Senior Master Sgt. Matt Hecht is a photojournalist for the New Jersey National Guard's JFHQ-Air. He has documented military service members in conflict zones as well as humanitarian operations worldwide. He started his enlisted career in Feb., 2001 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, then reported to Osan Air Base, Republic of South Korea as a Security Forces Specialist in July 2001. After completing a one-year tour, he then reported to the 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. in July 2002. He was deployed to al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates in March 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he worked as squadron S4 and Fly Away Security Team (FAST) member, traveling throughout Southwest Asia. After a short stay stateside, he was again deployed in Jan. 2004 to al Asad Air Base, Iraq, with the 721st Air Mobility Operations Group, assisting airfield operations and the transition between the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. In July 2005, he joined the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing, and shortly after cross-trained into Public Affairs as a combat correspondent, where he covered numerous exercises throughout the U.S. as well as Europe. He deployed as a weapons system video specialist to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan in Sept. 2011. In March 2015, he transferred to the 108th Wing, and then to New Jersey's JFHQ in March 2019. He documented the National Guard responses to Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Irma, COVID Guardian, Operation Capitol Response I, and Operation Allies Welcome. His photography has been featured on numerous websites and publications, including The New York Times, TIME Magazine, National Geographic, The Atlantic: In Focus, Forbes, USA Today, The Washington Post, Business Insider Magazine, Gizmodo, Space.com, Stars & Stripes, Vertical Magazine, Air Force Magazine, National Guard Magazine and many others. His video work has been featured on The National Geographic Channel, The Learning Channel, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, The Pentagon Channel, The Military Channel, as well as NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and CNN. He has a BFA from Bowling Green State University, and is a Distinguished Graduate of both Airman Leadership School and the NCO Academy. In 2015, he was honored to be the first recipient of the Maj. Herman V. Wall Memorial Award for military photojournalism at the Eddie Adams Workshop. In 2020 he was awarded the Chief Master Sgt. Richard Spencer Outstanding NCO Award. As of July 2022, Hecht works full-time for the Federal Aviation Administration in Imaging Technology. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Korean Defense Service Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal.