Lieutenant Colonel Matt Dobney was born and raised in Victoria, entering the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2003 before graduating from the Royal Military College in 2005. His regimental appointments have included the 1st Topographical Survey Squadron, 21st Construction Squadron, Adjutant of the 6th Engineer Support Regiment and sub-unit command at the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment. He has also served as a Project Director at Capital Facilities and Infrastructure Branch where he shaped and delivered Defence infrastructure to enable the future Objective Force.

More recently, Lieutenant Colonel Dobney led Post Group in the Directorate of Officer Career Management – Army through a very turbulent COVID-19 year. He was promoted in September 2020 to take up his first Staff Officer Grade One appointment within Post Group.