Meet the Team
Always Remember, Never Surrender
Joseph Wiseman - Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Joe is the managing director and founder of Steel Hearts. He graduated from the United States Military Academy and commissioned as an infantry officer in 2008. After deploying to Iraq with the 2nd Infantry Division in 2009, he attended the Maneuver Captain's Career Course (MCCC) at Fort Benning, GA.
After MCCC, Joe commanded a company at Carlisle Barracks and launched Steel Hearts with Chris Merz in 2014. He then deployed to the Sinai peninsula for 12 months, serving as a member of Task Force Sinai and the Multinational Force and Observers.
Joe left active duty service in 2017 to attend the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan for his MBA. He is excited to continue to grow Steel Hearts as a force for positive change and impact for the West Point community. Joe currently resides in South Carolina.
Chris Merz - Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer
Chris graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2007 and was commissioned as an infantry officer in the US Army. He served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and deployed seven times to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo in a variety of leadership and staff positions. Chris met Joe at the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, GA, and the two collaborated to bring Steel Hearts to life in 2014 to honor their fallen classmates. He serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Director.
After company command, Chris left active duty service in 2016 and is an officer in the US Army Reserve. He holds a MBA from the University of Washington, is a former consultant with McKinsey & Company, and is currently the Chief of Staff for the CEO of Russell Investments. Chris resides with his wife, Lauren, in Bellevue, WA.
John Crowley - Chief Operating Officer
John graduated from the United States Military Academy in May of 2014 and commissioned as an engineer officer in the US Army. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division and deployed to Afghanistan for 9 months in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in 2017.
John joined the Steel Hearts team in the fall of 2015 and has worked to expand the Steel Hearts mission across a variety of social media platforms and grow the community while serving as President and Chief Operating Officer.
John is currently pursuing his MBA at Harvard Business School and MPP at Harvard Kennedy School as a full-time graduate student.
Chris Marti - Director of Air Force Operations
Chris graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2009 and commissioned as a Pilot. Since graduating, he has served as a C-5M Instructor Pilot in the 9th Airlift Squadron at Dover AFB, DE and T-6 Instructor Pilot the 33rd, 8th, and 5th Flying Training Squadrons. He has flown combat missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Operation New Dawn.
Chris joined the Steel Hearts team in the spring of 2018 in an effort to expand Steel Hearts and honor fallen Air Force Academy classmates. He hopes to continue to grow the Air Force branch of Steel Hearts, to spread the stories of our fallen heroes as far as possible.
Matt Schwartz - Associate Director of Air Force Operations
Matt graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2020 with a B.S in Management. While at the Air Force Academy, Matt was a member of the men’s lacrosse team, and served as team captain during his firstie year.
Matt commissioned as a Space Operations and Acquisitions Officer in the US Space Force, and currently serves at Peterson SFB in Colorado Springs, CO.
Matt joined Steel Hearts in the fall of 2021 with a desire to celebrate fallen USAFA graduates and grow the Air Force branch of Steel Hearts.
Nicholas Hanson - Director of Navy Operations
Nicholas graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2011 with a B.S. in Arabic and was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps and subsequently designated as a Ground Intelligence Officer. He spent the entirety of his military career serving within the Indo-Pacific Command including assignments to Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Bangladesh and Hawaii.
Nicholas left active duty in 2019 and is currently pursuing an MBA at the Harvard Business School and an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Nicholas became involved with Steel Hearts at Harvard after meeting and becoming service academy frenemies with John.
Matthew Couch - Associate Director of Navy Operations
Matt graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2013 and also holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University. He was an offensive lineman on the Navy football team and served as a Navy graduate assistant coach for the 2013 season. He served on the USS MASON (DDG 87) in Norfolk, VA and he served on the USS CHOSIN (CG 65) in San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA.
In between his ship assignments, he was stationed at Naval Supply Systems Command – Business Systems Center in Mechanicsburg, PA, working with big data analytics.
Matt joined the Steel Hearts team in the spring of 2021 and is currently stationed in Philadelphia serving as a logistics officer for the P-8 Poseidon.
Andy Yim- Associate Director of Army Operations
Andy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2017 and commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in the US Army. He served in the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, the 101st Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group and is currently with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as a Fire Support Officer and a qualified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). During his time with 5th SFG and 160th SOAR, he has deployed three times to Iraq as well as to other nations in support of various operations.
Andy joined Steel Hearts to help honor our fallen heroes and hopes to help expand the foundation’s influence through social media and future events. He currently resides in Nashville, TN with his fiancé and two cats.