As Chief Operating Officer, Matthew Aaron provides support and leadership in operational excellence, global programmatic execution, and organizational growth in alignment with Special Olympics’ mission of empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) through sports and inclusive programming. Matt monitors and supports key areas of organization-wide innovation and programmatic expansion worldwide to drive sustained impact for our athletes, families, volunteers, and community.
For more than two decades, Matt has passionately championed several initiatives critical to our mission including athlete leadership, Unified Sports and Unified Champion Schools, addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for people with ID, and leveraging technology to spur innovation. His Special Olympics journey began as a volunteer at a local track and field meet in California. Matt later joined the movement in a staff role as Special Assistant to the President and CEO of Special Olympics International from 2005-2008. Matt then had the privilege of serving the athletes of Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) as President and CEO from 2008-2026.
Matt spent his early career in the US Navy. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1988 and retired in 2012 as a Captain with more than 24 years of combined active duty and reserve service. Matt also completed an MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management at the Yale School of Management and then spent three years as a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton’s Organization Change Team.
Matt and his family reside near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Global Leadership Team
-
Timothy Shriver, Ph.D
Chairman of the Board -
David Evangelista
President and Chief Executive Officer -
Matthew Aaron
Chief Operating Officer -
Jim Barbee
Chief Financial Officer -
Dimitri A Christakis, MD, MPH
Chief Health Officer -
Loretta Claiborne
Chief Inspiration Officer -
Nathan Cook
Chief Information & Technology Officer -
John Dow, Ph.D
Chief, Regional & Program Operations -
Shawn Ferguson
Chief of Global Government Relations -
Brandon M. Fitzgerald
Chief Legal Officer; Secretary, Board of Directors -
Annemarie Hill
Chief of Health Operations -
Emily Klinger
Chief, Leadership & Organizational Development -
Louis Lauria
Chief of Sport and Competition -
Zehra Sayin
Chief Marketing, Communications & Development Officer
