Matt Van Etten is a highly experienced foreign policy and conflict resolution expert with over ten years of experience in support of U.S. foreign initiatives. He has demonstrated leadership experience in hostile environments, including U.S. Embassies in Kabul, Tripoli, and Nairobi, as well as the U.S. Consulate General Lagos, where he managed a non-governmental organization in Afghanistan.

He has a cumulative background in strategic prevention and stabilization efforts across multi-stakeholder environments. His expertise includes strategic planning, security sector reform, electoral violence prevention, and countering violent extremism. Matt is highly skilled in coordinating multi-stakeholder efforts among various civil society actors, including U.S. civilian, military, and host government agencies.

Matt holds a cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, English, and U.S. Foreign Policy from Amherst College. He also pursued a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy with a focus on Security Studies, U.S. Foreign Policy, Southwest Asia, and Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Additionally, he pursued a Master's degree in International Relations and National Security Studies at The Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington.

Matt has served in various positions, including Foreign Affairs Officer, Horn of Africa Team Lead, Stabilization Advisor and Kenya Lead at Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Kenya Elections Violence Prevention Team Lead at U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Lake Chad Basin Regional Team Lead at Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Nigeria Team Lead at U.S. Consulate Lagos, Security Sector Stabilization Officer at U.S. Embassy Tripoli, and Libya Team Lead at Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

Additionally, Matt has served as a consultant at the Center for Complex Operations at the National Defense University, Program Manager at Trust in Education, Advisor at the Republic of the Marshall Islands Mission to the UN, Intern at the Office of UN Political Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Sales and Operations Specialist at Saxco International Inc., and Teacher and Program Manager at WorldTeach.