Matthew Gilbert
Chair of the Criminal Justice and Sociology Departments, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Department(s)
Bachelor of Science (BS), Criminal Justice, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Master of Public Safety Management (MS), Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MS)Credentials
NOVA Southeastern University, Davie, FL (2015鈥2018) Ph.D., Criminal Justice (concentration in Organizational Leadership)
National Intelligence University, Washington, DC (2011鈥2013) Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence (MSSI)
State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY (2002鈥2005) Master of Arts (M.A), Liberal Studies Administration and Leadership (minor in Education)
State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY (1991鈥1993) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Criminal Justice, minor in Sociology
Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY (1989鈥1991) associate degree in applied sciences (A.A.S), Criminal Justice
U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination (2006)
New York State Police Academy (1997)
New York State Department of Correctional Services Academy (1995)
U.S. Coast Guard Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer 鈥 08/2022
U.S. Coast Guard Agency Representative 鈥 08/2022
U.S. Coast Guard Defense Operation/Readiness Level 2 Specialty 鈥 12/2020
U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Tier 2 Specialty 鈥 12/2020
Incident Command System (ICS) Intelligence Group Supervisor 鈥 05/2020
Division Group Supervisor 鈥 05/2020
USCG Intelligence Officer 鈥 09/2017
Higher Education Online Teaching Certificate through Quality Matters Educational Organization 鈥 04/2020
About Matthew Gilbert
Dr. Gilbert is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement. He started his career with the Warren County (NY) Sheriff鈥檚 Office, serving 3-years. He then served 22 years with the New York State Police and was a First Responder during the 9/11 attacks in lower Manhattan in 2001. While working with the NY State Police for the last 16 years of service, he was assigned to their Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Counter-Terrorism Division, as an Investigator, and then served on the FBI鈥檚 Joint Terrorism Task Force, as a Task Force Officer for the last 6 years of his law enforcement career. Dr. Gilbert has also served 2 years as a New York State Correctional Officer at Sing Sing Correctional Facility and at Taconic Correctional Facility. Currently, Dr. Gilbert is a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and has been deployed to numerous areas around the country over his nearly 20-years of military service, often assisting those in great need impacted by hurricanes, and other environmental disasters. His academic accomplishes include being a 2018 graduate of Nova Southeastern University, with a PhD in Criminal Justice/Organizational Leadership; a master鈥檚 in strategic Intelligence from National Intelligence University and a master鈥檚 in leadership and administration from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Dr. Gilbert and his wife have three children and two dogs. He is an avid sports fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. Dr. Gilbert is an active member of Seacoast Church.
"In any organization, effective leadership requires skills that exude positive influence, strong mentoring traits, exhibiting a unique communication skillset that fosters teamwork through telling a 鈥渟trong story,鈥 and being a fervent 鈥渇orward leaning鈥 leader. I have been honored to serve with and/or continue to serve with some of our country鈥檚 greatest leaders in Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and in the academic world, specifically Charleston Southern University, in getting our students ready for making a positive impact in the communities where they serve. I see several key facets and continuously strive to meet the following three significant traits thought-out my life, especially helping my students. 1. Embrace, challenge, and develop public servants. 2. Continuous Devotion to Duty while self-evaluating my own leadership skills, advancing aspects of leadership, in support of Charleston Southern University鈥檚 mission while ensuring all those are being taken care of to the best of my ability. I strongly believe in displaying strong faith in whatever my role is and giving the 鈥渂est service鈥 as possible to my customers, whether it鈥檚 my students, fellow faculty members and/or the public. Not only do my actions reflect on me, but they reflect on the organization. 3. Collaborating with colleagues, students, and stakeholders to lead and advance Charleston Southern University鈥檚 mission. Charleston Southern University is committed to challenging its students, in particular, to become part of a team, build resilience, forge lifelong bonds, learn accountability, fortify integrity, and make a difference in more domains and ways that may originally ever have been imagined. "
Awards
Humanitarian Service Medal (07/2025)
USCG Commendation Medal (3 awards; 1 with Operational Distinguishing Device) (07/2025, 06/2025 and 06/2018)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization (2 awards) (12/2024 and 10/2010).
USCG Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (06/2023)
USCG Commendation Medal (for the outstanding unit service while supporting U.S. INDOPACOM鈥檚 missions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Army Chief of Staff - Joint Service Commendation Medal (08/2021) Received from the U.S. Army鈥檚 Chief of Staff.
Department of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit Award. (01/2021)
Department of Defense Joint Meritorious Unit Award (03/2021) for outstanding support and expertise in roles for 3 joint exercises while assigned to the U.S. INDOPACOM鈥檚 J9 Directorate. (01/2018 鈥 12/2020)
USCG Meritorious Team Commendation Ribbon (4 awards: 06/2025, 01/2023, 01/2017 & 07/2015 respectively)
Recognized for my dedication, professionalism, and outstanding contribution to the mission of the JTTF by FBI Albany鈥檚 Special Agent in Charge. (07/2016)
Recognized for outstanding teaching efforts by FBI Albany鈥檚 Special Agent in Charge and by the New York State Police鈥檚 senior leadership. (05/2016)
USCG Achievement Medal (2 awards: 01/2023 & 07/2011 respectively)
Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon (2 awards 鈥 04/2018 & 01/2011).
Mobilization Device (separate award for Deepwater Horizon deployment) for Armed Forces Reserves Medal. (10/2010)
USCG Commandant鈥檚 Letter of Commendation Ribbon (3 awards: 12/2008, 02/2009, and 07/2011)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal. (10/2010). Stemming from my deployment and subsequent honorable duties during the Deepwater Horizon incident.
USCG Rifle Marksman Ribbon & USCG Pistol Marksman Ribbon (02/2014).
USCG Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon (04/2008).
USCG Port Security Insignia and certification (07/2015).
National Defense Service Medal (09/2006).
Signature Experiences
Delaware Valley Intelligence Center
New Jersey Regional Operations and Intelligence Center
North Carolina Information Sharing and Analysis Center
South Carolina Information and Intelligence Center
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
ASC-The American Society of Criminology
Southern Criminal Justice Association
Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA)
Attended the 2023 Intelligence and National Security Summit 鈥 13 & 14 Jul at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland 20745
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Recent Scholarly Work & Publications
Professional Article:
The Need for More Qualified Liaison Officers in a Topsy Turvey World. - November 2023. Published at: https://medium.com/@matthewrgilbert8/the- need-for-more-qualified-liaison-officers-in-a-topsy-turvey-world-8a0bae3e7cdc. Updated article (more qualitative studies and exploratory design performed), accepted and contract signed (April 2025) with the Journal of Emergency Management. DOI: 10.5055/jem.0926
Doctoral Dissertation:
Domestic Extremism Violence Facing U.S. Law Enforcement, How Can These Threats Be Mitigated? 鈥 June 2018 Published at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cahss_jhs_etd/10/. In association with Nova Southeastern University鈥檚 Doctorate Program.
Master鈥檚 Thesis: Global Prison Radicalization Leading to Terrorism: Are We Winning the Battle Yet? 鈥 July 2013. In association with the National Intelligence University鈥檚 Master鈥檚 Program.
Master鈥檚 Thesis: Coaching Young Athletes: The Education for a Lifetime. 鈥 May 2005. In association with the State University of New York at Plattsburgh鈥檚 Master鈥檚 Program.
Ceremonies By Invitation
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States/Canada Maritime Security Conference: Guest Speaker for the New York State Intelligence Center, November 2009.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 1 South, Division 15 Change of Watch, 18
November 23, Glens Falls, New York: Giving A Pear Away Daily: Impactful Public Service Transparency Through Leadership, Mentoring and Devotion to Duty.
Honored and presented a 20-year Membership Award to a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist.
North Charleston Rotary Club, North Charleston, SC: Guest Speaker invitation; 12 May 25: Giving A Pear Away Daily: Impactful Public Service Transparency Through Leadership, Mentoring and Devotion to Duty.
https://northcharlestonrotary.com/event/meeting-dr-matthew-gilbert-impactful-public-service-transparency/?instance_id=483