Advisory Board

Maria Roat is a leader in transformation and innovation using technology to enable complex organizations and missions.  She is the former US Deputy Federal Chief Information Officer with 40 years of executive leadership and professional experience in information technology and cybersecurity for cross-government enterprise-wide programs in multiple missions and sectors including, but not limited to, transportation, cybersecurity, finance, homeland security, disaster response and recovery, DoD and small business.    Maria retired from the U.S. Navy in 2007, with 26 years of active duty and reserve service, in which she obtained the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer, Information Systems Technician. 

Brig. Gen. Earl Simms, USA Ret., served 33 years in the Army and has held leadership and command positions at all levels, culminating as commanding general of the U.S. Army Soldier Support Institute. After retiring from the Army he had worked with companies such as Serco and Armed Forces Services Corporation being instrumental in propelling their corporate growth. He is now a current Board member of Capitol University. He has been serving on our CTEC Advisory Board for the last 3 years.

Mr. McGuirk has more than 40 years of experience in strategic marketing and technology. He is the founder of AKLM Consulting and provides M&A due diligence, market research, market positioning, market strategy, and partner alliance programs in the Technology Marketplace. Mr. McGuirk focuses on young, growing firms to reposition or strengthen their market position. Prior to this position, Mr. McGuirk was the Vice President of Worldwide Government for Siebel Systems Inc., and retired from Unisys Corporation as a Senior Vice President after 31 years. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. McGuirk holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Duquesne University. He was the former Chairperson of the Fairfax/Falls Church United Way. He is a member of the Duquesne University Century Club for Distinguished Graduates. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Duquesne University. He was Chairman of the Commonwealth of Virginia Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB).

Pat Schambach is an independent consultant and founding partner of Schambach & Williams Consulting, LLC. A recognized leader in IT, Pat retired from Computer Sciences Corporation in 2013 after a 41-year career in both the public and private sectors in the Washington, DC area. He spent 32 years in the federal government, rose to the ranks of senior executive, and was the CIO for three different agencies during his federal career, including the TSA, ATF, and the U.S. Secret Service. During his ten years in the private sector, he has been in senior leadership positions responsible for business units serving federal customers in the national security and law enforcement markets. Mr. Schambach is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council (HSDBC), a member of the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross/Nat’l Capital Area, and a member of the Partnership for Public Service’s CIO Sage program.

Seasoned and successful innovative CIO with demonstrated leadership during national crisis and disasters, and major transformation in large organizations in the private, federal government, and not-for-profit sectors, based on successful implementation of risk management, metrics/balanced scorecard, and performance based contracts. 

Serial Entrepreneur with a Minor in Federal IT Executive Leadership. Currently leading several start ups in the Real Estate and IT Shopping Marketplace.