Captain Matthew T. Berta is the Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Navy Reserve to the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB), Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. The Reserve Forces Policy Board serves as an independent adviser to the Secretary of Defense, providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary on strategies, policies, and practices designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency and effectiveness of the seven Reserve components.

A native of Ossining, New York, CAPT Berta was commissioned through the ROTC Program at Cornell University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hotel Administration. He also graduated the Naval War College and received a Master of Arts degree in National Security & Strategic Studies. Additionally, he earned a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Redlands. He is also a fellow of the Seminar XXI program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His afloat tours as a surface warfare officer include USS Fox (CG 33) as a Division Officer; USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and USS Coronado (AGF 11) as Operations Officer; and Afloat Prepositioning Ships Squadron 4 as Chief Staff Officer. These tours included deployments to the Arabian Gulf during Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Desert Strike, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

While ashore, his tours include duty as flag aide to Commander, Naval Base San Diego; Master Training Specialist at the Surface Warfare Officers School; Commanding Officer of Navy Operational Support Center Moreno Valley, California; Mobilization Policy Branch Head and Executive Assistant in the Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve; Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Navy Reserve Matters; director of military manpower & reserve affairs and chief of staff at the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command; and his most recent tour as Commander of the Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command in Jacksonville, FL.

CAPT Berta’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Battle Efficiency Ribbon, among other expeditionary, unit, and personal awards.

(Current as of March 2017)