raised in Central America and South America while his father served with the United States Air Force, and graduated from John Marshall High School in Leon Valley, Texas in 1974. In 1975, Mathis enlisted in the United States Army as a communications specialist, and during his time as an enlisted soldier he attained the rank of sergeant and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course. In 1981, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida. His initial assignments included platoon leader, Company A, 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment (July 1981-January 1983) and assistant plans, operations, and training officer (S-3) of 1st Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (February 1983-March 1985). They were the parents of two children, Declan Mathis and Cecily Mathis.