Matt Pottinger

Former Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow.

Mr. Pottinger covered China for the Wall Street Journal from 2001to 2005 and for Reuters News Agency from 1998 to 2001. His stories, including investigations into energy and environmental pollution, the impact of official corruption, and the 2003 SARS epidemic, won awards from the Society of Publishers in Asia.

In September 2005, he put his writing career on hold to serve five years as a U.S. Marine. He completed three combat deployments: to Iraq from April to November 2007 and to Afghanistan from November 2008 to May 2009 and from July 2009 to May 2010. While in Afghanistan in 2009, he cofounded and trained the Marine Corps' first Female Engagement Teams. On his second Afghanistan deployment, he spearheaded an investigation into problems with the U.S. intelligence effort, coauthoring with Major General Mike Flynn the critical 2010 report “Fixing Intel: A Blueprint for Making Intelligence Relevant in Afghanistan.” Mr. Pottinger's military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the 2009 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kuszewski award for Marine Corps Intelligence Officer of the Year. He finished active duty as a captain in August 2010 to resume civilian life as a writer.