REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)
POST: Brunei Darussalam
CANDIDATE: Matthew John Matthews
Matthew John Matthews, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is currently Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, a position he has held since June, 2015. Mr. Matthews, who has spent most of his 31 years in the Foreign Service in the Asia-Pacific region, has handled bilateral, regional, and multilateral economic, commercial and security policy issues during senior assignments in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Beijing, and PACOM. His leadership and management skills, his experience working Washington’s interagency trade and commercial policy process, as well as his commitment to advocating for U.S. businesses, would serve him well as the U.S. Ambassador to Brunei.
Previously, Mr. Matthews served the State Department as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii (2013-2015), Economic Officer, Office of Economic Policy, Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs (2013), Deputy Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Hong Kong (2010-2013), Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2007-2010), Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Canberra, Australia (2004-2007), Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Beijing, China (2001-2004) and Economic Officer, American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan (1998-2001). He also served as Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan, Economic Officer, Brazil Desk, Science and Technology Officer, American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan, Economic Officer U.S. Embassy Beijing, China and Consular Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Hong Kong.
Mr. Matthews earned a B.A. from the University of Oregon and a M.A from Johns Hopkins University. He studied Chinese at Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan (1977-1979) and at the Foreign Service Institute Chinese Language School, Taipei, Taiwan (1997-1998). He completed Long-term Economic Training at the Foreign Service Institute (1992-1993). Mr. Matthews is the recipient of 12 notable State Department awards as well as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.