Maj. Miki Matsuo is a Japanese American from White Plains, New York. As a youth, she lived in Japan for eight years.
Matsuo received her commission in 1993 after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Factors Engineering.
She became a Military Intelligence officer and graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School and Air Assault School. Matsuo left the service after completing her military obligation but later joined the New Mexico Army National Guard.
When asked why she chose the NMARNG, Matsuo said, “I wanted to complete my service. The National Guard just had more of what I was looking for. I found out about the National Guard from another Guardsman, and he painted a picture of another family.”
Matsuo also found a second family in the National Guard.
“If you want to serve, the Guard makes it easy. They’re very accommodating,” she said. “They help you serve.”
Matsuo currently serves as the Personnel Officer for the 93rd Troop Command in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has her own translating business.
She is the Guard’s State Coordinator for the Marathon Team and Endurance Team as well as being a member of both teams. She also represents the Guard at the national level in both events.
Already an experienced runner, endurance athlete, and powerlifter, Matsuo recently added tennis to her pastimes. When she is not representing the National Guard, she frequently competes with her husband, Mark MacKenzie.
Matsuo has two children: daughter Amelia and son Marcus.
Matsuo has been coaching Soldiers since 2014 to prepare them to retake the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and raise their test scores, particularly the General Technical or GT score.
The GT score is often a criterion for career opportunities within the military.
“Two hundred plus Soldiers have gone through that (ASVAB improvement) course,” Matsuo said. “Many have become warrant officers and (commissioned) officers. I’m very proud of that.”
Although retirement is inevitable, Matsuo focuses on her remaining time in uniform.
“Hopefully, I’ll get to command again,” she said.
Matsuo commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Forces Headquarters-New Mexico, in Santa Fe from 2017 to 2019.She plans to remain active with the marathon and endurance sports programs, both as a competitor and recruiter/coach.
“Fitness has always been a big part of me and my lifestyle,” Matsuo said. “I feel like I have a lot to contribute since it’s my pastime and my passion.”
She added that she needs to find another tutor for the ASVAB improvement course before retiring.
Obviously, Matsuo is not done serving the NMNG yet.
“I feel like I still have a lot to contribute, and I feel like I’m part of the organization,” she said.
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