Brig. Gen. Matthew Valas assumes command at NATO-Sarajevo. (Photo courtesy NHQSa Public Affairs Office)
By Troy Turner
MONTGOMERY – The U.S. Army’s combat-proven 20th Special Forces Group is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and is one of only two such special forces groups that operates within the National Guard. Symbolic of the respect it has earned, its most previous commander was promoted to brigadier general and given a command in NATO.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on May 31 officially recognized the promotion of Matthew Valas, who earlier on May 10 similarly was honored with his new command at NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, which serves the Bosnia and Herzegovina region for the U.S. and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
A Green Beret soldier with multiple service ribbons from theaters of conflict, Valas and his family were the guests of honor at a ceremony conducted at the Alabama National Guard headquarters in Montgomery, with the governor giving him his oath and his family pinning him with his first general stars.
The 20th Special Forces Group
“The soldiers who make up the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) of the Army National Guard are unique professionals with an unconventional method for waging war and an innovative approach to winning,” the unit’s website touts. “They are the best at what they do.
“Their training, intelligence, courage and esprit de corps make them so. The 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) has units located in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi and North Carolina with the headquarters located in Alabama.
“Known as the ‘quiet professionals,’ these Special Forces soldiers radiate an aura of competence and reserve. After being tested in every type of hazardous environment and through dangerous, unconventional, direct action and counter-terrorist missions around the world, the quiet men of Special Forces have no need to broadcast their deeds. Their record speaks for itself.”
The only other such U.S. Army special forces unit operating within the National Guard is the 19th Special Forces Group, headquartered in Bluffdale, Utah, with detachments in Washington, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Colorado, California and Texas.
The 20th Group consists of three battalions, including more Alabama connections with 1st Battalion headquartered in Fort Payne and its Company A in Auburn.
The 20th also has an active history, including notable service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Climbing the ranks
Valas, a Boston native and most recently a Trussville, Alabama, resident, served as the commander of the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from August 2020 until taking his new command in May 2024.
Valas is a graduate of the United States Army War College and received his commission as an infantry officer from Hofstra University in 1998 on his way to becoming an Army Ranger.
He commanded all levels of Special Forces, Detachment thru Group, including deployments in support of Operation New Dawn, as commander of Special Operations Area Operations Base-Kirkuk, Iraq; and Operation Enduring Freedom, as a commander serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Previous non-command assignments include service as the senior National Guard advisor to the deputy assistant secretary of defense for security cooperation; state training officer of the Alabama Army National Guard; operations officer, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne); Battalion XO, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne); Battalion XO, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry; and multiple company grade assignments with 2d Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, where he deployed in support of the NATO-led, Stabilization Force 6, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghan and Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Forces and Observers Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Expert and Combat Infantryman’s Badges, and the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs.
During his promotion ceremony upon becoming a brigadier general, he also was presented the Legion of Merit.
He is married to the former Abby Howell, and has three children, Reese, Gray, and Elin.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, above, administering the promotion oath with Brig. Gen. Matthew Valas; and his family pinning on his stars upon promotion. (Photos by Troy Turner)
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Troy Turner is the editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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