Our Mission and Vision

Who We Are

MaruGlobal Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women, children, and the elderly through sustainable, community-driven initiatives. With a focus on education, vocational training, and advocacy, we work across Eurasia, the Middle East, and beyond to foster economic independence and social impact.

Our Story

Founded by Elvira Aidarkhanova and Maryam Atmar, MaruGlobal Foundation began with a vision to empower underserved communities. Starting with vocational training programs in Afghanistan, we have expanded globally, combining expertise in public policy, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership to create lasting change since 2010.

Our Mission & Vision

Leadership Team

Founders

ELVIRA AIDARKHANOVA

Elvira Aidarkhanova is the Founding Partner, President, and Board Member of MaruGlobal Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing sustainable, community-driven initiatives empowering women, children, and the elderly. With over 14 years of global experience in public policy, international affairs, and strategic consulting across government, academia, and the nonprofit sector, her expertise spans Eurasia, the Gulf States, and the broader Middle East, focusing on foreign policy, regional security, and sustainable development. Elvira has held research and leadership roles at prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tanks and contributed to international research and communication initiatives on U.S. foreign policy and Eurasian strategic dialogues, engaging with quasi-governmental and intergovernmental institutions. She currently serves as a Research Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, leading complex analytical projects in Eurasian studies. She has also held academic and consultancy roles in Central Asia, including advisory work for Chevron and contributions to Forbes Kazakhstan. A dedicated philanthropist, Elvira supports charitable causes through endurance running, having completed the Marine Corps Marathon (2023), New York Marathon (2024), and a 100-mile run in April 2025 for the American Cancer Society, reflecting her commitment to social impact. She plans to participate in the Chicago Marathon in October 2025. Elvira is a devoted sister to Ainur and a proud wife to her husband, David. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Science, is a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations, and has completed a summer program at Hanyang University in South Korea and an M.A. exchange program at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Turkey.

MARYAM ATMAR

Maryam Atmar is a Founding Partner and Board Member of MaruGlobal Foundation, bringing over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and women’s empowerment. Prior to co-founding MaruGlobal, she established and led MAH Group, an international consulting and contracting firm operating in Afghanistan, the U.S., and the U.K., where she spearheaded vocational training and small business development initiatives for women. Maryam mentors Afghan women entrepreneurs globally, with MAH Group facilitating programs in handmade jewelry making and other skills to foster economic independence. She directs Afghana, a nonprofit focused on women’s education through language learning and vocational training, which established a foreign language institute in Kabul graduating approximately 100 students annually. As Managing Director of Afghan Academy, she supports hundreds of female students in Afghanistan. Maryam also serves on the board of several nonprofits, including the Afghan Advocacy Center in London, advocating for Afghan women and conflict-affected communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from George Mason University and is dedicated to empowering vulnerable groups through education and economic development.

Board Members

Dr. Richard H.L. Marshall

Dr. Richard H.L. Marshall is the Chairman of the Board of MaruGlobal Foundation and a nationally recognized authority on cybersecurity, national security law, and technology policy. With over 35 years of experience in the U.S. federal government and private sector, he has held senior executive roles at the highest levels of national defense and cybersecurity strategy. A former member of the U.S. Senior Executive Service, Dr. Marshall served in several pivotal federal agencies. At the National Security Agency (NSA), he was the legal architect of the nation’s first cyber warfare exercise, helping to define the legal and operational framework for U.S. cyber defense. He later held senior positions at the Department of Defense, the White House, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At DHS, he was Director of Global Cyber Security Management, where he played a central role in shaping the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative — a cornerstone of the U.S. government’s cyber policy infrastructure. Dr. Marshall has advised international and quasi-governmental organizations at the intersection of cybersecurity and global governance. He is General Counsel for both ISSA International and the Colloquium on Information Systems Security Education (CISSE), and serves as a strategic advisor to the INVNT/IP Global Consortium, a multinational initiative focused on protecting innovation and intellectual property in critical sectors. In addition to his leadership in government and policy, Dr. Marshall is a respected educator and international legal expert. He has lectured on cybersecurity, international law, and national security at leading institutions including The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Georgetown University, National Defense University, and William & Mary. Since 1997, he has served as a judge in the Jessup International Moot Court Competition and has represented the United States in the High Court of Justice in London. He is licensed to practice before multiple U.S. federal and military courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. Dr. Marshall holds a B.A. from The Citadel, a J.D. from Creighton University, and an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University. He is also a graduate of the National Defense University, Harvard Law School’s summer program, and the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown.

Charles F. Sills

Charles F. Sills is the Vice-Chairman of the Board of MaruGlobal Foundation and brings extensive experience in planning and directing international industrial, infrastructure, environmental, and energy initiatives. He served as a member of the Danube Task Force — the governing council overseeing the Danube Basin Environmental Restoration Program — led by the World Bank, the EBRD, and the UNDP, involving 13 countries from Austria to Moldova. He also served on the Japan-U.S. Joint Fund for Social & Economic Development in Central/Eastern Europe and the Helsinki Commission, focused on the environmental cleanup of the Baltic Sea. He was instrumental in securing funding for the Sassari, Sardinia Symposium on Ozone Depletion, organized by the International Council of Scientific Unions. This symposium directly led to the Montreal Protocol — a landmark international treaty that has successfully reduced the size of the ‘Ozone Hole’. He serves on the Board of the America-Eurasia Business Coalition, where he has planned and led a series of conferences on “Trade, Energy, and Infrastructure Investment Opportunities on the New Silk Road.” He also sits on the International Advisory Committee for the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Additionally, Mr. Sills is a recognized authority on U.S. Government Contracting and an advocate for small business access to federal and military acquisition opportunities — currently serving as President & CEO of the American Defense Alliance, an organization that brings together Congressional leaders, military commanders, and business executives to identify national security solutions for the U.S. As a former Naval Intelligence Officer, he served at the Pentagon, at Supreme Allied Command/NATO Atlantic Fleet Headquarters, and on the staff of the U.S. Middle East Force, based in Bahrain with responsibility for the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean region. Subsequently, he directed strategic marketing for both the defense/aerospace sector and renewable energy/solar technologies in Lockheed Martin's International Division. He is a graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (A.B.), and the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy (M.A.) at Tufts & Harvard.