Matt Murray (MPIA ’97), Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, will deliver the 2026 Commencement Address for the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh.
Murray has spent nearly three decades at the State Department, building a career at the intersection of diplomacy, economic strategy, and global security. In his current role, he helps guide U.S. policy and partnerships across a region that is central to global stability, economic growth, and international cooperation.
Previously, Murray served as the U.S. Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from 2022 to 2025. During that time, he led U.S. engagement in one of the world’s most important economic forums, coordinating policy across 21 member economies and advancing priorities tied to trade, growth, and regional collaboration. In recognition of his leadership, he was nominated by President Biden to hold the rank of Ambassador and confirmed by the Senate in May of 2023.
A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Murray’s career reflects a sustained commitment to public service at the highest levels. He has held senior leadership roles across the State Department and beyond, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Negotiations and Director of the 24/7 Watch in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. His overseas assignments include serving as Economic Minister-Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, and Political and Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Dar Es Salaam, among others.
He also brings experience from the academic and national security space, having served as Deputy Commandant of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University, where he helped shape the next generation of national security leaders.
Murray holds a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, as well as degrees from the U.S. Army War College and Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.
This year’s ceremony will be held at 3:30 pm on Friday, May 1, 2026, in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum.