Matthew Vajda

I am a PhD Candidate in warfare and American society specialization in government power, suppressing dissent, and intelligence gathering. While I am primarily an Early Americanist with interests in the American Revolution and Early Republic (1763-1820), my dissertation looks at the rise of General Ralph Van Deman, his influences in counterintelligence like John Jay, and his role in making military intelligence a necessary component of the armed forces to earn him the distinction of the "Father of American Military Intelligence" during the twentieth century. In addition to studying military history, I have broader interests in political history, the Atlantic World, and the historical contexts of and history's influence on music, particular heavy metal. In my free time, I am an avid New England sports fan (Go Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics!) and enjoy listening to heavy metal and hard rock music.