- Gym Workouts
- Team Sports
- Regularly practice mindfulness and meditation for overall wellness
- Golf
MARILYN RIVERA
SENIOR TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER | PMO / PORTFOLIO LEADER
Washington,DC
Work Preference
Summary
Senior Program and Portfolio Manager with 16+ years of experience delivering enterprise-scale modernization programs across federal and commercial environments. Proven leaderin cloud transformation, infrastructure and office refresh, acquisitions, PMO governance, and mission-critical IT delivery. Known for taking on complex, high-risk initiatives and driving them to completion through disciplined execution, risk management, and stakeholder alignment. Trusted advisor to executive leadership with a strong record of cost control, staff stabilization, and operational excellence.
My leadership philosophy is rooted in action, transparency, and accountability. I lead from the front, collaborate closely with my teams, and adapt quickly to shifting mission priorities.I create an environment grounded in trust, clarity, and high performance.
With a solutions-driven mindset, I anticipate risks early, remove roadblocks, and maintain momentum even in the most challenging environments. I am deeply customer-focused, adept at understanding client pain points, resolving issues quickly, and identifying opportunities for organic growth. Above all, I am a dependable, resourceful leader committed to delivering outstanding results and advancing the mission.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
7
7
Certificates
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Program Manager (Defense Contracts)
CATHEXIS
07.2024 - Current
- Lead the PRISM Infrastructure Support Management MATOC for OUSD (P&R), managing 3 concurrent task orders, supporting multiple directorates, and directing a 30+ person workforce in a DoD environment.
- Govern $37.33M in contract awards, achieving exceptional CPARS ratings, option year renewals, and sustained client trust.
- Drive end-to-end program lifecycle management across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and staffing with 100% on-time delivery of milestones and deliverables.
- Improved operational efficiency by 30% through process redesign, performance optimization, and proactive risk mitigation.
- Increased workforce stability by 25% through targeted recruitment, coaching, and performance management.
- Serve as trusted advisor to executive and government leadership, delivering PSRs and executive briefings with actionable insights.
- Contributed to PMO governance by standardizing planning, reporting, and performance metrics; successfully turned around at-risk staff and stabilized retention.
Senior Program Manager - Acquisition (Tiger Team)
U.S. Department of Transportation
10.2023 - 07.2024
- Led a nationwide acquisition initiative supporting call center software modernization, staffing optimization, and facility relocation.
- Developed PWS packages, RFIs, and acquisition strategies, enabling data-driven procurement decisions.
- Conducted market research and vendor capability analysis across commercial and federal sectors.
- Delivered acquisition deliverables ahead of schedule, accelerating DOT procurement timelines.
- Led executive briefings, managed integrated schedules, and mentored cross-functional teams under aggressive deadlines.
Senior Technical Program Manager
FOXHOLE TECHNOLOGY (DHS)
10.2022 - 10.2023
- Spearheaded an enterprise Azure cloud modernization integrating RMS with mission-critical federal systems.
- Led cross-functional teams of developers, cloud architects, analysts, and QA testers in a regulated environment.
- Enabled secure remote access for 1,500+ federal and interagency users.
- Directed Section 508 compliance testing and remediation.
- Managed Agile delivery using JIRA, executive reporting, and risk mitigation across geographically distributed teams.
Senior Technical Program / Portfolio Manager
COPPER RIVER (DOL / DISA / HUD / DCSA / DHA, DCSA
06.2018 - 10.2022
- Managed multiple concurrent federal IT programs with budgets exceeding $5M.
- Designed and delivered an enterprise Tableau dashboard providing real-time visibility into infrastructure, acquisitions, and workforce data.
- Recovered $482K in outstanding invoices through financial reconciliation.
- Earned Exceptional CPAR recognition.
- Built trusted relationships with CORs and senior stakeholders.
Senior Program Manager - Infrastructure
SC3 (CFTC)
06.2016 - 06.2018
- Managed infrastructure O&M, NOC, telecom, and customer support services.
- Led Office 365, Windows Server 2016, and Windows 10 modernization initiatives.
- Provided end-to-end leadership across infrastructure, monitoring, and security operations.
Senior Technical Program Manager / Portfolio Manager
NEXT TIER CONCEPTS
05.2013 - 06.2016
- Managed $1.75M federal IT contracts supporting network and telecom engineering teams.
- Led system integrations and platform migrations.
- Supported proposal capture, Blue/Red Team reviews, and competitive bids.
Infrastructure Deputy Program Manager
PHACIL (DoD IG)
10.2012 - 05.2013
- Managed 58 on-site staff supporting enterprise infrastructure, security, and software development.
- Delivered large-scale refresh and modernization initiatives.
Infrastructure IT Portfolio Program Manager
WYLE (DARPA)
07.2010 - 10.2012
- Managed facilities construction, office refresh, and building relocation projects.
- Coordinated construction, IT readiness, and vendor delivery for seamless transitions.
Infrastructure Network Operations Program Manager
USDA
07.2007 - 07.2009
- Led 24x7 NOC operations and SolarWinds monitoring.
- Directed network security and firewall operations.
Helpdesk / IT Program Manager
DOT
06.2004 - 07.2007
- Managed Help Desk, NOC, and SOC operations achieving 99.9% uptime and 95%+ CSAT.
Senior Systems Engineer / AD Services Manager
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS
08.1998 - 06.2004
- Provided Tier 1/2 NOC support, server administration, and network operations.
Education
BBA - Project Management
American Intercontinental University
Atlanta, Georgia 05.2001 -
M.D. - Management & Leadership
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City 05.2001 -
Skills
Project portfolio management
Governance in project management
Enterprise transformation
Experience with cloud platforms
Support for federal acquisitions
Office infrastructure upgrade
Site development coordination
Scrum project management
Budget and supplier oversight
Risk management
Stakeholder engagement initiatives
Certification
PMP
Interests
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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CLEARANCE & AGENCY EXPERIENCE
- Active Secret Clearance | Interim TS | DHS Public Trust
- Agencies: DARPA, DHS, HUD, DOL, USDA, DISA, OSD/OUSD (P&R), DOT
Timeline
Senior Program Manager (Defense Contracts)
CATHEXIS
07.2024 - Current
Senior Program Manager - Acquisition (Tiger Team)
U.S. Department of Transportation
10.2023 - 07.2024
Senior Technical Program Manager
FOXHOLE TECHNOLOGY (DHS)
10.2022 - 10.2023
Senior Technical Program / Portfolio Manager
COPPER RIVER (DOL / DISA / HUD / DCSA / DHA, DCSA
06.2018 - 10.2022
Senior Program Manager - Infrastructure
SC3 (CFTC)
06.2016 - 06.2018
Senior Technical Program Manager / Portfolio Manager
NEXT TIER CONCEPTS
05.2013 - 06.2016
Infrastructure Deputy Program Manager
PHACIL (DoD IG)
10.2012 - 05.2013
Infrastructure IT Portfolio Program Manager
WYLE (DARPA)
07.2010 - 10.2012
Infrastructure Network Operations Program Manager
USDA
07.2007 - 07.2009
Helpdesk / IT Program Manager
DOT
06.2004 - 07.2007
BBA - Project Management
American Intercontinental University
05.2001 -
M.D. - Management & Leadership
Western Governors University
05.2001 -
Senior Systems Engineer / AD Services Manager
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS
08.1998 - 06.2004