Matthew Spence

Matthew Spence works at the intersection of venture capital, technology, and national security. Currently Managing Director and Global Head of Venture Capital Banking at Barclays, he leads efforts in emerging technology companies, focusing on food technology and alternative proteins. His private sector experience includes roles as a Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners, specializing in cybersecurity mergers and acquisitions. trumancenter+3

Spence's career includes significant contributions to U.S. national security. He spent seven years in senior roles within the Obama Administration, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy, advising three Secretaries of Defense and playing a central role in U.S.-Israel military planning and Middle East policy. He also worked on the National Security Council at the White House on cybersecurity, trade, and counter-terrorism efforts. trumancenter+3

Matthew Spence has strong academic credentials, holding a Doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and M.A. and B.A. degrees in International Policy Studies from Stanford University. He was a Marshall Scholar and Truman Scholar, and continues to engage with academia as a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University and previously as a Senior Fellow at Yale University and a William J. Perry Fellow at Stanford University. trumancenter+4

He co-founded and serves on the board of the Truman National Security Project, an organization dedicated to national security leadership, and is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, reflecting his long-standing commitment to international affairs and public service. trumancenter+1