Mr. Matthew Williams is Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He oversees the development and execution of the Secretary’s agenda and advises the Secretary on a range of matters affecting the Air Force and Space Force.
Prior to joining the Department of the Air Force, Mr. Williams was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Senate Affairs, and performed the duties of both Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative Affairs. He was a primary adviser to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense and liaison with members and committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He facilitated the preparation and confirmation of more than 40 of the Department of Defense’s Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed officials.
Prior to his appointment, he served as National Security Adviser to U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.
Mr. Williams began his career as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency, where he served as the Middle East and Africa Desk Office in the National Security Operations Center.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Florida, Gainesville
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Washington, D.C.
2013 Master of Arts, International Relations and Economics, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. May 2007–December 2008, Special Assistant, Office of Senator Bill Nelson, Washington, D.C.
2. December 2008–July 2011, Intelligence Analyst, National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
4. April 2014–February 2019, National Security Adviser, Office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Washington, D.C.
5. February 2019–January 2022, National Security Adviser, Office of U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris, Washington, D.C.
6. January 2021–October 2022, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Senate Affairs, Performing the Duties of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Arlington, Va.
7. November 2022–present, Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
OTHER AWARDS AND ACIEVEMENTS
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service
2020 LGBTQIA+ Leadership List, Out in National Security and New America
(Current as of January 2023)