# Matthew Cantore

Matthew Scott Cantore (born July 18, 1976) is a United States Space Force brigadier general who served as the first commander of Space Delta 2 from 2019 to 2021. He now serves as the deputy commander of Space Training and Readiness Command.
Cantore was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1998 through the United States Air Force Academy. He initially worked in ICBM assignments before getting working space operations. He has commanded the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron and 21st Operations Group.
In 2020, the 21st Operations Group was redesignated as Space Delta 2 as part of organizational changes after the establishment of the Space Force. As such, he became the first commander of Space Delta 2. In 2020, he transferred to the Space Force. In 2024, promoted to brigadier general.

## Early life and education

Cantore was born and raised in Guilderland, New York. His mother and father worked for the state of New York. As early as high school, he wanted to have a career related to space.
* 1994 Guilderland High School, Guilderland, New York
* 1998 Bachelor of Science, Space Operations, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
* 1999 Undergraduate Space and Missile Training and BMEWS Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
* 2000 Minuteman III Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
* 2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
* 2005 Space Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
* 2007 Master of Science, International Relations, Troy University, Troy, Ala.
* 2010 Master of Science, Leadership and Joint Campaign Planning Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, Va.
* 2017 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
* 2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flager Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.

## Military career

In 2024, Cantore was nominated and confirmed for promotion to brigadier general. He was promoted to brigadier general on 1 February 2024

### Assignments

1. August 1998–January 1999, Ast. Executive Officer, Directorate of Operations, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. 2. January 1999–May 1999, Student, Undergraduate Space/Missile Training, 381st Training Group, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 3. May 1999–May 2000, Crew Commander and Instructor, 13th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska 4. May 2000–August 2000, Student, ICBM Initial Qualification Training, 381st Training Group, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 5. August 2000–August 2003, Flight Commander and Evaluator, 741st Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. 6. September 2003–January 2006, ICBM Test Operations Officer, 576th Flight Test Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 7. July 2005–December 2005, Student, Space Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev. 8. February 2006–June 2009, Chief of Space Operations, Executive Officer, and Chief of Forces, 609th Air Operations Group, 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Shaw AFB, S.C. 9. January 2008–May 2008, Weapons Officer, Director of Space Forces, Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar 10. July 2009–July 2010, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. 11. July 2010–July 2012, Chief, Ops & Plans Branch, Deputy Directorate for Global Operations, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 12. July 2012–June 2013, Deputy Chief, Combat Operations Division, Joint Space Operations Center and 614th Air Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 13. June 2013–February 2015, Commander, 3d Space Experimentation Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo. 14. February 2015–May 2016, Executive Officer to the Commander, Joint Functional Component Command-Space and 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 15. June 2016–June 2017, Student, College of Naval Warfare, Naval War College, Newport, R.I. 16. June 2017–June 2018, Chief, Eurasia-America Operations Division, Checkmate, Headquarters USAF, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 17. July 2018–April 2019, Chief, Programs Division, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. 18. May 2019–July 2020, Commander, 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. 19. July 2020–June 2021, Commander, Space Delta 2, Space Operations Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. 20. June 2021–July 2023, Director, Combat Power, Deputy Commanding General, Operations, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. 21. July 2023–May 2024, Chief, Current Operations Division, Operations Directorate, U.S. Space Command, Peterson SFB, Colo. 21. May 2024–present, Deputy Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command, U.S. Space Force, Peterson SFB, Colo.

## Personal life

Cantore is married to Laura Cantore from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada for 22–23 years. They have three kids.

## Awards and decorations

Cantore is the recipient of the following awards:
* Command Space Operations Badge
* Basic Missile Operations Badge
* Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
* Air Staff Badge
* Commander's Insignia
* Legion of Merit
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
* Air Force Commendation Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Achievement Medal
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
* Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
* Combat Readiness Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" device and two bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
* Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
* Air Force Training Ribbon

## Dates of promotion

| Rank | Branch | Date |
| Second Lieutenant | Air Force | May 27, 1998 |
| First Lieutenant | Air Force | May 27, 2000 |
| Captain | Air Force | May 27, 2002 |
| Major | Air Force | November 1, 2007 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Air Force | October 1, 2012 |
| Colonel | Air Force | January 1, 2019 |
| Colonel | Space Force | ~September 30, 2020 |
| Brigadier General | Space Force | February 1, 2024 |