As Senior Vice President of Government and Customer Relations, Mara is responsible for developing and executing Peraton’s public policy and government affairs strategies in alignment with corporate and sector strategic priorities and leading Peraton’s interactions with the legislative branch, the executive branch, state, and local officials, think tanks, and trade associations.

Mara joined Peraton from Booz Allen, where she served as Vice President for Government Relations and Military Affairs. In this role, she established and led the firm’s first government affairs capability, guiding strategic government customer relationships and advancing the firm’s business interests with policymakers, including creating the firm’s first Political Action Committee. She also oversaw the firm’s military partnership strategy, integrating philanthropic activities with recruiting, diversity, and business strategies to sustain a strong veteran workforce foundation. During her tenure at Booz Allen, she also held roles as the business development executive for defense and military intelligence and led the firm’s business supporting U.S. government classified missions. Prior to Booz Allen, Mara was a strategy executive for BAE Systems.

Before joining industry, Mara served as a U.S. naval officer for over two decades. Her diverse experience spans combat operations in the Middle East, acquisition oversight for U.S. government satellite and special communications, and legislative affairs director for the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Education

B.S. from the United States Naval Academy MPA from Harvard University M.S. from the National Defense University