J. Matthew Vaccaro

J. Matthew Vaccaro

J. Matthew Vaccaro

Senior Lecturer for Peacekeeping, Conflict and Terrorism Practice & Capability

Mr. Matt Vaccaro is Senior Lecturer for Peacekeeping, Conflict, and Terrorism at the Institute for Security Governance (ISG). He leads the functional practice group which focuses on building partners’ capability to conduct peace operations; prevent or prevail during internal conflict and terrorism; and manage various human security issues in conflict-affected environments. His personal advising and education expertise is in the fields of conflict management, national security decision-making, and governance capacity building. Vaccaro served in senior leadership positions within the Institute from 2019 through 2024 before returning to the frontline mission with partner countries and Allies.  

Mr. Vaccaro began his career as an Army officer in the 10th Mountain Division in the early 1990s. Subsequently, as a civil servant, he has served as Director for Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs on the National Security Council Staff and Director of the Office of Peace Operations in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as action officer positions in the Pentagon and analysis roles at a research firm and think tank. 

From 2003 to 2019, he served in various faculty and leadership positions within the Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) helping partner countries manage governance and political violence challenges. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from Stanford University. Mr. Vaccaro and his wife have two college-age children. 

Areas of Expertise
  • Change Management
  • Civil-Military Relations
  • Conflict Management & Resolution
  • Security & Defense Policy & Strategy
  • Security Sector Reform
J. Matthew Vaccaro Senior Lecturer for Peacekeeping, Conflict and Terrorism Practice & Capability
J. Matthew Vaccaro

Mr. Matt Vaccaro is Senior Lecturer for Peacekeeping, Conflict, and Terrorism at the Institute for Security Governance (ISG). He leads the functional practice group which focuses on building partners’ capability to conduct peace operations; prevent or prevail during internal conflict and terrorism; and manage various human security issues in conflict-affected environments. His personal advising and education expertise is in the fields of conflict management, national security decision-making, and governance capacity building. Vaccaro served in senior leadership positions within the Institute from 2019 through 2024 before returning to the frontline mission with partner countries and Allies.  

Mr. Vaccaro began his career as an Army officer in the 10th Mountain Division in the early 1990s. Subsequently, as a civil servant, he has served as Director for Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs on the National Security Council Staff and Director of the Office of Peace Operations in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as action officer positions in the Pentagon and analysis roles at a research firm and think tank. 

From 2003 to 2019, he served in various faculty and leadership positions within the Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) helping partner countries manage governance and political violence challenges. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from Stanford University. Mr. Vaccaro and his wife have two college-age children. 

Areas of Expertise
  • Change Management
  • Civil-Military Relations
  • Conflict Management & Resolution
  • Security & Defense Policy & Strategy
  • Security Sector Reform
DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION UNIVERSITY Center of Intellectual Life for the Security Cooperation Enterprise
J. Matthew Vaccaro
J. Matthew Vaccaro Senior Lecturer for Peacekeeping, Conflict and Terrorism Practice & Capability Defense Security Cooperation University

Mr. Matt Vaccaro is Senior Lecturer for Peacekeeping, Conflict, and Terrorism at the Institute for Security Governance (ISG). He leads the functional practice group which focuses on building partners’ capability to conduct peace operations; prevent or prevail during internal conflict and terrorism; and manage various human security issues in conflict-affected environments. His personal advising and education expertise is in the fields of conflict management, national security decision-making, and governance capacity building. Vaccaro served in senior leadership positions within the Institute from 2019 through 2024 before returning to the frontline mission with partner countries and Allies.  

Mr. Vaccaro began his career as an Army officer in the 10th Mountain Division in the early 1990s. Subsequently, as a civil servant, he has served as Director for Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs on the National Security Council Staff and Director of the Office of Peace Operations in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as action officer positions in the Pentagon and analysis roles at a research firm and think tank. 

From 2003 to 2019, he served in various faculty and leadership positions within the Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) helping partner countries manage governance and political violence challenges. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from Stanford University. Mr. Vaccaro and his wife have two college-age children.