Matthew Walter ’ 98

History alumnus appointed defense attache of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan

By Emma Dodds, freshman humanities major

Choosing a career in the military is not often common among Adventist graduates, yet Matthew Walter, who has now served in the Army for more than 20 years, can point to moments of preparation for his upcoming post as defense attache of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan among even his earliest days.

As a child, Walter relocated every couple of years to his father’s latest post as an Army physician, giving Walter both abundant cultural experience and a sense of resiliency. Walter spent three years living in Germany during one of his father’s assignments and became fascinated by his grandparent’s stories about living in Germany during World War II. He also became enthralled with culture, language, and travel.

Walter found himself asking complex questions about military history and the nuances of interpreting international relations during his peripatetic growing up. Walter decided that majoring in history would allow him to explore these interests and expand his knowledge about both the past and the present. Arriving to study at Walla Walla University carried on a legacy for Walter; both of his parents and numerous other family members had previously studied at WWU and created many fond memories there.

Walter remembers particularly enjoying the classes he took from Roland Blaich, professor of history. “I always found Dr. Blaich’s classes fascinating,” said Walter. “Having grown up in Germany himself, Dr. Blaich was able to blend his experiences with his course material in a way that captivated our attention.” Walter’s history major laid the groundwork for a wide variety of career paths. He considered pursuing a Ph.D. and becoming a historian, but also felt a strong call to be involved in public service. The right career path for Walter became clear to him during his master’s program in international relations at Yale University. Studying under and being mentored by a retired lieutenant general and defense attache at the university demonstrated to Walter that he could advance from being a soldier to eventually serve as a military diplomat. Surrounded by many classmates who were in the military made Walter value the honor and impact of service to the country. Shortly after graduation, Walter joined the Army.

The experiences Walter gleaned from his education at WWU had a profound impact on his early years in the Army. “It taught me the value of critical thinking and reading broadly, and it did so from a Christian perspective,” said Walter. He acknowledges that his career path is not a typical choice for Seventh-day Adventist university graduates, but also encourages students considering the military not to be deterred by their faith but rather to be inspired by it. “We have a Christian faith that guides us, but we still live in this world,” said Walter. “It is so important to be able to make a difference and be a part of the world as it is today.” Having the opportunity to advise leaders and make decisions during pivotal moments has made Walter feel proud and incredibly fulfilled from his work in diplomacy.

In 2021, Walter began the rigorous two-year training process for his new appointment as the defense attache of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan. “It will be a great honor and a great responsibility to serve as a defense attache—the highest position available in my career field,” said Walter. As defense attache, Walter’s responsibilities will include being a direct representative and advisor to ambassadors, being a representative of the United States, conveying official messages between the two militaries, and being a lead for United States military programs in Tajikistan. His role will be an integral part of negotiating new international agreements.

Walter is excited to arrive in Tajikistan with his wife and seven-year-old daughter in July. Together, they will experience a new culture and support each other during their international move. Walter expects the most difficult part of the move to be ensuring that his two cats have a comfortable journey overseas. The achievement of this highly-ranked senior post within his field will give Walter the option of completing additional assignments as a defense attache around the globe if he enjoys his two-year post in Tajikistan.

When asked to consider his greatest successes, Walter reflected on the continuous nature of his work in the military. “Everything we do is part of a process,” Walter explained. “We receive our duties from the person that came before us, and eventually pass it on to the next person. I am proud to have been even a small part of implementing United States strategy and to have acted on my commitment to serve my country.”

Walter’s unique experience, his sense of duty, and his family legacy all will be invested into his new role in Tajikistan.