Governance

List of 16 items.

• Nizar Zakka, President & Chairman

  Nizar Zakka has been named president and CEO of Riverside Military Academy, bringing decades of international leadership experience and a global perspective shaped by his Riverside education.

  
  A 1985 graduate of Riverside Military Academy, Zakka is an internationally recognized expert in information and communications technology policy with more than 25 years of experience representing the global technology sector, particularly throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. After graduating from Riverside, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science and mathematics from the University of Texas before launching several technology companies and advising governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the Middle East.

  
  Throughout his career, Zakka has partnered with organizations including Microsoft, USAID, UNESCO, UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. State Department and the European Union to lead initiatives focused on digital inclusion, workforce development, entrepreneurship, peacebuilding and economic opportunity.

  
  In January 2025, Zakka launched the Calculating Advantages of Normalization initiative with the support of Arab and Jewish-American communities. The program seeks to reframe the conversation around peace as a matter of national interest rather than ideology, exploring how normalization can improve economic opportunity, regional stability and the daily lives of citizens through research, public engagement and dialogue with community and political leaders.

  
  Earlier in his career, Zakka served as CEO of Lebanon's Professional Computer Association and helped found the Arab ICT Organization, a regional alliance promoting technology-driven economic growth, entrepreneurship and digital literacy. He also served as vice president and global public policy chair of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), representing the interests of the global ICT industry.

  
  In 2019, Riverside honored Zakka with its President's Distinguished Service Award following his release from nearly four years of captivity in Iran, where he had been imprisoned after traveling to Tehran in 2015 to speak at an international technology conference.
  
  During his captivity, Zakka credited the strength, discipline and brotherhood he learned at Riverside — and the unwavering support of fellow alumni — with helping him endure the ordeal. Today, he continues his advocacy as founder and president of Hostage Aid Worldwide, working to secure the release of hostages, advance internet freedom and develop emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to help prevent future hostage-taking and support victims and their families.

  
  As president and CEO, Zakka brings together Riverside's enduring values with decades of international executive leadership, strategic vision and a deep commitment to preparing young men for lives of purpose, leadership and service.

  
  Zakka has remained closely connected to Riverside as an alumnus, parent, volunteer and advocate. His sons, Nadim and Omar, graduated from Riverside in 2013 and 2016, continuing the family's connection to the Academy. He has served on Riverside's Alumni Council, hosted alumni events, mentored fellow graduates and championed the Academy's mission around the world.

• Gilbert Sassine, Vice Chairman

  Gilbert Sassine is an international entrepreneur and executive with business interests spanning Dubai, Lebanon and Nigeria. He serves as vice chairman of the Riverside Military Academy Board of Trustees and is the chief executive officer of Craneburg Construction Company Limited and owner of Lubrik Construction Company. His diverse business portfolio includes interests in real estate, restaurants, hotels and beach resorts. He is also a partial owner and chairman of the board of Holcim Group. In recognition of his contributions and achievements, Sassine has received the National Honor of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) from Nigeria. His international business experience and leadership across multiple industries bring a valuable global perspective to his service on the Riverside Military Academy Board of Trustees.

• Ernest T. Lopez III, ’84, Secretary

  Ernest T. Lopez III is the secretary of the Riverside Military Academy Board of Trustees.
  
  He is Founder and President of Atlanta Paving and Concrete Construction, Inc., and the Ernest T. Lopez Company, LLC, both of which are located in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Lopez has more than 34 years of experience in the paving and concrete construction field, Ernie has grown Atlanta Paving and Concrete Construction, Inc. to be one of the premier providers of asphalt and concrete services in the state of Georgia and in the southeastern United States. In 2018, Mr. Lopez completed the acquisition of Dykes Paving to become a vertically integrated asphalt and material supplier in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Mr. Lopez is currently doing business in 26 states and more than 275 cities across the United States. He has even conducted operations in Canada and Ecuador, making Atlanta Paving and Concrete Construction, Inc. one of the few American asphalt companies that works internationally.

   

  A graduate of the Riverside Military Academy class of 1984, Mr. Lopez credits much of his business success to the RMA’s coaches and teachers who played a vital role in his development as a leader. Mr. Lopez serves on the Riverside Military Academy Board of Trustees as the Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee. 

   

  Mr. Lopez is married to Donna Lopez, and, together, they have six children and six grandchildren. Mr. Lopez is also the proud uncle to a nephew who attends Riverside Military Academy.

• Jihad Moutran, Treasurer

  Jihad Moutran serves as treasurer of the Riverside Military Academy Board of Trustees and is a managing director of a family office, bringing extensive experience in finance, investment advisory and corporate leadership. His professional background spans the industrial, real estate and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors. He previously served as group chief financial officer at ZEAL, a real estate development company in Beirut, and as chief financial officer of Ste Ets Michel Najjar, a major food and beverage manufacturer serving markets across the Middle East and Africa, from 2016 to 2023. Earlier in his career, Moutran was finance director at Daher Foods from 2012 to 2016 and held positions with PwC Middle East from 2010 to 2012 and Ernst & Young in Paris from 2004 to 2010. His international experience in financial management, investment strategy and corporate operations supports his service overseeing the financial stewardship of Riverside Military Academy.

• Ivonne Baki

  Ivonne Baki is an internationally recognized advisor, diplomat and negotiator whose career has spanned international relations, trade and public policy. She has served as Ecuador’s ambassador to the United States, France and Qatar, representing her country in key diplomatic and international forums. From 2003 to 2005, she served as Ecuador’s minister of foreign trade, industry, regional integration, fisheries and competitiveness, helping advance the country’s international economic relationships. Baki earned master’s degrees in Public Information and Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School in 1993 and pursued arts studies at Sorbonne University in Paris. Her experience in diplomacy, international negotiations and public policy reflects a career dedicated to fostering international cooperation and strengthening relationships across borders.

• Nadia Bilbassy-Charters

  Nadia Bilbassy-Charters is a senior correspondent based in Washington, D.C., for Al Arabiya and MBC TV, where she covers U.S. foreign policy and its implications for the Arab world. Through her reporting, she provides insight into the diplomatic, political and international developments shaping relations between the United States and Arab nations. Her work places her at the intersection of American foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs and international diplomacy, bringing important global perspectives to audiences across the region and beyond.

• Jette Campbell, ’65

  Jette Campbell is a 1965 graduate of Riverside Military Academy. Although Mr. Campbell attended Riverside only his senior year, he attributes much of his success in college and later in life to the discipline and confidence instilled in him then. He went on to graduate from Auburn University in 1969, where he pursued graduate studies until Uncle Sam called. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1969 through 1975 and remembers fondly the treatment he received in basic training because he attended Riverside Military Academy.

  
  

  Mr. Campbell is a CPA and began his career in Houston, Texas with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1970. He was admitted to the partnership in 1979 and transferred to Austin, TX, where he headed the audit practice until 1983. He left Andersen to pursue opportunities in real estate and venture capital before returning to public accounting in 1988 as a direct entry partner in KPMG Peat Marwick’s Dallas office. In 1991, he joined his client PepsiCo as CFO of its Northern European Snack Foods Division based in London and returned to Dallas in 1993 as controller of Frito Lay. In 1994, Mr. Campbell was recruited by Rusty Griffin to join Griffin Corporation as CFO and a shareholder. When Griffin was sold to DuPont at the end of 2003, Mr. Campbell joined Carl Marks Advisors where he is a partner in its corporate restructuring group based in Charlotte, N.C.

  
  

  Mr. Campbell has an extensive track record in community service and education. He has served as a Trustee of St. Edwards University, Stetson University’s School of Music, and Paul Quinn College from which he received an Honorary Doctorate for his leadership as Chairman of the Executive Committee. He has served as an Arts Commissioner for the City of Austin, Chaired Leadership Austin, and is a life time Boy Scout having achieved Eagle Scout as a youth, served as a Scoutmaster and Council President as an adult, and is a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.

  
  
  

• Charles J. LaDuca

  Charles J. LaDuca is chairman of Cuneo, Gilbert, Flannery & LaDuca, LLP, a nationwide plaintiff-side civil litigation law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. His practice and professional leadership focus on complex litigation, including antitrust, consumer protection and defective product cases, as well as government relations. Through his work, LaDuca represents clients in matters involving corporate accountability, consumer rights and the protection of public interests. He earned his Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America and his Bachelor of Science degree from The George Washington University.

• Maj. Gen. Richard S. Haddad

  Maj. Gen. Richard S. Haddad has served in senior leadership roles within the U.S. Air Force, including as vice commander of Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. His distinguished military career includes command of the 711th Special Operations Squadron during operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as service as deputy to the Chief of Air Force Reserve at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon. In addition to his military service, Haddad is an airline pilot with a major U.S. carrier. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1981 and a Master of Business Administration from Touro University. His experience in military leadership, special operations and aviation reflects a career spanning national defense and commercial aviation.

• Zakaria S. “Zak” Haque, '01, ex-officio

  Zak Hague, who serves as the Alumni Council chair, is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.
  
  As the Chief Technology Officer of Bulldog Insurance and the CEO of Bond Insurance Group, Haque brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the insurance industry to his role at Riverside Military Academy. His expertise encompasses leadership, strategic decision-making, and driving technological innovation to enhance business performance and customer satisfaction.

  
  At Bulldog Insurance, Zak has demonstrated exceptional capabilities in scaling the company from a small family office, to a substantial enterprise with writing capability in 40+ states. His leadership facilitated two full technology refreshes, significantly improving software platform proficiency and compliance rates from 41% to 98%. His tenure saw remarkable advancements in performance management, client service standards, and sales performance management, which contributed to a dramatic increase in revenue volume and diversification of client portfolios.

  
  As CEO of Bond Insurance Group, Zak successfully pivoted the company to focus on corporate insurance, expanding services to include employee benefits and capturing high-end premium accounts. His strategic relationships with key decision-makers have enabled the company to secure major contracts, including Toll Brothers Properties NE and Fire Fighter Union Benefits.

  
  In addition to his professional accomplishments, Zak is a dedicated educator and mentor. He has served as an Emergency Medical Services Instructor and Coordinator, showcasing his passion for teaching and developing others. His certifications and professional development credentials from prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, and Quantic School of Business and Technology, further solidify his expertise and commitment to continuous learning and leadership excellence.

  
  Zak’s multifaceted skills extend beyond the corporate realm, as evidenced by his community involvement as a 32^nd Degree Mason, volunteer firefighter and EMT-B in Connecticut. Fluent in multiple languages, he embodies a global perspective and cultural sensitivity that enhance his leadership approach.

  
  At Riverside Military Academy, Zak is committed to leveraging his extensive background in technology, finance, and strategy to support the institution's mission and drive forward its goals. His leadership on the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the Alumni Council underscores his dedication to fostering growth, innovation, and excellence within the Riverside Military Academy community.

• Joey Robert Hood

  Joey Robert Hood is a career U.S. diplomat with extensive experience in international relations, security cooperation and counterterrorism. He served as U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, where his work included advancing security cooperation, strengthening counterterrorism efforts and supporting border security initiatives with European allies and Gulf partners. Throughout his diplomatic career, Hood has served at U.S. embassies in Baghdad, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia, gaining broad experience across the Middle East and Africa. He earned a Master of Arts in Economic Development from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in 2000 and a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature, with a minor in Government, from Dartmouth College in 1996. His career reflects a sustained commitment to diplomacy, international security and strengthening relationships between the United States and its global partners.

• Nadi Najjar

  Nadi Najjar is an experienced litigator and arbitrator whose practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate transactions across the Middle East and Europe. His expertise includes business law, joint ventures and corporate restructuring, advising on complex legal and commercial matters in international markets. Najjar holds a Master of Law from Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas in France and an LL.M. in International Business Law and Common Law Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. His international legal education and cross-border experience provide a strong foundation for navigating complex business transactions and resolving disputes across jurisdictions.

• Whitney H. Owens, '79, ex-officio

  Mr. Whitney “Whit” Owens, who serves as chairman of the Board of Visitors, is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.
  
  Owens is a defense contractor with Calhoun International, LLC since 2016. He is currently the Program Manager for a contract providing support to the Army G2 in the Pentagon.

  
  Owens is a 1979 graduate of Riverside and a 1983 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and holds a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. He was commissioned in the United States Army in 1983 and served as an Armor Officer in West Germany. He transferred to Military Intelligence in 1987 and was posted to Fort Meade, Maryland. Owens deployed with Headquarters, US Central Command for Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and served on the J2 staff.
  
  Following the conflict, Owens served for two years in 2^nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea. He completed his military career with assignments in the Defense Intelligence Agency after transitioning to the Army Reserve retiring in 2003. Following his military career, Owens was a Data Architect with Computer Associates where he rose to Director level in the North American Education division.
  
  

  In 2009, Owens returned to the defense industry as a contractor with SAIC and subsequently Leidos, Inc, supporting US Central Command in the role of Subject Matter Expert and Deputy Program Manager for large contract consisting of Prime and 17 subcontractors providing ~350 personnel to the Intelligence Directorate of the premier Warfighting Command in the Defense Department.

  
  In 2016 Owens became a Program Manager for Calhoun International and served in that capacity for a contract supporting the Army Intelligence and Security Command on Fort Meade, Maryland before taking over the contract supporting the G2.

  He served as Vice Chairman of the Riverside Board of Visitors since it’s inception in 2009 and now serves as the Chairman. He is proud to serve the Academy he credits with giving him the fundamental leadership skills that have made him successful.

• Jonathan A. Pope, Esq.

  Jonathan A. Pope, Esq., is a partner of Hasty Pope LLP in Gainesville, Georgia. Mr. Pope’s areas of practice include civil trial practice in all state and federal courts specializing in personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and automobile and semi-truck collisions. He says he was inspired to become a lawyer in part because his father, Judge Marion T. Pope, had Mr. Pope and his brother in courtrooms from an early age.
  
  

  Mr. Pope is a 1992 graduate of The Citadel with a bachelor of arts in political science. He had his first direct experience in law at The Citadel as part of the honor court, the court system of the school. He earned his Juris doctorate in 1995 from the Georgia State University College of Law.

  Mr. Pope has been named repeatedly to the Top 100 Attorneys in Georgia by the Atlanta Magazine Super Lawyers, and Georgia Super Lawyers. He was named to the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Trial Lawyers in 2013.  Georgia Trend Magazine named him one of Georgia’s 40 under 40 in 2004.
  
  

  He is president-elect of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, he was a two-term president of the State Bar of Georgia-Blue Ridge Circuit Bar Association, and is a member of the Southern Trial Lawyers Association among numerous other professional organizations.
  
  

  Mr. Pope and his wife, Amy Nix Pope, are the parents of two children, Andrew Pope, and Caroline Pope.

• Emeriti

  Lucile E. Beaver †
  
  Paul A. Gross, ’56
  
  O. Jon McRae
  
  Richard M. Nichols †
  
  LTC(R) Frederick J. Kennedy, ’64

• Honorary Members

  Jerry B. Blackstock, ’62, (Posthumous)
  
  

  P. Alexander Fraser
  
  

  Howard A. Kalmenson, ’49
  
  

  Ira J. Middleberg, Esq., ’66
  
  

  Abraham A. Mitchell, ’52