KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Mississippi – The 81st Training Group held a rededication ceremony for Matero Hall Sept. 30, honoring Tech. Sgt. Christopher “Mo” Matero, a combat controller who died in a 2002 aircraft crash while supporting special operations.
Matero Hall, now serving as the 81st TRG headquarters, was once home to combat controller training. The ceremony paid tribute to Matero’s service and highlighted the importance of connecting Airmen with the Air Force’s heritage.
“The Air Force is more than buildings, equipment and paperwork, our Air Force is powered by the spirit, sacrifice and resilience of the men and women who enabled our service with theirs, and the families who carried the burden alongside them,” said Col. Michael Powell, 81st TRG commander. “By rededicating the hall, we ensure that their stories, and especially the story of Tech. Sgt. Matero and his family aren't forgotten or reduced to just a name on a wall.”
Matero began his military career on active duty before joining the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron. Following 9/11, he deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, where he supported combat missions and humanitarian aid delivery.
After returning from Afghanistan, he deployed again to Puerto Rico with Special Operations Command South. On Aug. 7, 2002, Matero and nine teammates were killed when their MC-130H Combat Talon II crashed into a mountainside south of San Juan.
“Chris Matero deserves to be more than a name on a building,” Powell said. “When Airmen walk into Matero Hall, I want them to feel that they are part of a legacy built on both triumphs and struggles, on lives given and lives forever changed.”
The ceremony included remarks from retired Chief Master Sgt. Eric Nielsen, who served with Matero. A flag flown over the Combat Control School was presented to Matero’s widow, Dr. Ronesia Matero, before she and their son, Dante, shared reflections on his life.
Fourteen members of Matero’s family attended the event, including his children, grandchildren and brother, Robert Matero. His nephew, Christopher, is a U.S. Space Force specialist who graduated from Keesler’s cyber schoolhouse.
“Having Mo’s name on the hall is not only a testament to him and his legacy, but the legacy of Keesler and the impact Mo had on combat controllers evolving into the most lethal force on the battlefield for the last couple decades,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. Eric Nielsen.
The newly unveiled entryway exhibit inside Matero Hall preserves the building’s history and honors Matero’s legacy. The display, along with the presence of Matero’s family and teammates, ensured the rededication was not only a remembrance of the past but also a commitment to carrying his spirit forward as today’s Airmen continue the mission.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2025 10:54 |
| Story ID: | 550505 |
| Location: | BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
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