Meet the Team
Always Remember, Never Surrender
Joseph Wiseman - Executive Director
Joe is the Executive 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 the Army War College 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.
Alex Kim - Director of Finance
Alex graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2008 and commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in the US Army. He served in the 2nd Infantry Division in Joint Base Lewis McChord and deployed to Iraq from 2009 to 2010.
Alex left active duty in 2016 to attend the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan where he obtained his MBA and fellowship at the Tauber Institute for Global Operations.
Alex works for Project Kuiper, an Amazon Subsidiary, as a technical program manager for satellite manufacturing. Prior to this, he was the deputy program director for the P-8 Poseidon program. Alex currently resides in the Seattle area with his wife and 2 kids.
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.
Crysta Gonzalez - Director of Navy Operations
Crysta is a 2018 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. She served for 6.5 years as an active-duty Naval Intelligence Officer and currently serves in the Navy Reserves. Crysta is currently an MBA student at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Crysta is incredibly honored to be a part of the Navy and Naval Academy Operations for Steel Hearts. It has been a humbling experience to support families of fallen heroes as part of the Steel Hearts team.