Our Mission
The mission of the Matthew Roland Foundation is to Honor the service and sacrifice of Captain Matthew D. Roland, United States Air Force, Killed in Action on August 26, 2015, and support causes and charities that support his memory and legacy that he would find worthy. To influence servant leadership through the support of programs and opportunities that develop future leaders.
Captain Matthew Roland
December 24, 1987 – August 26, 2015
Captain Matthew D. Roland, a Special Tactics Officer assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., was killed when two Afghan National Defense and Security Forces individuals opened fire on a convoy he was leading at a checkpoint near Camp Antonik, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Capt. Roland posthumously received the Silver Star medal for heroically giving his last full measure to save the lives of his teammates. Seconds before the attack, he recognized the imminent threat and gave his convoy enough time to react to the insider attack with a radio call. Simultaneously, Capt. Roland knowingly put himself in the line of fire by moving the bus to protect the vehicle occupants, giving them precious time to react and neutralize both gunmen. Capt. Roland was transporting Special Operations team members who had just arrived to the forward operating base as part of NATO’s Operation Resolute Support.
What We Do
To honor the life of Capt. Roland, we work with various organizations to create unique opportunities for the next generation of leaders and servicemen.
Sandhurst Competition
Hosted at West Point United States Military Academy, the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition brings 50 teams together to compete for the honor of being the best in basic and advanced military skills. The Matthew Roland Foundation provides funding for the US Air Force Academy Sandhurst Team. Sandhurst Military Skills Competition is committed to duty, honor, and country — all core values Capt. Roland held.
Lexington Catholic High School
Capt. Roland graduated from Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky. Lexington Catholic has been supportive of the Matthew Roland Foundation mission and we are proud to offer a scholarship in Capt. Roland’s name every year. This scholarship is awarded to a well-rounded student who exhibits strong academics, athletic and extracurricular participation, is a leader and is the son, daughter or dependent of a military service member, retiree or veteran.
Intrepid Leadership Camp
Intrepid Leadership Teen Leadership Camp was founded by a former Air Force Special Tactics Officer and Group Commander and staffed by former and current Air Force special operators. The program exists to help teens learn a sense of leadership and challenge themselves through a range of combative sports, leadership training and ethical understanding. The Matthew Roland Foundation provides scholarships for Gold Star Family teens.