CAPT Matthew T. "Matt" Scassero, USN (Ret.) '07

Matt is the Director for Research, Innovation and Outreach for the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM). He promotes the Clark School’s role in the areas of integrated education and research (specifically focusing on autonomous technologies), outreach, and economic/community development. He also supports the USMSM mission of increasing impact of the institution to the local and regional community by increasing non-traditional educational partnering opportunities, creating integrated educational and research opportunities both internally and externally, and increasing research expenditures by supporting interdisciplinary research initiatives. Before this Matt was the Director of the University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site, focusing the resources and efforts of the state of Maryland on working with the FAA to integrate UAS into the national airspace, and enabling public access to these valuable assets to empower a flourishing new industry. Prior to his work with UAS, Matt was the Chief Contracts Officer for Melwood, a non-profit dedicated to empowering people with differing disabilities to enrich their own lives through rehabilitative services and employment opportunities. Matt completed a 27 year career in the US Navy prior to this, retiring as the Vice Commander for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, the Navy’s principal research, development, test, evaluation, engineering and fleet support activity for naval aircraft and systems. Matt has served America in a wide variety of leadership roles both at sea and ashore, including command of the Navy’s weapons school devoted to electronic warfare, and Air Boss on a carrier. He has flown combat missions in Iraq and Kosovo, and has deployed to six of the seven seas and 25 nations across five continents. Matt earned his BS in Physics/Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy, his Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, and is a Leadership Maryland graduate. He is on the Leadership Council and is a founding board member of Leadership Southern Maryland, as well as a board member, facilitator and peer/mentor for the post-traumatic stress program Warfighter Advance, and a facilitator at the Naval Academy Leadership Capstone program. He presents leadership sessions concentrating on public missions and overcoming obstacles with new approaches. His focus is to increase access to and making the most of opportunities, and leading from a position of competence, courage and compassion.