Maria Harr, MBA, CSM, RHIA
Maria Harr, MBA, CSM, RHIA, is a senior technology and national security leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning healthcare information technology, federal program leadership, and enterprise digital transformation. She currently serves as Director, Office Chief of Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Enterprise Digital Services for the U.S. Coast Guard, where she leads enterprise IT strategy, cybersecurity modernization, and large-scale digital service delivery supporting mission readiness across the organization. Her work focuses on integrating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and secure digital platforms, to enhance operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and user-centered service delivery.
Prior to her current role, Maria spent over a decade at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she held multiple senior leadership positions driving national-scale healthcare modernization initiatives. She led major digital transformation programs, including a multi-billion-dollar healthcare quality improvement portfolio and nationwide efforts to advance electronic health record (EHR) adoption, interoperability, and real-time data analytics. Throughout her federal career, she managed complex cross-sector initiatives involving government agencies, private industry partners, and academic institutions, consistently delivering measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes, system efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Maria holds a Master of Business Administration in Business and Healthcare Informatics from the University of Maryland Global Campus and has completed advanced executive cybersecurity training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), and she is recognized for her leadership in innovation, strategic execution, and public service. Her professional approach emphasizes perseverance, operational excellence, and empowering teams to drive meaningful, scalable impact across both healthcare and national security domains.
• MBA (Master of Business Administration)
• CSM (Certified Scrum Master)
• RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator)
• Cybersecurity for Executives – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Cybersecurity for Technology Executives – MIT (Executive Certificate)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Cybersecurity (Executive Program)
• University of Maryland Global Campus – Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business and Health Care Informatics
• Influential Women 2026
• 2026 Federal 100 Award – GovExec
• Excellence – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)
• Women in Technology (WIT) - Washington DC Area
• Influential Women Network
• Chair of the Board of Directors, District of Columbia Health Information Management Association
• Mentor, Women in Technology (WIT)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to never taking no for an answer and refusing to put limits on myself. Throughout my career, I've always had a vision for what I wanted to accomplish, and I've worked hard and persevered to get there. Even in my new job in national security, when people tell me 'I know you're new, this is not the way we do it,' I say 'This is how we're doing it from this point forward, and we're gonna get it done.' I've been able to accomplish so much with this approach that now people say Maria always doesn't take a no for an answer, she gets it done. I truly believe that as women, we can't put limits on ourselves. We have to be creative and continue to push the status quo so we can be successful and show that we can deliver great results, just like anyone else in any organization. I'm also a very driven person who loves solving problems by thinking outside the box, and I've learned to balance being effective with how I lead people. I've developed a leadership style I call 'empowerment in action,' where I lead and inspire the next generation of leaders in a way that makes them want to learn and feel empowered to use the best of their talents and abilities to do an outstanding job.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most impactful advice I’ve received is that there are no limits except the ones I place on myself. I’ve also learned that perseverance matters more than permission, and that if I stay focused and committed to my goals, I can create meaningful change regardless of obstacles or resistance.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I always say this to a lot of people: don't take a no for an answer. Really, continue to persevere. Have a vision for yourself. Know that there's no limits, only the limits that you put on yourself. If you work hard and you continue with the path that you see for yourself, and you persevere, you'll get to where you want to be. Even in my new job, when they tell me 'well, I know you're new, this is not the way we do it,' I say 'This is how we're doing it from this point forward, and we're gonna get it done.' I've been able to accomplish so much that now they tell me Maria always doesn't take a no for an answer, she gets it done. As women, we can't put limits on ourselves. We have to be creative, we have to continue to push the status quo so we can be successful and we can show that we can deliver great results and be successful, just like men or anyone in any organization.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities is leveraging emerging technologies like AI, automation, and data analytics to solve complex administrative and operational challenges. At the same time, a key challenge is keeping pace with rapid technological change and ensuring large-scale systems can adapt securely, efficiently, and effectively across government and national security environments.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are perseverance, empowerment, and accountability. I believe in empowering teams to succeed, leading with empathy while maintaining high standards, and staying committed to service—whether to patients, citizens, or the mission of national security and public service.
Locations
U.S. Coast Guard
Rockville, MD 20853