Chief Executive Officer

Matt Merrill

Matt oversees all strategic and day-to-day operations of Rowan, including Design, Content Production, UI/UX, Technical Programs, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Customer Relations, and Business Development. His expansive skillset is the result of an equally-broad career spanning the fields of design, architecture, finance, research, and urban planning. A designer and technologist by training, Matt conceptualizes and oversees the creative output of Rowan while expertly working across various specialties to develop new technologies and capabilities.

Matt received his bachelors from USC and his masters from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Presidential Fellowship, John mead Howells Fellowship, Heffernan Award, and the Starr and Arthur Lehman Scholarships.

Vincent Viola

He is currently the Chairman and CEO of Virtu Financial and served as both the Vice Chairman (1993–1996) and Chairman (2001–2004) of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Mr. Viola has launched a number of successful businesses during his career, including Virtu Financial and a regional banking group in Texas that is now listed on NASDAQ (IBTX).

Mr. Viola co-founded and was Chairman of the National Children’s Educational Reform Foundation, which is dedicated to the fundamental reform and improvement of inner-city education with an emphasis on bi-lingual programs in immigrant communities. Mr. Viola has served on the West Point Fund committee, an arm of the board of trustees that supports academy cadet programs. In 1997, Mr. Viola received a man-of-the-year award from the Eden School for Autistic Children. In 1998, Mr. Viola was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. In 2000, he was honored with the community service award from the Futures and Options for Kids charitable organization.

Mr. Viola served in the 101st Airborne Division and completed both Ranger and Airborne Schools. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1977, where he continues to support the many endeavors of the school, including the Combatting Terrorism Center (CTC) and the HistoryDepartment. In 1983, he graduated from New York Law School with a juris doctor degree.

Timothy R. Strabbing

Tim Strabbing graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2001, serving as Brigade Commander his final year. Mr. Strabbing was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to attend Oxford University, earning a Master’s Degree in Russian and Eastern Studies. As an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, Mr. Strabbing served two combat tours in Al Anbar, Iraq, including leading a platoon in the Battle of Fallujah. Mr. Strabbing subsequently taught U.S. foreign policy and irregular warfare in the Political Science Department at the Naval Academy. After leaving active duty, he served as a civilian policy advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. Mr. Strabbing currently serves as the Executive Director of the Viola Foundation, focusing on education, national security, and faith-based initiatives. In addition to his leadership of Rowan Technology, he enjoys facilitating fellowships for the Madison Policy Forum, supporting the Downing Scholarship program, and range of other philanthropic activities.

General John P. Abizaid

General Abizaid has had a distinguished and storied career in the U.S. Army. He served as the 66th Commandant of Cadets at West Point from 1997 to 1999, was the Director of the Joint Staff, and Commander of United States Central Command. His military education extends to being a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and an Army War College Senior Fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Following his active duty service, he served as the Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He works with the Preventative Defense Project at Stanford University and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Through JPA Partners, LLC, General Abizaid provides strategic and analytic consulting services to corporate, non-profit, international, and government clients.

General Abizaid graduated in 1973 from the United States Military Academy. He also received the Olmsted Scholarship at the University of Jordan, Amman, and a Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.