Mary Englehart - Director

Mary Englehart has worked for Tria Federal and its legacy companies for more than 17 years. She has come a long way from her early days as a recent college graduate, climbing Tria’s ranks to become a director overseeing contracts within the Military Health System and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In her free time, she is a true adventure seeker. Some might call her a daredevil, if that is a good word to describe someone who has been teased for “bringing a knife to a wasp fight” while suspended on a cliff face.

How do you find purpose in your role?

The people who support our warfighters are the most dedicated and passionate people you will ever meet. They are driven to serve – both as healthcare professionals and as members of the military community. As someone with a skill set more geared towards business and data analytics, the opportunity to work with people called to a vocation showed me the importance of that passion. And it helped me see how using my skills and abilities to channel that passion can be just as rewarding. 

Since then, I’ve grown to the leadership position I’m currently in, but I haven’t forgotten that my duty remains with those passionate people on the ground who are trying to do the right thing in an increasingly resource-constrained, philosophically complex environment.

What is one thing that has kept you at Tria for nearly two decades?

Tria’s leadership gives us opportunities – and I don’t just mean promotions. They encourage us to take on new things, learn new things and try new things professionally. Sometimes that means success; other times we don’t succeed. But leaving our comfort zones to take on new and uncomfortable challenges is how we grow.

How do you create a sense of teamwork with coworkers?

Transparency, authenticity, empathy, and accountability. Also humor because there are times when life makes absolutely no sense and being able to laugh at the absurdity of it is almost as good as therapy!

What do you do in your free time?

I am an adventure seeker who loves to try new things, from hiking and camping to “wild caving,” which is spelunking in untouched caves with no paths or lighting. I also enjoy board games, puzzles, escape rooms, and anything that challenges me to think creatively and quickly. I’ve even helped to create several escape rooms and scavenger hunts for conventions and other large-scale events.

What is one thing that AI couldn’t find out about you on the Internet?

While rappelling down a cliff in Cuba, I decided to pause for a selfie about 150 feet in the air. I went to steady myself against the cliff face and inadvertently stuck my hand into a wasp’s nest. The wasps did not appreciate this, and I was soon amid an angry swarm. I was in a major hurry to escape but my shirt got caught in the belay device and I was stuck, with wasps actively and enthusiastically stinging me. I pulled out my pocketknife and frantically cut the fabric, then dropped as fast as I could to the ground. Yes, I got the selfie, and it was (mostly) worth it. But to this day, my climbing buddies tease me about bringing a knife to a wasp fight.