Washington, D.C. — The Stimson Center mourns the passing of Mathew J. Burrows, Counselor in the Executive Office and Program Lead of the Strategic Foresight Hub. A distinguished public servant, pioneering thinker, and trusted mentor to generations of foreign policy professionals, Mat dedicated his life to understanding the forces shaping our world and helping others prepare for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

Over nearly three decades of government service at the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Department of State, Mat established himself as one of the world’s foremost experts on strategic foresight and global trend analysis. At the National Intelligence Council, he helped fundamentally transform how the U.S. intelligence community thinks about the future, and was the principal author of three editions of its influential Global Trends series. His leading work on long-range strategic analysis encouraged policymakers to look beyond immediate crises, challenge conventional wisdom, and consider alternative futures in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. 

Following his retirement from government service in 2013, Mat brought the same intellectual rigor, curiosity, and commitment to public service to the think tank community, where he served as Director of Foresight and co-director of the New American Engagement Initiative at the Atlantic Council. A prolific author and scholar, his books and publications challenged readers to grapple with long-term geopolitical transformations and consider how today’s choices might shape tomorrow’s realities. 

Mat joined the Stimson Center in 2023, helping establish its Strategic Foresight Hub and bringing decades of experience to an institution committed to pragmatic solutions for global peace and security. At Stimson, he continued to champion rigorous, independent thinking while nurturing the next generation of analysts and policy professionals.  

“Mat embodied the best of public service: intellectual honesty, independent judgment, and a profound commitment to making the world a better place,” said Rachel Stohl, Acting President and CEO of the Stimson Center. “He was a thoughtful colleague, a generous mentor, and a deeply valued member of the Stimson community. We are heartbroken by his loss, and we will carry his legacy forward in the work that he helped build.” 

Beyond his remarkable professional accomplishments, Mat’s quiet, thoughtful, and kind demeanor, along with his genuine joy in sharing his knowledge and experience with colleagues, will leave a lasting impression on the foreign policy community.  

“Mat was not only a mentor, but also a close friend,” said Julian Mueller-Kaler, Director of the Strategic Foresight Hub at the Stimson Center and long-term colleague of Mat at the Atlantic Council and Stimson Center. “He was a quiet, enormously kind soul whose warmth and generosity were not always immediately apparent, but whose care for those around him ran incredibly deep. He taught me and the team far more than how to think about the future – he showed what it means to live a life of intellectual curiosity, integrity, and service to others. Together, we can honor his remarkable intellectual legacy, celebrate his life of impact, and, above all, remember him for the kind, curious, and loving person he was.” 

The Stimson Center extends its deepest condolences to Mat’s family, friends, and colleagues around the world. We will miss his wisdom, friendship, and quiet humanity. His legacy will live on in the futures he helped us imagine and the people he inspired to shape them. 

More at www.stimson.org.