The medal is given in the military division for ‘Meritorious service or performance of duty.’

The complete citation for Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Richard Pearse (AM) reads:

“Lieutenant Colonel Pearse’s innovation in developing ‘iArmy’ while Staff Officer Grade One Doctrine, and his command and leadership of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, were fundamental in preparing troops for operational service. As Commanding Officer of Australian Task Force Rotation 8(Rear), his command of the 1st Brigade welfare program had a significant effect on the morale of deployed troops and their families, thereby contributing significantly to operation capability.”

Matt, who is now based in Darwin with his wife and two children, began his schooling at Nabiac Public School in 1977, before completing his primary schooling at Forster Public School.

He obtained his HSC at Forster High School in 1989 where he also enjoyed playing in the local cricket and soccer competitions and obtained his Bronze Medallion as a junior member of the Forster Surf Club.

Matt’s military career began in 1988 when he won an Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Scholarship, which gave him the opportunity to graduate from ADFA with a University of NSW Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1992. He then continued on to the Royal Military College Duntroon, where he graduated as an Army Lieutenant in 1993.

His career continued to progress and he graduated from the Australian Command and Staff College Canberra in 2005.

In 2007 he completed a University of NSW Master of Management Degree by correspondence while on a two year posting to the Royal Military School of Engineering in Surrey, U.K. He also has had a posting to New Zealand and a deployment in Iraq.