The president of Swimming Technology Research is Dr. Rod Havriluk. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Rod earned a Ph.D. in human performance from Indiana University in 1987. He specialized in biomechanics under the direction of Dr. John M. Cooper (“the father of modern biomechanics”). While at Indiana, he also learned from the legendary Dr. James “Doc” Counsilman, the most famous and successful swimming coach and scientist in history. Rod also has an M.S. in exercise physiology from Florida State University. He taught biomechanics at Indiana University and was most recently an adjunct professor at Florida State University.

Rod coached swimming for over 10 years at all levels – from country club to NCAA Division I. He has also competed for most of his life, including serving as captain of his college team and earning titles at numerous open water swims. He has a wide variety of experience in other aspects of competitive swimming. He served as a USA Swimming certified referee; president of his daughter’s swim team booster organization; a member of the medical testing staff at US Olympic Trials; a member of the Research Committee of the National Collegiate Women's Swimming Coaches Association; and coach of a university water polo team. He is a long time member of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; the American College of Sports Medicine; and the American Swimming Coaches Association. Rod is a member of the advisory board of the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming. He serves as a reviewer for the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport; Perceptual and Motor Skills; Psychological Reports; and the Swiss National Science Foundation. He is a contributing author to Swimming in Australia.

Dr. Havriluk’s ongoing research has resulted in presentations at numerous international conferences, such as Federation Internationale Natation (FINA), the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He was invited to speak to coaching groups in the Caribbean, the Middle East, and North and South America. His studies have appeared in many swimming publications, such as the Journal of Swimming Research; Swimming Technique; and Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming; and more general publications, such as the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Rod's research findings were summarized for coaching applications in Swimming World; American Swimming Magazine; and Swimming in Australia and also published online at coachesinfo.com and active.com. His collaborations include working with scientists at the University of Illinois, the University of Hawaii, Southwestern University, the University of Athens (Greece), the University of Grenada (Spain), and Everett Pacific Industrial Rehabilitation.

Rod's research produced three US patents and prompted the development of software and hardware products. Aquanex was selected as an example of advanced technology and featured in the book - One Digital Day: How the microchip is changing our lives. ESPN subsequently included a segment on Aquanex in their Sports Technology Series. Aquanex articles also appeared in newspapers and magazines in several countries, as well as in textbooks. An upgraded version (Aquanex+Video) was selected as a finalist for Product Design and Development’s 2003 Engineering Awards. Aquanex+Video was also featured in the book - Inescapable Data: Harnessing the power of convergence, in a segment on the Score TV, and in PC Magazine. Dr. Havriluk was cited as designing the "first computerized system to measure swim velocity and efficiency" in a recent (2007) textbook (Developing Sport Expertise). Rod's extensive testing with Aquanex prompted him to develop an optimal model for swimming technique - MONA.

As a sport scientist, Dr. Havriluk has helped thousands of swimmers, including Olympians, world champions, and world record holders. His client list includes swimming associations, national training centers, equipment companies, camps, and teams. He's received countless compliments for his work with swimmers, triathletes, and coaches.