November 1, 2021
Contact: Maeve Cronin
mcronin7@gmu.edu
Matthew G. Olsen Confirmed as Assistant Attorney General to the Department of Justice’s National Security Division
Arlington, VA – On October 28, 2021, Matthew G. Olsen, former NSI Advisory Board member, was confirmed to be Assistant Attorney General to the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. Mr. Olsen served on NSI’s Advisory Board until his announced appointment. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Olsen served as Chief Trust and Security Officer at Uber, where he was responsible for leading a global team that oversees cyber security, corporate security and investigations, and law enforcement engagement for Uber. Mr. Olsen was also Co-Founder, President, and Chief Revenue Officer at IronNet Cybersecurity prior to joining Uber.
Prior to Uber, Mr. Olsen served in the Obama Administration as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, where he was responsible for strategic operational planning of counterterrorism efforts and analysis of terrorism information. Mr. Olsen also served as General Counsel to the NSA, where he focused on surveillance law and cyber operations, as well as held various positions at the Department of Justice, including Associate Deputy Attorney General, Special Counselor to the Attorney General and Executive Director of the Guantanamo Review Task Force, and acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security. Mr. Olsen began his extensive career in public service as a trial attorney in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, followed by over a decade of work as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
“Matt Olsen is a consummate national security leader and professional whose long record of service to the nation will serve him well in his new role as the head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder & Executive Director of the National Security Institute at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. “While we are sad to lose Matt as a member of our Advisory Board, a capacity he has served in since NSI’s founding, we are thrilled that he will once again be in position help protect our national security,” said Jaffer, who served alongside Mr. Olsen in the Bush Justice Department. “We need more people like Matt Olsen in the government at a time of great threat to our nation and we are excited to work with him in his new role,” said Jaffer.
Mr. Olsen’s bio can be found here.
About the National Security Institute
The National Security Institute serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development that incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing U.S. intelligence, defense, law enforcement, homeland security, and cybersecurity communities. NSI draws on the experience of its fellows, as well as its highly distinguished advisory board and faculty, to produce timely research and policy materials that deliver insightful analysis and actionable recommendations to senior policymakers in the White House and key departments and agencies, as well as those on Capitol Hill.
About the Scalia Law School
The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University is defined by three words: Learn. Challenge. Lead. Students receive an outstanding legal education (Learn), are taught to critically evaluate prevailing orthodoxy and pursue new ideas (Challenge), and, ultimately, are well prepared to distinguish themselves in their chosen fields (Lead). It has been one of America’s top-ranked law schools for the last fifteen years.
About George Mason University
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 33,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility.