SBA Appoints Maria Roat as Chief Information Officer

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), today announced the appointment of Maria A. Roat to serve as SBA's Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective October 3, 2016.

Roat joins the SBA from the U.S. Department of Transportation where she served as Chief Technology Officer since August 2014. At the SBA, Roat will oversee the agency's enterprise IT services, systems, investments and security across an extensive and geographically dispersed user base.

In making the announcement, Contreras-Sweet said: "SBA continues to emerge as a 21^st century agency and a government technology leader.  We have made great strides modernizing our lending platforms, migrating operations online and creating new and innovative tools to make our capital, counseling, contracting and disaster assistance services more efficient, more reliable and more accessible than ever before. 

"These initiatives depend on best-in-class IT services and infrastructure. With more than 30 years of IT experience, Maria's reputation and extensive background will help guide our strategic direction in the years ahead."

Prior to the Department of Transportation, Roat served a decade at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a number of capacities, including Federal Risk Management and Authorization Program (FedRAMP) Director, FEMA Deputy CIO, Chief of Staff for the DHS CIO, USCIS Chief Information Security Officer and CIO Chief of Staff, and Deputy Director, Technology Development, for TSA's Secure Flight Program.  

Roat was previously with the U.S. Navy Medical Information Management Command, Norfolk, and other Navy Commands, serving in the areas of enterprise network management and engineering and IT operations.  She retired from the 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.  She is a graduate of the University of Maryland (UMUC), Harvard Business School Executive Education Program for Leadership Development, and the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy. 

About the Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.  Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov

Contact: Matthew Sonneborn (202) 205-7023
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
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Release Number: 16-74

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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