COURSE FACULTY

Mark K. Roberts is a Partner at Argy, Wiltse & Robinson, P.C. Mr. Roberts has over 25 years of experience in government contracts having worked in private industry, public accounting and at a law firm serving as a consultant and litigation specialist.  He serves as a consultant and expert witness for clients primarily in the aerospace, defense, construction and healthcare industries.

As a consultant, Mr. Roberts encompasses a wide range of consulting assignments for numerous government and commercial contractors. Consulting assignments primarily involve regulatory issues relating to contract pricing, cost accounting, profitability and administration.  Mr. Roberts also assists contractors in assessing the adequacy of their accounting, estimating, billing and purchasing systems and the ability of those systems to comply with applicable procurement regulations. 

As a litigation specialist, Mr. Roberts assists legal counsel in matters involving: contract fraud, contract claims, contract terminations, bid protests, post acquisition disputes and defective pricing.  He also testifies as an expert in government contract cost accounting matters, having testified in Federal District criminal and civil courts and before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.

In recent years, Mr. Roberts has assisted several major contractors with the restructuring and integration of their organizations following mergers and acquisitions.  These performance improvement type activities are aimed at eliminating organizational redundancies, improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs.  Following the organizational realignment, Mr. Roberts also assists contractors in redesigning and simplifying their cost accounting systems and structure while ensuring compliance with applicable cost accounting regulations.

Prior to working as a consultant, Mr. Roberts worked with a major aerospace and defense contractor.  At that company, he held positions involving accounting, finance and contract management. Mr. Roberts has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University.

Brian A. Darst is an attorney with the firm of Odin, Feldman & Pittleman in Fairfax, Virginia, and holds the position of Counsel. He specializes in legal matters involving Government construction and service contract law and has extensive experience in the areas of contract formation and administration issues, bid protests, claims preparation and litigation, internal investigations, voluntary disclosures, procurement fraud investigations, various suspension and debarment proceedings, matters related to Small Business Administration, and other issues involving the award and administration of federal and state government contracts. Mr. Darst has represented clients in various matters before the Government Accountability Office, the Postal Service, Armed Services, and General Services Administration Boards of Contract Appeals, the Court of Federal Claims, the Small Business Office of Hearing and Appeals, and various agency-level proceedings. Mr. Darst's practice includes assisting clients with matters related to the sale and acquisition of firms involved in Government contracting, software licensing issues, other corporate governance matters, and civil litigation in Virginia and District of Columbia.

Mr. Darst is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Southern District of West Virginia.