About Matt

I was born in Montclair, New Jersey. My family moved to the District of Columbia when I was a child. I attended the District of Columbia Public Schools and graduated from Woodrow Wilson Senior High School in June 1979.

I enlisted in the United States Navy in July 1980. I served for thirteen years as an enlisted man attaining the rank of Chief Operations Specialist. I earned my commission as a Limited Duty Officer (Surface Warfare) and served in that capacity until my retirement from the service in October 2003. 

My individual military awards include: the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and Navy Good Conduct Medal (four awards).   

I am married to Deborah Lee (Greene) McCoy of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. We have two adult children: Alexander Baldwin McCoy and Sarah Thompson McCoy. Both are graduates of North Kingstown High School. My son is married to Hannah Waldrip. They have a daughter named Evelyn and a son named Tristan. My wife and I reside 381 Potter Road, North Kingstown, Rhode Island. 

Following my retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2003, I began working as a Principal Systems Engineer for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. The majority of my time working at Raytheon was on the U.S. Navy's Zumwalt-class destroyer program. I retired from Raytheon in January 2016 to start my own consulting business, J2 Research & Analysis, LLC. 

In 2017, I was appointed by Governor Gina M. Raimondo to lead the Rhode Island World War I Centennial Commission. Together with the other members of the Commission, I planned and conducted numerous events commemorating the service and sacrifice of Rhode Islanders during America's involvement in World War I (1917-1918). I served as the state's liaison to the United States World War I Centennial Commission. In July 2018, I travelled to the American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in France to officially commemorate Rhode Island's war dead. 

From April 2022 to March 2026, I served as a member of the Quonset Development Corporation Board of Directors. I was  one of two directors appointed to represent the town.  

I am a certified Adult Mental Health First Aid instructor. I have provided this course of instruction to several hundred students over the past few years due to grants provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to local hospitals, colleges, and other organizations. 

I am a passionate advocate for the passage and enactment of common sense gun safety laws. I am a volunteer with the Rhode Island Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense and have previously served as the chapter's Red Flag (Extreme Risk Protection Order) Lead. During the legislative session of the Rhode Island General Assembly, you will find me at the statehouse testifying in favor of gun safety legislation, such as the recently enacted legislation pertaining to the safe storage of firearms in the home.

In my capacity as the National Legislative Committee member for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the Department of Rhode Island, I have the opportunity to advocate for the passage of veterans-related legislation being considered by the Rhode Island General Assembly.