Matthew W. Taylor

Matthew W. Taylor is currently the Special Assistant to the Vice Commander of U. S Special Operations Command. Prior to this assignment, Major Taylor was a Legislative Fellow working for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. His duties included advising the Senator and his staff on all defense and foreign policy issues and working with the Senate Appropriations Committee staff on all funding pertaining to these issues. Major Taylor received his commission through Air Force ROTC in May 2005. A career pilot, he has enjoyed assignments as a C-130 aircraft commander and an MC-130P/J instructor pilot. He has served in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and multiple humanitarian relief and contingency operations throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. (This bio is current to when the participant joined FDD’s National Security Network.)