Our People

Mr. Andrew Ammerman is a seasoned nonprofit executive with over twenty-five years of experience leading high-profile organizations. His upbringing in a multi-generational military family and childhood at West Point Military Academy has profoundly influenced his commitment to supporting those who have served our nation.

As the Founder and CEO of CAA Consulting, LLC, a boutique firm specializing in working with high profile nonprofit organizations, Mr. Ammerman gained notoriety for capacity building, strategic planning, and sustainability programs for nonprofit organizations. His expertise in raising national awareness and funds has made him a valuable asset to the organizations with which Mr. Ammerman has worked. He has demonstrated a solid commitment to military and veteran organizations, provided strategic planning and fundraising support for New York University’s Veterans Future Lab, a business incubator for military veterans.

Mr. Ammerman has made significant contributions to the 9/11 community as the Executive Director of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, and Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, two of the three national 9/11 foundations. His work has ranged from launching the first national 9/11 Heroes Award to creating and leading the 9/11 Pentagon Education Center project from concept through design. He founded the U.S. Secretaries of Defense Council and an Executive Advisory Board of former Secretaries of Defense, ambassadors to the U.S., military associations, and private sector leaders to help raise awareness and funds for the project. Furthermore, Mr. Ammerman worked with the highest levels of federal and state officials to negotiate the transfer of property from the State of Virginia to the Department of Defense for the 9/11 Pentagon Education Center project.

Mr. Ammerman has been influential in establishing working partnerships with the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Transportation Security Administration.  He is also proud to have collaborated with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and elected officials to draft and pass the historic H.R.6287 – 9/11 Memorial Act and appropriation authorization.

Mr. Ammerman’s academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University Maryland. He and his family reside in the Washington, DC area.

Darrel Choat serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Marine Corps University Foundation, bringing over three decades of distinguished leadership across military, governmental, diplomatic, and academic arenas. A retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, Mr. Choat has held senior positions in high-impact operational, advisory, and policy roles in Washington, D.C. and across the globe.

Mr. Choat most recently served as Executive Officer at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., overseeing over 1,000 personnel and directing more than 2,200 high-visibility ceremonial events annually. Prior to this, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Manpower and Human Resources at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he managed civilian and Marine Corps personnel services for over 3,600 active duty Marines and civilians. He also served as a Foreign Advisor Team Leader in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he advised Afghan Ministry of Defense and Interior General Officers on public affairs, budgeting, and financial execution in support of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission.

His international experience includes serving as a Future Operations Planner in Bahrain, leading contingency planning for the Levant region, and U.S. non-combatant evacuation operations. Earlier in his career, Mr. Choat was a Congressional Liaison at U.S. European Command at the Pentagon, a ceremonial host and Human Resources Officer at Marine Barracks Washington, and a White House Social Aide.

Mr. Choat began his public service career in the U.S. Congress, where he spent nearly a decade as a legislative assistant and professional committee staff member in both the House and Senate, focusing on agriculture, trade, and environmental policy.

He is a proven strategist and relationship builder with extensive experience coordinating with the White House, U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Interior, as well as international partners from NATO and the Middle East. His writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Marine Corps Gazette, Small Wars Journal, and publications by Marine Corps University Press and Oklahoma State University Press.

Mr. Choat holds three master’s degrees—two in Military and Operational Studies from Marine Corps University and one in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University. He earned his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska and was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to the University of New England in Australia.

Mr. Choat’s breadth of experience, cross-cultural fluency, and commitment to education and public service uniquely position him to help advance the mission and strategic goals of the Marine Corps University Foundation.

Kimberly Niero is the Director of Programs for the Marine Corps University Foundation (MCUF). Having been at the Foundation since 2008, she knows a little bit of everything the Foundation does and desires. She ensures that everything flows smoothly, timely and seamlessly in the support of Marine Professional Military Education (PME), both at the University proper, and for Marine Units around the world.

Kimberly sums up her focus at the Marine Corps University Foundation as such:

“The Marine Corps has always been America’s premier Fighting Force. MCUF’s purpose is to enhance all Professional Military Education so as to create a foundation that grounds their superior fighting prowess with discerning judgement and sophisticated reasoning within all ranks, making our Marines responsive to any threat.  I love knowing that my work here directly supports Marines and their creative and decisive cognitive expertise.

Kimberly has three grown children and lives with her husband Michael and their two pets, a cat and a dog.

Angela has been a dedicated Executive Administrative Assistant at MCUF since 2018. Known for her problem-solving skills, teamwork, and willingness to take on any challenge, she brings both professionalism and warmth to everything she does. Her expertise includes calendar management, travel coordination, event planning support, and project execution — all delivered with precision and care. With her positive attitude and collaborative spirit, Angela helps create a welcoming, productive workplace where everyone can thrive. She is committed to streamlining office operations and supporting leadership through trust, reliability, and top-notch service.

Among her colleagues, Angela — or “Ang” — is affectionately known as the ultimate meme queen, always ready to share a laugh. Originally from North Plainfield, NJ, she has a love for New Jersey pizza, mozzarella sticks, and tiramisu. She moved to Virginia to attend George Mason University, where she earned her degree in Interpersonal Communication. Outside the office, she devotes most of her time to her two energetic sons, Christopher and Nicholas, who keep her happily on her toes.

“I love working at the Marine Corps University Foundation because I feel we make a real impact on the education and professional growth of Marines, fostering national security and leadership excellence.”