Chaplain Mathew Goff

Colonel (Ret.) Chaplain Matthew Goff is a distinguished graduate of the University of Arkansas Army ROTC program whose 30-year military career uniquely combined leadership in both signal operations and chaplaincy, serving soldiers on the front lines of combat and faith. Commissioned in 1980 as a Signal Corps officer, COL Goff spent nearly a decade in communications roles, including as Signal Detachment Commander for the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Answering a higher calling, he transitioned to the Chaplain Corps in 1991, where he continued to serve with distinction, ultimately becoming the III Corps Command Chaplain at Fort Hood, Texas.

A native of Fayetteville, Arkansas, COL Goff earned his Bachelor of Arts in Radio and TV Broadcasting from the University of Arkansas. As a cadet, he was a member of Scabbard & Blade, an honorary military society. His commitment to service extended far beyond the classroom, shaping a career that blended battlefield leadership with spiritual guidance.

Throughout his military service, COL Goff deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, providing moral, ethical, and spiritual support to soldiers in some of the most challenging environments. His roles included:

• Division Chaplain, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC

• Brigade Chaplain, 172nd Infantry Brigade (Airborne), Fort Wainwright, AK

• Battalion Chaplain, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA

• Plans and Operations Chaplain, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC

• Training Officer, Chief of Chaplains Office, Pentagon

During his final assignment as III Corps Command Chaplain, he provided religious support and strategic guidance for one of the Army’s largest operational units, overseeing chaplain teams across multiple installations and combat deployments.

COL Goff’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal (9 OLC). He is also Ranger and Master Parachutist qualified, a testament to his commitment to both the physical and spiritual readiness of the soldiers he served.

Beyond his military career, COL Goff earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master’s in Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University. He remains actively engaged in disaster relief efforts and community service, continuing his lifelong mission of service.

COL Goff and his wife, Amy, have been married since 1981 and have seven children and 22 grandchildren. Now retired in Springdale, Arkansas, he continues to inspire others through his dedication to faith, family, and military service.