Board of Directors

Chris Cikanovich, Chairman

Christopher Cikanovich is President of CEI Consulting Services. Chris has over 30 years of experience in the defense and aerospace business. His span of experience covers all aspects of business, including Marine Systems; Electronic Warfare; Intelligence Systems; Information Security; Systems Integration; Radar Systems and International Programs to flying as a test and evaluation pilot on the F-16 Radar program. Recently, Chris was a Program Executive for Rolls-Royce Advanced Programs, responsible for the Research, Development, Test and Implementation of new technologies for the Naval and Marine business. Chris graduated from the US Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree with further studies in Engineering, Aeronautics and International Business.

Since his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard in July of 2011, Paul Roden has served as Vice President of Washington Operations for the Fairbanks Morse Engine Company (FME), a manufacturer and service provider for many U.S. Armed Forces propulsion diesel engines. From July 2008 to July 2011, Captain Roden served as the Coast Guard’s Chief of Naval Engineering, where he was responsible for policy development and budget management. Roden graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in marine engineering. He later attended the University of Michigan where he earned a Master of Science in naval architecture, marine engineering, and mechanical engineering. Additionally, Roden obtained a Master of business administration from Indiana University. Throughout his career, Captain Roden has been an active member of engineering professional societies.

Paul Roden, Vice Chairman

Carl Fisher, Vice President of Membership

Carl is the Founder and First President of theAmerican Shipbuilding Suppliers Association and is a 1977 graduate of the US Naval Academy. He is currently the Government Sales Manager of Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Business Development, Marine for Marotta Controls. Prior to joining Marotta Controls, Carl was the Vice President of Business Development at L3 Maritime Systems, supporting L3's Navy surface ship machinery control and power management technologies. Prior to his L3 years, Carl was the Director of Business Development at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Division, responsible for marketing and successful contract award of such technologies
as EMALS/AAG, Railgun, Integrated Fight-Through Power (IFTP) and other advanced Navy technologies.

Patrick Marotta, Board Member

Patrick Marotta began his career at Marotta Controls in 1998, gaining hands-on knowledge of all aspects of the business by serving in multiple disciplines throughout the company including Operations and Business Development. He transitioned to President and COO in 2009 and began shaping the business for the next generation. In 2015, Patrick was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, where he continues to lead and expand the company to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Patrick is responsible for driving Marotta’s core technical competency which has enabled Marotta to better serve its customers as they incorporate new control architecture and modernize legacy platforms. At the same time, Patrick led Marotta to incorporate lean principles and value key engineering and manufacturing processes.

Under his leadership, Marotta Controls has achieved some of the highest honors awarded to a small business, such as being named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Small Business of the Year as well as a Lockheed Martin Supplier of the Year. Patrick is a member of the small business board of advisors to the New York Federal Reserve, and represents the Company at the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. Patrick is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Systems Engineering.

Marc T. Steiner, Board Member

Marc T. Steiner is General Manager of KITCO Fiber Optics headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA. He assumed this role in 2017 following KITCO’s acquisition by Marmon Aerospace and Defense, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. Previously, he was the owner of FranNet of Southeastern Virginia. He is also a co-founder of Tinole, LLC and IR3Point0. Marc retired from the U.S. Navy in the rank of Commander after 23 years of commissioned service. Mr. Steiner holds his MBA from Old Dominion University, M.S. in Physical Oceanography and Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School and B.A. in Economics from Virginia Tech.

From 1997 until his retirement in 2014, Captain Hack was General Dynamics primary Government Relations liaison with Congress and the Navy on

submarine-related programs. During his distinguished 30 year Naval career, Captain Hack served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Warfare Requirements, Planning and Assessments (N8) for the U.S. Atlantic Submarine Force. Captain Hack also commanded the USS ORION (AS 18). Prior to commanding the ORION, Hack was the Director of Navy Programs and Congressional Liaison Officer for Submarine Programs in the Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon. Before his Pentagon tour, Captain Hack commanded the USS GUARDFISH (SSN 612) where he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Captain Hack graduated from Villanova University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. He is also a graduate of Naval Nuclear Power Training and Naval Submarine School. He is and has been involved with committees of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Navy League, and the Naval Submarine League.

Captain Theodore "Ted" W. Hack, Board Member

Dana Beyeler, Board Member

Dana A. Beyeler is Senior Vice President - Defense Engagement for the Ellwood Group, Inc., a private industrial company with over 2200 employs and annual revenues of over $1 billion. He is also currently a member of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee – ITAC -7 Steel (ITACs) and the NDIA representative to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG). Beyeler held the position of VP Sales & Marketing for Ellwood National Forge Co. (ENF) since it was established in January 2003 as a division of the Ellwood Group, Inc. ENF produces and markets products globally for a wide range of highly specialized applications, including hard target penetrators, artillery components, pipe molds, turbine rotors, pressure vessels, sub-sea oil drilling platform components and other relatively high length/width ratio products with a bored interior diameter. Prior to joining Ellwood National Forge, Beyeler was with National Forge Company for over 25 years, eventually earning the position of VP of Marketing. Dana also served on the Western Pennsylvania District Export Council and was a member of U.S. Commerce Secretary Daley’s Business Development Mission to India in 1997. Beyeler also served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps on active duty 1973 – 1976 and as an Inactive Reserve Officer until separation in 1986. He received a BA in Economics and Business from Muskingum College and a M.B.A. from St. Bonaventure University.

Jim Dick, Board Member

Jim Dick is a 1987 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, retiring from the Navy in 2017 after 30 years as a surface warfare officer and acquisition professional. He served on cruisers, frigates, and destroyers and commanded USS RAMAGE (DDG 61). Ashore tours included the Naval Postgraduate School, the Joint Warfighting Center, the Center for Naval Analyses, OPNAV N51, and the personal staff of the Chief of Naval Personnel. As an acquisition professional, he served as Major Program Manager for the Surface Navy’s two largest Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program offices. Jim joined L3Harris in 2018 and is the Director of Business Development for the Maritime Power & Energy Solutions Division.

Paul Roden, Board Member

Since his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard in July of 2011, Paul Roden has served as Vice President of Washington Operations for the Fairbanks Morse, LLC, a manufacturer and service provider for many U.S. Armed Forces propulsion diesel engines. From July 2008 to July 2011, Captain Roden served as the Coast Guard’s Chief of Naval Engineering, where he was responsible for policy development and budget management. Roden graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in marine engineering. He later attended the University of Michigan where he earned a Master of Science in naval architecture, marine engineering, and mechanical engineering. Additionally, he obtained a Master of business administration from Indiana University. Throughout his career, Captain Roden has been an active member of engineering professional societies. Through the acquisition of other companies Fairbanks Morse, now known as Fairbanks Morse Defense, is a provider to the military marine services of more than just diesel engines, including valves, motors, controllers, weapons elevators, hanger doors, watermakers and davits.

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