Tim J. Gabel

Tim J. Gabel became RTI International’s president and chief executive officer in 2022, leading RTI’s evolution into a more unified, responsive, and technology-enabled institute positioned for long-term growth. During his tenure, RTI achieved its North Star goal of positively impacting the well-being of one billion people through science-based solutions five years ahead of schedule and established a new ambition to improve the lives of billions.

Before becoming CEO, Mr. Gabel served 10 years as executive vice president of Social, Statistical, and Environmental Sciences, the largest business unit within RTI at the time. He successfully grew the unit from $391M to $667M in annual sponsored research, organically expanding existing divisions while overseeing the integration of acquisitions and development of strategic partnerships. Under Mr. Gabel’s executive oversight, a staff of 3,000 nationally recognized researchers, technologists, methodologists, and data scientists conducted over 1,200 projects per year. Although varying in size and scope, common among those projects were complex multi-year, multi-million-dollar research studies that enabled federal, state, local, and international governments to make better policy decisions for all its citizens in the areas of health, education, justice, environment, and economic development. The number of RTI Fellows (RTI’s most accomplished scientists) in SSES nearly doubled under his leadership, and the organization witnessed a dramatic increase in major media outlet citations of their work.

A long-tenured RTI employee, Mr. Gabel has served at every level of RTI leadership, guiding various divisions and operating units to innovation-driven growth by maintaining a focus on operational excellence, client centricity, and a high commitment to quality.

Mr. Gabel is a member of the American Statistical Association, American Association for Public Opinion Research, and American Public Health Association. He co-edited the book The Essential Role of Language in Survey Research, published in 2020 by RTI Press. He holds adjunct appointments at the University of Wyoming and the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mr. Gabel serves his community in a variety of volunteer roles, including Scientific Advisory Board member for the University of Maryland ASCEND Fellows Program, board member for Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, Tocqueville Society member of the United Way of Alamance County, and member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Wyoming College of Arts & Sciences.  

In 2026, Mr. Gabel received the Jim Fain NC Global Ambassador Award from Global NC and the N.C. Coalition for Global Competitiveness. He received the CEO Changemaker Award from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants of North Carolina in 2023. He frequently speaks with media outlets including The Assembly, Triangle Business Journal, Axios, The News & Observer, Authority Magazine and Let Go & Lead about leadership, science and innovation, and RTI’s impact in North Carolina and beyond.