(Photo courtesy Navy Community Outreach)
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Ridgway, a native of Upper Dublin, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Sigonella, Italy.
Ridgway graduated from Upper Dublin High School in 2007 and Penn State in 2011.
Inspired by the desire to serve a greater purpose, Ridgway began a career in Navy medicine.
“I joined the Navy to see the world, serve a greater purpose and experience opportunities and challenges that simply don’t exist in the civilian sector,” Ridgway said.
“Growing up, I learned the importance of discipline, integrity and perseverance — values that have become the foundation of my success in the Navy,” Ridgway said. “From an early age, I was taught to take responsibility for my actions, work hard without seeking shortcuts, and treat others with respect. Teamwork and adaptability were also core lessons, which are understanding that success often depends on collaboration, communication and remaining calm under pressure. These qualities have carried over into my service as a Navy nurse, where accountability, compassion and a mission-first mindset are essential to caring for others and leading effectively in any environment, whether at home or deployed overseas.”
Ridgway’s responsibilities go beyond direct patient care, which may be surprising to some.
“Something that would surprise people back home about my job is how much of it goes beyond direct patient care,” Ridgway said. “As a Navy preoperative nurse, my role involves not only preparing patients for surgery but also managing logistics, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and ensuring readiness for both routine and emergent operations, often in environments with limited resources or high operational tempo. Many don’t realize how much planning, leadership and adaptability are required behind the scenes to keep surgical services running smoothly in support of global missions. It’s a blend of clinical expertise, operational precision and leadership that makes every day both challenging and rewarding.”
As a nurse, Ridgway supports Navy missions worldwide.
“As a Navy Nurse Corps officer and perioperative nurse, I oversee clinical operations, resource management and readiness initiatives that ensure safe, high-quality patient care across the military health system,” Ridgway said. “Specifically, as an operating room nurse, I prepare surgical patients for procedures ensuring their physical, emotional and logistical readiness while coordinating closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists and the operating room team. I assess patient needs, provide education and implement safety protocols. My work directly supports the Navy’s global mission by ensuring medical forces remain ready to deploy, sustain combat readiness and deliver world-class health care to service members, their families and our allies around the world.”
Ridgway, who has served in the Navy for 10 years, has witnessed Navy Medicine’s impact firsthand.
“I’ve seen Navy Medicine make a difference both during missions and in daily operations,” Ridgway said. “Whether it’s providing life-saving care to service members overseas, supporting humanitarian efforts in remote regions, or ensuring the health and readiness of sailors and their families at our military treatment facilities, Navy Medicine consistently demonstrates its global impact. In day-to-day operations, I’ve witnessed how teamwork, clinical excellence and operational readiness come together to restore health, build resilience and keep the fleet mission-ready. Seeing patients recover and sailors return to duty reminds me every day that what we do truly matters, to our patients, our commands and the Navy’s mission around the world.”
When reflecting on his Navy career, Ridgway considers having the trust of his command to be a defining milestone.
“One of the proudest moments of my Navy career was deploying aboard the USS Iwo Jima in 2021,” Ridgway said. “Serving as part of the medical department during that deployment was both an honor and a defining experience. It was a chance to put all of my training, leadership and clinical skills into action while supporting the health and readiness of sailors and Marines at sea.”
Ridgway said the long hours, unpredictable conditions and shared sense of purpose created a bond unlike any other.
“Being part of a team that could provide critical care in austere environments, while representing Navy Medicine’s commitment to readiness and compassion, was deeply fulfilling,” Ridgway said. “That deployment reminded me why I joined the Navy: to serve, to lead and to make a difference wherever duty calls.”
— Ensign Han Fiori-Puyu, Navy Office of Community Outreach
