Michael D. Matthews Ph.D.

Michael D. Matthews, Ph.D., is currently Professor of Engineering Psychology at the United States Military Academy in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. He served as President of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Military Psychology from 2007 to 2008 and is a Templeton Foundation Senior Positive Psychology Fellow. Collectively, his research interests center on Soldier performance in combat and other dangerous contexts. He has authored over 250 scientific papers, is the co-editor of Leadership in Dangerous Situations: A Handbook for Armed Forces, Emergency Services, and First Responders (Naval Institute Press, 2011) the Oxford Handbook of Military Psychology (Oxford University Press, 2012), and (in collaboration with co-editors David E. Rohall and Morten G. Ender), Inclusion in the American Military: A Force for Diversity, published by Lexington Books (2017). He is a co-author of The Millennial Generation and National Defense: Attitudes of Future Military and Civilian Leaders (Palgrave Pivot, 2013), and co-editor of Human Performance Optimization: The Science and Ethics of Enhancing Human Capabilities (Oxford University Press, 2019). Dr. Matthews is the author of the highly acclaimed Head Strong: How Psychology is Revolutionizing War (Oxford University Press, revised and expanded edition, April 2020), which explores the vital role of psychological science in 21st century war. His most recent book, coauthored with Lt. General Robert L. Caslen, Jr. (Ret.), is The Character Edge: Leading and Winning with Integrity (St. Martin's Press, October 2020).