Matthew Hoekstra

About Matthew Hoekstra

Operations director with 15+ years of experience in operations and planning, delivering measurable improvements in operational effectiveness. I combine strategic planning, operational assessments, and continuous process improvement to drive mission outcomes for complex, multi-service organizations. In recent roles at NORAD and USNORTHCOM, I led assessment programs that doubled key measurement metrics and produced 20+ strategic assessments for senior leaders. I advised commanders on allocation and technical integration for 117 staff members. As Deputy Chief of Operations, I maintained critical intra- and inter-agency relationships and supported senior-level command and control decision cycles.I build and lead high-performing teams, developing staff to exceed expectations—my direct reports promote roughly 10% above industry averages. and my commands routinely receive performance accolades. I’ve designed command-wide assessments, conducted cross-command site visits to establish assessment processes, and represented command equities at senior-level strategy and capability forums. My operational planning work spans large-scale exercises, strategic plan development, and reorganizations that aligned staffing and processes to command imperatives, delivering cost savings and improved readiness.I bring practical skills in strategic development, operational assessment design, cross-organizational staff coordination, stakeholder engagement, and program implementation. Technical and program skills include command-level planning tools and methodologies, assessment frameworks, and experience with team development and space and missile defense planning. I hold a Master’s in Strategy and Operational Planning and maintain a TS/SCI special sensitive clearance.I’m seeking senior Operations Manager opportunities where I can apply strategic planning, process improvement, and team leadership to improve operational performance and deliver measurable results. If you’re recruiting for mission-driven operations leadership or want to discuss how to translate operations best practices into civilian organizational improvements, let’s connect.

Experience

1. Deputy Chief of Operations

   Norad & Us Northern Command

   Aug 2024 — Present · Colorado Springs, CO, US

Education

• Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University

  Master of Science, Strategy and Operational Planning

• Harvard Business School Online

  Other; Certificate in Business Analytics

• U.S. Naval War College

  Joint Professional Military Education, Phase I

  2006 — 2007

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science and Government

  1995 — 1999

• Naval Postgraduate School

  Business Administration and Management, Finance

  2005 — 2007

Skills

• Information Assurance
• Command
• Security
• Top Secret
• Surface Warfare
• Defense
• Organizational Leadership
• Military Training
• Military Experience
• Combat
• Active Dod Secret Clearance
• Tactical Data Links
• Weapons Handling
• Active Top Secret Security Clearance
• Veterans
• Command
• C4isr
• Joint Military Operations
• Tactics
• Electronic Warfare
• Sci Clearance
• Maritime Operations
• Security Clearance
• Naval Operations
• Military
• Intelligence
• Intelligence Analysis
• Exercises
• Missile Defense
• Navigation
• Government
• Training
• Dod
• National Security
• Readiness
• Military Operations
• Force Protection
• U.s. Department of Defense
• Weapons
• Operational Planning