Vincent Viola

Vincent Viola is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist known for founding and leading trading, investment, and cybersecurity enterprises and for service in the New York National Guard and advisory roles in national security. He is the founder of trading firm Virtu Financial and energy trading firm Amerex Group, and has been active in veterans' causes, higher education governance, and public policy advisory bodies.

Early life and education

Born in Brooklyn, Viola was raised in the Borough of Brooklyn and attended Poly Prep Country Day School before matriculating at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point he played varsity athletics and graduated with a commission; he later pursued graduate studies at New York University's Stern School of Business. During his formative years Viola developed ties to New York City finance communities, veteran networks such as the United States Army Reserve, and alumni organizations associated with West Point and NYU.

Business career

Viola founded and chaired Amerex Group, a commodities and energy trading firm that operated in the New York Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, and related markets. He later launched Virtu Financial, which became a prominent participant in electronic market making across venues including the NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange, and international exchanges in London and Tokyo. Viola expanded into financial services and technology through acquisitions and board roles at firms connected to Securities and Exchange Commission-regulated markets and algorithmic trading platforms. He has invested in companies across sectors such as cybersecurity, healthcare, and energy, and has served on the boards of institutions involved with Cornell University-affiliated ventures and financial services consortia. Viola’s enterprises engaged with clearing organizations and infrastructure linked to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation ecosystem and market participants including broker-dealers and swap execution facilities.

Military service and philanthropy

Viola served on active duty and in the New York Army National Guard, holding ranks that included colonel-level responsibilities and assignments integrated with United States Army training units. He has been involved with veteran advocacy organizations such as the United Service Organizations and supported battlefield and veterans' memorial initiatives connected to the National World War II Museum and Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Viola’s philanthropic giving has funded scholarships and endowments at United States Military Academy, medical research at institutions like Mount Sinai Health System, and cultural preservation projects with partners such as the Smithsonian Institution. He created and endowed programs for leadership development and emergency response training tied to institutions such as Georgetown University and West Point alumni associations.

Political involvement and public service

Viola was nominated to serve as United States Secretary of the Army during the administration of Donald Trump but withdrew his nomination prior to confirmation. He has participated in presidential advisory councils, contributed to campaigns and political action committees aligned with Republican Party candidates, and served on task forces related to national security and critical infrastructure. Viola has accepted appointments to boards and commissions advising the Department of Defense and engaged with think tanks such as the Council on Foreign Relations and The Heritage Foundation on issues of readiness and resilience. He has testified before congressional committees on topics intersecting finance, cybersecurity, and defense-industrial base concerns, and worked with state-level leaders in New York (state) on economic development initiatives.

Personal life and honors

Viola is married to Teresa Viola and is the father of six children; the family has resided in Garrison, New York and maintains ties to New York City philanthropic circles. He has received awards recognizing service to military and veteran communities, honors from academic institutions including United States Military Academy alumni distinctions, and business accolades from industry groups such as the TABB Group and trading industry associations. Viola has been photographed with public figures from Wall Street and the national security community and has been profiled by major business publications covering leaders in algorithmic trading, energy markets, and defense philanthropy.

Category:1956 births Category:American businesspeople Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:New York University Stern School of Business alumni