Matthew J. Bracken is a bestselling American thriller author, known for his "Enemies Trilogy." He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1957 and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1979 with a degree in Russian Studies. Bracken's military career began when he was commissioned in the US Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at the university. After graduation, he attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training class 105 in Coronado, California, where he earned his qualifications as a SEAL.
Bracken served on east coast UDT and SEAL teams, including a stint in Beirut in 1983, where he led a Naval Special Warfare detachment. After completing his obligatory military service in Lebanon, he left active duty but remained in an active reserve status through the remainder of the 1980s. Since then, he has lived in various parts of the United States, including California, Florida, Guam, South Carolina, and Virginia. In 1993, Bracken built a 48-foot steel sailing cutter of his own design, on which he has done extensive ocean cruising, including a solo voyage of 9,000 miles from Panama to Guam and two Panama Canal transits.
Bracken is a self-described freedomista who loves ocean sailing for the pure freedom it often permits. He is a constitutionalist who believes in the original intent of the founding fathers of the country. He currently lives with his family in North Florida and longs for the wide blue ocean. In addition to his writing, Bracken has also published a collection of his short stories, essays, and other works, including "Professor Raoul X," "What I Saw at the Coup," and "Alas, Brave New Babylon." A free audio version of "Alas, Brave New Babylon" is available on his website.