In early 2014, he retired from the Navy and later joined Lockheed Martin, providing aviation sustainment operations support to the US military.

[2] In this role he oversaw a series of cultural changes to increase organizational efficiency, including the implementation of Lean Six Sigma, and Sean Covey's Four Disciplines of Execution.

[2] The following year, he was one of three admirals on the administrative panel that reviewed the case of astronaut Lisa Nowak, and recommended her separation from the Navy with an other than honorable discharge and reduction in rank.

Reductions in training time for ships' crews increased the maintenance difficulties in the medium term, and the possibility of layoffs from contractors and the consequent loss of skilled labor posed a long-term threat.

[6][7][8] Ultimately, the political crisis was resolved by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which ended sequestration and restored funding,[9] but Matthews decided to retire.

[2] On 1 June 2014, Matthews joined Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked as vice president for F-35 Lightning II Sustainment Operations.