Director Euro-Atlantic Security

Matt Baugh OBE

Biography

Matt Baugh OBE is Director, Euro-Atlantic Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), responsible for NATO and security policy issues across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Before taking up this appointment in September 2022, Matt was Political and Security Director (and Ambassador to to the EU’s Political and Security Committee until the UK’s Exit) at the UK Mission to the European Union.

Between 2017 to 2019, he was Director of Negotiation Coordination and Strategy, as well as Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State, at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Before joining DExEU, Matt held several posts at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He was the Deputy Director for Africa (2013 to 2016) and, for a period, British envoy to the Great Lakes peace process.

From 2010 to 2013 he served as British Ambassador to Somalia, the first such appointment for over 20 years, for which he was awarded the OBE in 2013 for services to peace and security.

Matt is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy in 2010.

Between 1999 and 2010 Matt worked at the Department for International Development (DFID) in a variety of roles, including:

  • Principal Private Secretary to the Development Secretary
  • head of the Iraq Department (2005 to 2006)
  • head of the Cross-Government Stabilisation Unit (2004 to 2005, as well as in Sudan (2002 to 2004)
  • head of the Afghanistan Unit (2001 to 2002)
  • head of humanitarian operations and programmes (2000 to 2002)
  • head of the Kosovo unit (1999 to 2000)

He joined DFID from the Ministry of Defence.

Matt is married to Caroline; they have 3 school-aged children.

Director Euro-Atlantic Security

The Director for Euro-Atlantic Security is responsible for NATO and security policy issues across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office