Matt Chessen

About Matt Chessen

Matt Chessen is a seasoned U.S. diplomat, technology advisor, and author who currently develops geopolitical strategies for the AGI Future with the RAND Corporation. In his final assignment as a U.S. diplomat, Matt led U.S. government (USG) strategies in East Asia and the Pacific for critical and emerging technologies. Throughout his career, Matt has built relationships with international organizations, nonprofits, foreign governments, and the private sector to advance frameworks that enhance U.S. competitiveness, particularly in the rapidly developing field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He is a frequent speaker on USG AI policy and excels at strategic planning, leading complex cross-functional projects, stakeholder engagement, and translating strategy into action.In response to the growing need for enhanced foreign technology policy coordination within the U.S. Department of State (DOS), Matt built the Department’s AI portfolio, successfully developing bilateral, regional government, and private sector dialogues and fostering the creation of a workforce capable of executing technology diplomacy. Matt has a keen ability to create compelling narratives that reflect his enthusiasm for the technological future. For example, he wrote “The MADCOM Future,” a landmark study examining the nexus between AI and computational propaganda and two action-packed science fiction novels.Key Accomplishments:• Led cross-functional team that created and wrote DOS’ first International Engagement Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, successfully balancing competing security and economic interests, and institutionalizing AI policy across DOS. • Built regional innovation networks, including the Quad Technology Business and Investment Forum (a dialogue between U.S, Japanese, Australian, and Indian governments and private sector), developed a global strategy for regional technology officers, enhancing competitiveness on critical and emerging technologies.• Spearheaded development and operation of a 60-member Technology Diplomacy Working Group, enabling foreign policy coordination and fostering creation of a workforce capable of executing technology diplomacy.

Experience

1. Oecd Expert

   Oecd.Ai

   Jan 2025 — Present · US

   Expert member of the OECD AI Futures Group

Education

• University of Arizona - Eller College of Management

  Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• University of Arizona

  Bachelor of Arts

• Georgetown University Law Center

  Doctor of Law (JD)

Skills

• Africa
• Peacebuilding
• Project Planning
• Proposal Writing
• Governance
• Capacity Building
• Iraq
• Military
• Crowdsourcing
• Crisis Management
• Strategic Planning
• International Development
• Political Science
• User Experience
• Reintegration Programs
• Public Policy
• Foreign Affairs
• Diplomacy
• Command
• Change Management
• Artificial Intelligence
• International Organizations
• Strategy
• Policy
• Futurism
• Dod
• National Security
• Economics
• International Relations
• User-Centered Design
• Analysis
• Afghanistan
• Cyber
• Management
• Project Management
• Security
• Policy Analysis
• Political Risk Analysis
• Program Management
• Peace Process