Instructor Matze is married with three children and lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of his hometown, Roanoke, Virginia.  Jay is a Sergeant of the uniform division of the Roanoke County Police Department and holds additional collateral duties as Assistant SWAT Commander, entry team leader and sniper.  He is a Driving and Defensive Tactics Instructor as well as a NIMS/ICS Instructor.   He is privileged to serve as the Honor Guard Commander for the Roanoke County Police.

Instructor Matze got his start in Emergency Services as a volunteer on the tailboards with the Cave Spring station of the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department rising to the rank of Lieutenant and fire instructor.  He spent 18 years on the line preferring to lead from the bucket instead of the seat before transitioning to his current reserve status. 

Jay is a NHGA alum and instructs with the enthusiasm of one who has been where you are.  He earned his introduction to drill and ceremony as a United States Marine serving with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.  Jay served on the color team during ceremonies while stationed in Japan.  Jay continues military service in the Marine Reserve ground forces.  Following active duty, Jay returned to school receiving his bachelor’s degree from Elon University in North Carolina.  Jay began his career in Law Enforcement as a Deputy with the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office, later moving to the Roanoke County Police.  

In his off time Jay enjoys spending time traveling and vacationing at the beach with his family.  He also enjoys coaching football for his son’s sandlot teams and playing linebacker for the Roanoke Rampage of the National Public Safety Football League.

Jay has a passion for the seamless rendering of appropriate honors for fallen brothers and sisters and especially the sacrifice of their families. "We carry for the carried, that they may rest in honored reverence, those selfless, courageous blaze masters and gun fighters that have reached Godspeed."