(WASHINGTON, DC - February 24, 2026) – The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) today announced that Paul Zielinski will retire following six years of leadership as the FLC Executive Director, and that a search is underway to fill this important role. Zielinski brought more than 30 years of experience in science, engineering, and technology transfer to the role.
Paul’s experience spanned work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and on active duty in the U.S. Army. In addition to his leadership of technology transfer within agencies, he also served the interagency community as the lead for the Interagency Workgroup for Technology Transfer, Interagency Workgroup for Bayh-Dole, and as a co-chair of the National Science and Technology Council Lab-to Market Subcommittee. He has represented the United States through many international interactions and visits on technology transfer, building capacity and expanding American markets. With the FLC, Paul has held several leadership roles over two decades including being elected twice as the FLC Chair (2013-2017), Finance Officer, Host Agency Representative, and Agency Representative.
Since joining the FLC staff, he has overseen operations, programs, and services for the nationwide network of more than 300 federal laboratories, agencies, and research centers that move federal innovations into the marketplace. During his tenure, Zielinski led significant modernization and growth initiatives across the organization. These include the launch of the FLC podcast, a comprehensive website redesign, the redesign of the FLC Business and Lab Tech in Your Life platforms, and the integration of digital tools and artificial intelligence features. He also advanced the FLC’s data and metrics capabilities to better understand and serve member laboratories, expanded professional development through a structured learning system and mentorship program, and strengthened technology focus areas to better connect federal labs with regional innovation ecosystems. Under his leadership, the FLC’s premier annual educational and networking event, the FLC National Meeting, achieved record numbers of in-person attendants as well as virtual registrations during Covid and government travel restrictions.
“It has been an honor to lead the FLC and work alongside such a dedicated network of federal laboratories and partners,” Zielinski said. “Together, we have modernized how we deliver services, embraced data and digital tools, and created new opportunities for learning, mentorship, and collaboration. I look forward to seeing the FLC build on this strong foundation and continue advancing technology transfer as a driver of innovation and economic impact.”
“Paul’s leadership has strengthened the FLC’s programs, expanded our digital reach, and elevated technology transfer as a profession across the federal community,” said FLC Chair Whitney Hastings, Division Director in the Office of Partnerships and Technology Transfer at Fermilab. “We are grateful for his service and the lasting impact he has made on our members and the broader innovation ecosystem.”
The FLC is now seeking a new Executive Director to build on this momentum and guide the organization’s next phase of growth, partnership, and strategic engagement with federal agencies, industry, academia, and regional stakeholders.
More information about the position and application process is available here.
About the FLC:
The FLC is a formally chartered, nationwide network of more than 300 federal laboratories, agencies, and research centers that foster commercialization best practice strategies and opportunities for accelerating federal technologies from out of the labs and into the marketplace. To learn more, visit federallabs.org.