Lieutenant Colonel Matt S. McNerney entered Officer Candidate School in June 2004. He attended The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, from August 2004 through February 2005. In March of 2005, he attended Amphibian Assault Schools Battalion and graduated in June of 2005.

Following Schools Battalion, Second Lieutenant McNerney served as a Platoon Commander, Company D, 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC. In March of 2006, Second Lieutenant McNerney deployed to Fallujah, Iraq as an Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Platoon Commander. In November of 2006, First Lieutenant McNerney was selected to serve as the MEU AAV Platoon Commander for Battalion Landing Team, 3d Battalion, 8th Marines. In July of 2007, First Lieutenant McNerney deployed to the Persian Gulf with BLT 3/8. In March of 2008, First Lieutenant McNerney returned to 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion and served as the Executive Officer for Company C.

In June of 2008, Captain McNerney reported to The Basic School and served as the primary instructor for machine guns, AAV Platoon Commander for Infantry Officer Course as well as Staff Platoon Commander for Company A. In July of 2011, Captain McNerney attended resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA.

In May of 2012, Captain McNerney checked into 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA and served as the Operations Officer for Task Force Gator in support of Task Force Southwest, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In June of 2013, Captain McNerney served as Company Commander, Company A, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion and deployed with his company to Okinawa Japan during the Unit Deployment Program.

In June of 2015, Major McNerney attended resident Marine Corps Command and Staff College. From June 2016 to June of 2019, Major McNerney served as the Battalion Executive Officer and Operations Officer for 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, Inspector-Instructor Duty. From June 2019 to January 2020, Major McNerney served as the Battalion Operations Officer, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion. In January 2020, LtCol McNerney assumed the role of Officer In Charge, Security Cooperation Team Jordan and deployed to Jordan in May of 2020. LtCol McNerney returned from Jordan in December of 2020 and then served as a I MEF Planner supporting Marine Rotational ForceDarwin. In July of 2021 reported to Marine Corps Embassy Security Group and is serving as the Executive Officer.

LtCol McNerney holds two Masters Degrees in Military Operations and Criminal Justice.