AVERY Q. MUSE, SR. Author of The Rooms I Had to Earn FULL BIOGRAPHY Avery Q. Muse, Sr. is an author, entrepreneur, U.S. Navy veteran, former Senior Executive Service leader, and Founder and CEO of The Muse Group, a consulting firm focused on technology transformation, mission enablement, healthcare, and the public sector. His career spans an uncommon arc from enlisted Navy service to the Senior Executive Service, with leadership roles across national defense, federal law enforcement, the legislative branch, public health, and entrepreneurship. Muse began his career in the United States Navy as a communications specialist, supporting mission-critical operations and earning the National Defense Service Medal and two Navy Achievement Medals. After leaving active duty, he continued serving in national-security environments, including assignments supporting the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and leadership roles with the Defense Information Systems Agency. At DISA, Muse served at headquarters and later in Europe, where his responsibilities included enterprise operations, cybersecurity, command and control, workforce leadership, international partnerships, and support to Department of Defense missions across allied environments. He later joined the U.S. Marshals Service as Chief of Service Delivery, supporting technology capabilities connected to judicial security, prisoner operations, tactical missions, and national and international law-enforcement activities. He subsequently served as Deputy Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Capitol Police, helping lead technology modernization, operations, and security in support of the legislative branch. Muse’s federal career culminated at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he served as Executive Director for the Office of IT Operations and as a member of the Senior Executive Service. There, he led enterprise technology operations and transformation within one of the federal government’s largest and most complex IT environments. His civilian service was recognized with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Today, through The Muse Group, Muse works with government, industry, and healthcare leaders on modernization, operational strategy, Total Experience, and mission-focused technology transformation. He is also the founder of Muse Leadership Press, created to develop work centered on leadership, service, reflection, and legacy. Muse is a writer, speaker, mentor, and advocate for leadership grounded in service rather than position. His thought leadership has appeared in national publications, including NextGov, where he has written about Total Experience and the connection between people, technology, and mission outcomes. His memoir, The Rooms I Had to Earn: A Memoir of Faith, Leadership, and Service Beyond the Title, reflects on the experiences, relationships, and lessons that shaped his approach to leadership across military service, government, community, and family life. Beyond his professional roles, Muse is a husband, father, grandfather, mentor, coach, and man of faith. He and his wife, Allyson, live in Maryland. His guiding belief is simple: Public service does not end when you leave government. And the leadership philosophy at the center of his work is equally clear: Lead. Serve. Leave a Legacy. STANDARD BIOGRAPHY Avery Q. Muse, Sr. is an author, entrepreneur, U.S. Navy veteran, former Senior Executive Service leader, and Founder and CEO of The Muse Group, a consulting firm focused on technology transformation, mission enablement, healthcare, and the public sector. His career spans an uncommon arc from enlisted Navy service to the Senior Executive Service, with leadership roles across national defense, federal law enforcement, the legislative branch, and public health. His service includes assignments supporting the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and leadership positions with the Defense Information Systems Agency, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Capitol Police, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At HHS, Muse served as Executive Director for the Office of IT Operations and as a member of the Senior Executive Service, leading enterprise technology operations and transformation within one of the federal government’s largest and most complex IT environments. His service has been recognized with the National Defense Service Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Today, Muse works with government, industry, and healthcare leaders through The Muse Group and is the founder of Muse Leadership Press. He is also a writer, speaker, mentor, and advocate for leadership grounded in service rather than position. He is the author of The Rooms I Had to Earn: A Memoir of Faith, Leadership, and Service Beyond the Title. Lead. Serve. Leave a Legacy. SHORT BIOGRAPHY Avery Q. Muse, Sr. is an author, entrepreneur, U.S. Navy veteran, former Senior Executive Service leader, and Founder and CEO of The Muse Group. His career spans national defense, federal law enforcement, the legislative branch, public health, and enterprise technology leadership, including service with the Joint Staff, DISA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Capitol Police, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Muse is also the founder of Muse Leadership Press and the author of The Rooms I Had to Earn: A Memoir of Faith, Leadership, and Service Beyond the Title. His work centers on leadership, service, mission, and legacy. SPEAKER INTRODUCTION Our speaker today has traveled an uncommon leadership journey from enlisted service in the United States Navy to the Senior Executive Service. Avery Q. Muse, Sr. has served in leadership roles supporting national defense, federal law enforcement, the legislative branch, and public health, including work with the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, DISA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of The Muse Group, the founder of Muse Leadership Press, and the author of The Rooms I Had to Earn: A Memoir of Faith, Leadership, and Service Beyond the Title. He is a veteran, entrepreneur, writer, mentor, husband, father, grandfather, and advocate for a simple idea: leadership is ultimately about service, not position. Please welcome Avery Q. Muse, Sr.