2023 Election Candidates

Candidate for the Chair position:

Whitney Hastings, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health 

Achievement Goals for the office of Chair 

The FLC is a phenomenal organization. It has been key to my growth as a technology transfer professional, and it would be a privilege to serve as the next FLC Chair. As Chair, my goal would be to energize the membership through the three FLC strategic pillars of Promote, Educate, and Facilitate and to lead the Executive Board (EB) during the next phase of strategic planning.  Specific goals include: 

1. Active outreach and promotion of noteworthy technology transfer efforts using well-designed, user-friendly platforms and effective communication channels (Promote). 
2. Providing a comprehensive, state-of-the-art training and mentoring for federal technology transfer professionals at all levels, both virtually and in-person (Educate).  
3. Creating strategic partnerships and designing programs/tools that connect federal laboratories with external partners to increase commercialization of federal technologies (Facilitate). 

The FLC provides great benefits in these areas, but more is needed to fully achieve our vision and ensure that all member laboratories are engaged and obtain value from FLC.  

I’ve had the honor to serve the FLC in a variety of roles – Awards Committee member, Awards Committee Chair, and now Promote Committee Chair where I’ve:  

• Led the redesign of FLC’s digital platforms;  
• Expanded its communication products; and  
• Created the unified awards program.  

As an EB member, I helped create FLC’s strategic plan and implement significant changes to the charter, by-laws, leadership structure, and administrative support.  

I would enjoy the opportunity to continue this strategic work as Chair and advance FLC’s vision of being the premier federal tech transfer organization.  

 

Whitney Hastings Biography:

I am a Senior Technology Transfer Manager with the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Technology Transfer Center within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I have 15 years of experience in technology transfer where I’ve led numerous technology transfer initiatives and managed diverse portfolios that included therapeutics, medical devices, cosmetics, software and food safety technologies. I work closely with NIH scientists, providing training and guidance on collaborations, contracts, intellectual property strategies, and negotiate a variety of technology transfer agreements with NCI partners in both industry and academia. I am passionate about educating others on the many benefits of technology transfer and sharing best practices within the federal community. To that end, I am involved numerous groups and special programs within the NIH including the Advancing Innovations Through Mentorship (AIM) and Technology Transfer Ambassadors Program (TTAP), Lab-to-Market (L2M), and the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC).  

Prior to joining the NCI, I was an Intellectual Property and Partnerships Manager at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I had a pivotal role in expanding the office to include patenting, licensing, and enforcement while also growing the number of technology transfer partnerships at several FDA Centers. Prior to FDA, I was at NIH's Office of Technology Transfer as a Senior Licensing and Patenting Manager and Acting Branch Chief. Before working in technology transfer, I worked in industry as an engineer on optical communication products with Corning, Inc. I graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Bioengineering from Clemson University and completed my master’s and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. 

In 2018, I joined the FLC’s Executive Board (EB) as the Award’s Program Chair and in 2020 I became the Promote Committee Chair where I continue to serve the FLC. As the Promote Committee Chair, I lead FLC’s efforts to promote and recognize noteworthy technology transfer of all Federal Government laboratories and oversee three subcommittees – Strategic Communications, Website, and Awards. Recent accomplishments of the Promote Committee include the FLC launch of a new website, redeveloping the FLC Business platform, adoption of a unified, single submission Awards program, implementation of a strategic communications plan, and the expansion of FLC’s Lab Tech in Your Life technology tour. As an EB member, I’ve played an integral role in the development of the FLC’s five-year strategic plan, and I am currently involved in our Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) working group aimed at reaching out to FLC’s small and underrepresented labs.  I am also an active member of the FLC Programing Subcommittee where I help develop content for the National meeting and regularly serve as a judge for the FLC National Awards and Planner submissions. 

The FLC’s current focus on outreach and expansion of its program offerings puts it on an exciting growth trajectory for the next two years! I believe my knowledge, experience and enthusiasm will be an asset to the EB during this time, and I ask for your vote to be the next FLC Chair. Thank you! 

Candidate for the Vice Chair position:

David Kistin, Sandia National Laboratories

Nominee Statement: The FLC is an incredible organization and an amazing resource for the U.S. national laboratories. I look forward to continued collaboration across the complex as we work to increase the collective impact of the tech transfer community.

 

David Kistin Biography: 

David Kistin has been the Manager of Technology & Economic Development at Sandia National Laboratories since 2021. David joined Sandia in 2015 shortly after getting his MBA from the University of New Mexico. He started as the Sandia Program Leader for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot. As part of Sandia’s Technology Partnerships Program, he and his team lead and manage several economic development programs that are leveraging the people, technologies, and facilities of the Labs in support of regional economic development. These programs include the Sandia Science & Technology Park (SS&TP), New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) program, TRGR Technology Readiness Initiative (TRGR), Center for Collaboration and Commercialization (C3), and Entrepreneur Separation to Transfer Technology (ESTT). He also serves as Associate Director for the Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA), a DOE Center led by Sandia and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. David is the Board Chair for the New Mexico Technology Council (NMTC) and Regional Coordinator for the FLC Mid-Continent region.

The candidates for the Member-at-Large position are: (vote for one)

Jeff DiTullio, ERDC

FLC Member at Large Ballot Statement: Jeff DiTullio, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) 

If fortunate enough to be elected Member at Large for a second term, I intend to serve FLC membership and the Board as a conduit between the two for comments, concepts, and concerns.  My career as a tech transfer professional began twenty-five years ago and during that time the personal exchange of information and ideas has remained the most reliable and effective way to create opportunities, generate value, and sustain relationships.  Although virtual engagements have eased the temporal and financial burdens of travelling to meetings, technology hasn’t yet been able to fully offset the value of face-to-face networking opportunities. Many significant achievements have their origin in a casual exchange.  With this in mind, I will continue to support in-person meetings as well as virtual options, and I will support new initiatives and current programs that work for membership and our national laboratory infrastructure. Although FLC membership retains a commonality that causes us at times to be viewed as almost a single entity, there is great diversity within our ranks.  That diversity is driven by regional economic differences, agencies’ structure and missions, statutory and regulatory constraints, and differences in leadership philosophy.  As your Member at Large I will focus on how our differences influence outcomes and will advocate for a vetting process for new initiatives that will underscore and attempt to amend potential points of failure. 

 

Jeff DiTullio Biography:

Jeff DiTullio is a Technology Transfer Officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), FLC Member at Large, and Program Committee Chair.  He brings more than 25 years of experience in identifying opportunities and matching them with capabilities, including fifteen years as the ORTA and Innovation & Outreach Lead for the DEVCOM Soldier Center.  Prior to joining the federal government Mr. DiTullio served as Director of Business Development for Bionaut Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for the licensing of technology and therapeutic programs.  He previously held advancing positions at Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), most recently serving as Director of MBI’s Technology Commercialization Center, responsible for providing technology licensing and IP management services to research institutions and start-up companies.  Mr. DiTullio began his career as a Technical Instructor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT.  

Mr. DiTullio holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. 

Stefan Susta, Veterans Administration (VA)

Statement for Inclusion (Member-At-Large FLC Board Seat) - Stefan Susta, VA

I kindly ask for your support and vote - to be included on FLC’s board as Member-At-Large. I would be thrilled to support FLC in this role - to help implement FLC’s current strategic initiatives (promote-educate-facilitate) and help shape FLC’s future. I believe the experience gained in tech transfer roles at multiple government agencies (Air Force and VA) have prepared me well for this position and will allow me to serve all FLC members.

Specifically, my position as VA’s regional technology transfer specialist for a 7-state region represents a unique opportunity to communicate, participate, support, and engage closely with several FLC regions (i.e. Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast) to connect, share best practices, and build a network of tech transfer professional and build strong regional ecosystems that support government lab tech transfer activities. In addition to nearly eight (8) years in tech transfer for the federal government, my experience as a business consultant, corporate officer, regional economic development agent, and government contractor can also serve the FLC board with well-balanced input and relentless support to formulate and execute strategic initiatives on behalf of the entire FLC membership.

 

Biographical Statement - Stefan Susta

Stefan Susta currently serves as one of VA’s regional technology transfer specialists, supporting VA’s research activities in a seven-state region (13 medical centers). In this role, he leads a small team of field technology transfer specialist and works closely with innovation specialists, VA prototyping teams, and university affiliates to protect, license, and transition VA’s IP. He currently represents VA on NIST’s Lab-to-Market subcommittee - to assist agencies in developing a process for handling non-domestic manufacturing waivers.

Stefan has been involved in FLC (National and Midwest region) activities and meetings as a speaker or participant for nearly 20 years, developing a strong track record of working collaboratively within and across government agencies, technology commercialization, enabling public-private partnerships, and connecting with state and regional economic development groups.

Before joining VA’s tech transfer program in 2020, Stefan served for five years as a technology transfer specialist (ORTA) and small business liaison at the Air Force Research Laboratory. In this capacity, he supported the marketing and commercialization of the directorate’s patent portfolio, and technology transfer activities to support synergistic collaborations between the Air Force, academia, and industry. Highlights include working with the Air Force team to develop a T2 knowledge management system with NASA, and executing the first software license for DoD - authorized under Section 801 of the 2013 NDAA.

Besides technology transfer, Stefan has worked in various technology-based industries and has served as a corporate officer in private industry. He has worked for and successfully teamed with DoD partnership intermediaries and regional economic development groups to connect government labs with the private and non-for-profit sector.

Stefan earned undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and German from Virginia Tech, and an MBA from Wright State University.

The candidates for the Mid-Continent Regional and Deputy Regional Coordinator are:

Regional Coordinator

Andrew W. Myers, Kansas City National Security Campus 

Statement and Goals for Mid-Continent Regional Coordinator - Andy Myers 

While there are a myriad of paths towards a career in Tech Transfer, many of us are drawn by a desire to contribute to the evolution of technologies and see the application of fundamental and applied research.  I’ve always been fascinated in that middle-ground, being a connector or bridge between engineering and business, law and commercialization.  I admire the work and scientists at our national labs, and have seen the benefit of a strong federal research system since starting at the Kansas City National Security Campus nearly six years ago.  I’ve been extremely impressed with the TT community, who have generously helped me through membership in FLC, AUTM, and DOE’s Tech Transfer Working Group. I’d like to contribute to that community by serving as a Regional Coordinator for FLC’s Mid-Continent Region. 

In that role, I would work to increase collaboration and cooperation between federal labs/agencies/facilities, universities, and industry in our region.  I know that FLC (and AUTM, by extension) have excellent education resources, and would work to share FLC’s capabilities to all labs in our region.  I would support the education of Mid-Continent TT professionals through the encouragement of informative programs, by planning and offering interactive regional meetings, and strengthening connections between experts in SBIR/STTR partnerships, IP and TT, and market identification/analysis/research. 

I’ve been fortunate to be part of FLC since 2017, and served as Deputy Regional Coordinator since 2021.  I hope to contribute to FLC as the Mid-Continent Regional Coordinator, and look forward to building more bridges. 

Andrew W. Myers Biography

Andy Myers is the Technology Transfer Lead at the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) operated by Honeywell. In this role, Andy supports scientists and engineers through the invention disclosure and patenting process, works to commercialize or transfer appropriate technologies outside DOE, and coordinates efforts between the federal space and industrial/academic partners.   

Andy has over twenty years’ experience directing research in academic and industrial environments, cultivating and managing partnerships, securing external funding, and coordinating intellectual property.  Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Polymer Research Center, the Business and Technology Institute, and the PSU Research Foundation at Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, KS).  He led the group to its largest size and highest funding level, established new partnerships with industry, and managed distribution of over $380k in royalties. He also helped create a new academic major in polymer chemistry that generated recurring investments from the State of Kansas. 

Before Pittsburg State, Andy worked for TDA Research, Inc. (Golden, CO) as a Primary Investigator and Sr. Chemist. At TDA, he developed and managed proof-of-concept and product development research projects funded through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) federal program. He is an inventor on three patents and received funding from DOE, NASA, NSF, DOD, and EPA.  

He earned his B.S. from Purdue University and his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester (both in chemistry), and has an MBA from Pittsburg State University.  He has served as Chair of DOE’s Technology Transfer Working Group (TTWG), and organized and hosted TTWG’s Fall 2021 meeting in a first-ever virtual format.  He is the site representative for FLC and the FLC Deputy Regional Coordinator, and has supported FLC through national and regional meeting attendance and a traveling SBIR road show.  He is also a member of AUTM.   

KCNSC is one of eight sites that comprise the NNSA. Our primary focus is manufacturing, and we develop advanced solutions for complex national security issues – from prototype simulations to production to quality testing. Along with safeguarding the country’s nuclear weapons, the Honeywell team is charged with leading other missions for the Department of Energy in areas of global security and supply chain management.  

Deputy Regional Coordinator

Amanda Jelsema, Sandia National Laboratories

Statement and Goals for Mid-Continent Deputy Regional Coordinator - Amanda Jelsema

Amanda Jelsema, a Technical Business Development Specialist at Sandia National Laboratories, is seeking election to the Mid-Continent Deputy Regional Coordinator Regional Position. In this role, Amanda will assist the Mid-Continent Regional Coordinator in their responsibilities to the best of her abilities and shall represent the Mid-Continent region in the absence or unavailability of the MidContinent Regional Coordinator as needed. Through this role, Amanda is hoping to further her volunteerism at the FLC in support of its key mission activities providing value to both the Mid-Continent Regional and the greater federal technology transfer community at large.

Amanda is a Technical Business Development Specialist at Sandia National Laboratories, where she provides integrated business development and partnership expertise to help mission and technology customers realize program development, strategy, and partnership objectives. Amanda started her career with Sandia National Laboratories in 2020. Previously, Amanda spent ten years in the higher education and healthcare sectors. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University and a Master in Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Amanda currently serves on the FLC Professional Development Subcommittee, which maintains a clearinghouse of available high quality technology transfer training resources and a training program that advances the tech transfer professional from novice to expert.

The candidates for the Northeast Regional* and Deputy Regional Coordinators.

*(The Northeast Regional Coordinators are running together to split the role of Coordinator as Co-Coordinators)

Northeast Regional Co-Coordinator

​​​​​​David Lee, U.S. Army DEVCOM Armaments Center 

Statement and Goals for Regional Co-Coordinator - David Lee

If re-elected Northeast Region Co-Coordinator position, I plan to: 

Continue to work with the Co-NE Regional Coordinator (Laurie Bagley) and Deputy (Joe DiRenzo) to meet the objectives and goals for the NE Region and faithfully serve as a member of the Executive Board and Executive Committee.   

As a Co- Regional Coordinator, I would like to continue the path Laurie, David Pronchick, Joe DiRenzo and I started in 2019, to increase the engagement and participation of all of the Federal Labs in the NE Region (NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, ME, NH, VT and Puerto Rico) by setting up various online and in-person education, training and networking events.    

I hope to continue to develop relationships with universities and State and Local entities within the NE Region in order to develop partnerships them and our NE Regional Labs.  We want the states and businesses within the NE Region to know what our federal labs have to offer in terms of expertise, intellectual property, and facilities, by working together, we can all succeed.  In the near future (1-2 years) I hope to steer the FLC towards a greater role in actively facilitating the promotion of its member labs through FLC-sponsored member lab videos and FLC-sponsored “Tech Show Case Booths” which would showcase FLC member-Lab inventions, inventors, and intellectual property at various selected trade and industry events (Automotive, Energy, Medical, etc.). 

 David Lee Biography:

David Lee is a Technology Transfer Associate in the Technology Transfer (T2) Office within the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC). DEVCOM AC, headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, is the U.S. Army's primary research and development arm for armament and munitions systems; its mission is to “Lead research, development and engineering of systems solutions to arm those who defend the nation against all current and future threats, both at home and abroad.”

Technology Transfer is an integral part of the Armaments Center’s Mission to maintain a leading technological edge for the U.S. Warfighter.  As a part of the DEVCOM AC T2 Team, David is active in all aspects of DEVCOM AC’s technology transfer practice including executing cooperative research agreements (with domestic, international, academic and industry partners), overseeing the DEVCOM AC patent portfolio, developing intellectual property licensing and marketing strategies, and facilitating and executing strategic partnerships, and agreements with other Federal and State partners.  

He also serves on the Executive Board of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer as the Northeast Regional Co-Coordinator, a position which he has served on for 4 years. 

David began his career with the Army as a Presidential Management Fellow working in labor relations and management employee relations.  He has since held positions in portfolio management, operations (operations security), and workforce management, before starting his current position in the Technology Transfer Office in 2015. 

David received an A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College, a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law- Bloomington, and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Arizona State University.  He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey. 

Northeast Regional Co-Coordinator

Laurie Bagley, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

If re-elected Northeast Region Co-Coordinator position, I plan to: 

• Serve as an active and contributing member of the FLC Executive Board and Executive Committee. Continue to collaborate with regional co-coordinator and deputy regional coordinator to increase engagement in the Northeast region. 
• Increase efforts of collaboration and cooperation between federal labs/agencies/facilities, universities and companies in the region by visiting and educating them about the FLC and the capabilities and technologies available at the laboratories. 
• Support the education of the regional technology transfer personnel through the encouragement of informative programs at regional meetings by knowledgeable experts in various subject matter areas such as SBIR/STTR opportunities, patent law, technology transfer policies, cybersecurity, etc. 
• Support the FLC Northeast Regional Awards program and the FLC National Awards program by promoting those programs in the region. I will actively encourage our labs, facilities, and agencies to submit quality nominations in all the categories. 
• Encourage the participation of non-active or minimally active labs/agencies/facilities in FLC activities by networking at regional and national FLC meetings.  
• Continue outreach with local special interest groups like the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (NJ CSIT), New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), research universities, and other organizations, particularly in the State of NJ. 

Since 2017 I have actively participated in regional and national FLC leadership and events and hope to continue to contribute to the FLC mission in the position of Northeast Regional Co-Coordinator. 

Laurie Bagley Biography:

Laurie Bagley is the Head of Technology Transfer at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory which is managed by Princeton University. Laurie directs PPPL’s efforts to accelerate the commercialization and transfer of laboratory technologies to the marketplace, including developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem for lab scientists and implementing commercialization programs funded by the Department of Energy (DOE). She is responsible for technology transfer including evaluating technology disclosures, developing intellectual property (IP) strategies, creating and executing marketing strategies, facilitating strategic business agreements, and engaging with industry, national laboratories, academia, investors and entrepreneurs to support the scientific missions of the laboratory. Laurie serves on the executive board of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer, the executive board of the DOE Technology Transfer Working Group (TTWG), is a member of the DOE National Laboratory Technology Transfer (NLTT) Council and is a member of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM). 

Laurie’s previous experience includes research and marketing technologies for Princeton University’s Office of Technology Licensing, IP consulting, and R&D and manufacturing experience in the medical device, microelectronics, and building products industries. Laurie holds a BS in Chemistry from Millersville University, Millersville, PA. 

 

The candidates for the Northeast Deputy Regional Coordinator position include Joe DiRenzo and Thomas Coolbaugh: (select one)

Joseph DiRenzo, USCG RDC

Statement and goals for the Deputy Regional Coordinator - Joseph DiRenzo

I have had the honor of serving as the FLC Northeast Region Coordinator during the past three years embracing, through specific action, our mission to add value to the federal agencies, laboratories, and their partners to accomplish the rapid integration of research and development resources within the mainstream of the U.S. economy.  I have embraced this position with enthusiasm, collaboration and out of the box thinking.

Specific achievements:

1. Increased the visibility of the FLC to over 30 entities around the country in presentations (always ensuring that our full time staff member has specifics so the national office and national board know about these events)
2. Research and found opportunities for FLC members within the region to engage/promote their scholarly research
3. I was a critical component in the development of Lab Show case events, coordinated (and served as MC for) Member Connect events including one of the most well attended online events focused on polar research, while also being full engaged in the participants for regional Industry and Tech Events such as the Feb 16 AI/ML/VR occurrence.

I have worked with the other directors and full-time staff to find/invite/secure world class participants and key notes. If re-elected I would continue this effort and more to include greater engagement for new members, more award submissions and more engaging member connect events. There is an increase set of opportunities for the FLC and its’ collective membership.  

Joseph DiRenzo Biography:

As the Director of Research Partnerships for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center (RDC), I am the primary interface and liaison with other laboratories within the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, within academia and with international components such as NATO’s Center for Joint Operations from the Sea. I coordinate collaboration efforts between these organizations and the Coast Guard Research and Development Center that are of benefit to both organizations. In this primary role, I work directly with the Center’s Technical Director and his seven branch chiefs to identify collaboration opportunities or opportunities where USCG Research can add value for our partner’s work. This can include everything from access to data and SMEs, to bringing experiments aboard Coast Guard assets such as icebreakers for execution in polar climates. In 2023 alone the USCG RDC is coordinating with five different DoD labs on polar experimentation aboard our icebreakers. This all supports technology transfer efforts.  

I am the Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit Liaison. The USCG RDC has a 30 person Auxiliary unit composed of Ph.D researchers, individuals with capabilities to support testing including boats and aircraft, along with a public affairs component. Since the USCG RDC is optimally staffed, the Auxiliary is a massive force multiplier. In addition, I am the command’s Internship Coordinator – supporting placement of interns from the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy and civilian universities. This has been a highly successful program as we expose other members of the Armed Forces to USCG missions and capabilities. Hosting the civilian interns has resulted in (1) some interns applying to and being selected for USCG Officer Candidate School, (2) Interns applying and becoming Coast Guard civilian employees, and (3)  interns joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary as volunteers.  

Further, I am the primary command cadre staff member that develops Memorandums of Understanding and Memorandums of Agreement to support seamless collaboration. In January of 2023 alone, I will have coordinated and supported the signing of MOUs with: (1) The CT National Guard, (2) three Navy commands that will collaborate on maintenance of the RDC’s three autonomous vessels (the only three in the Coast Guard fleet) and with U.S. Space Force.  I further work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate supporting HS-Power Internships, research fellowships and collaboration with the DHS S&T Academic Centers of Excellence. I am currently the Coast Guard Board Member for the DHS S&T Center of Excellence – Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute (CIRI). In this role I propose research questions for the center’s consideration, review and evaluate proposals from other DHS components and work with the Center’s staff on tech/knowledge product transfer within my service and with others. I have been the USCG board member on four other DHS Centers of Excellence since 2010.  

For the 13th year in a row, I am the national Co-Chairman of the international Maritime Risk Symposium. The symposium is an invitation only event that explores multiple aspects of risk connected to the Maritime Transportation System (MaritimeRiskSymposium.org). In 2023, the event will be held at SUNY (Maritime), located in New York City 13-16 Nov 23. As national co-chair I lead a Program Committee of 40 members, work directly with a Council of Senior Mentors (the vast majority of which are retired Military Flag Officers) and with the host school on every single aspect of the event. During the 2022 event at Argonne National Lab, the Federal Lab Consortium gained a lot of exposure. This provided visibility of the FLC’s work and mission to commands and organizations that did not know the FLC existed.  

In conclusion, I am also the command’s Public Affairs Officer. I am responsible for both the command’s internal and external PAO programs – from developing the command’s video, to posting to the command’s blog, to developing press release, to writing and publishing stories. In this role I work with every single member of the command to tell the USCG RDC story!  

Professional educational background  

• 1982 United States Naval Academy, BS 
• 1986 California Coast University, MBA 
• 1996  United States Naval War College – Command and Staff  
• 1999  Marine Corps University 
• 2007  Northcentral University, Ph.D. 
• Past FLC positions, committees, or projects in which you were involved 
• 2019-Present Northeast Region Deputy Regional Coordinator 
• Laboratory Showcase 
• Member Connect Event 
• Regional Annual Event (Panel Leader for member engagement “speed dating”) 
• Will host the regional FLC event at the RDC 6-7 June 23 

 

Deputy Regional Coordinator:

 

Thomas Coolbaugh, Ph.D. 

Facility / Program Manager | Ohmsett 

Statement and goals for position - Thomas Coolbaugh, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) Ohmsett facility

While I haven’t been specifically involved in FLC positions since I took on management of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) Ohmsett facility in Leonardo, NJ, I spend a large amount of time actively promoting the facility at conferences and through interactions with potential clients.  It’s a unique and globally recognized facility and my goal with respect to the FLC is to continue to expand my awareness of other facilities and understand how the Ohmsett facility may have an expanded technical footprint that is complementary to them. 

Prior to taking on the current role as the manager of a federal facility, I was employed by the Exxon Mobil Corporation for more than 32 years in a variety of scientific research roles, most recently as the Oil Spill Response Technology Lead and the Technology and Advocacy Advisor.  In this capacity, I spent almost 15 years involved with oil spill response science and technology and visited the Ohmsett facility numerous times for research projects.  As a result of this, I understand the value of the facility, especially with respect to the global nature of the work that is performed there on a regular basis.  I believe that through involvement with the FLC, the value of the Ohmsett facility may be leveraged and relations in support of other federal facilities could be established. 

I believe that the role of Northeast Deputy Regional Coordinator would provide me with valuable experience and insight regarding Ohmsett’s contribution to the Federal Laboratory Consortium. 

 

Thomas Coolbaugh Biography:

Experience Program / Facility Manager: Ohmsett Oil Spill Response & Renewable Energy Test Facility 

Applied Research Associates, Leonardo, New Jersey 2020 - Current 

Responsible for day-to-day operation of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE/DOI) wave / tow tank 

• 200 X 20 X 3.5-meter tank with a volume of 10 million liters of salt water 

• Supports research and training for a variety of users, e.g., government, industry, and academia, in an environmentally relevant setting  

Present technical presentations in support of the Ohmsett facility and oil spill response technology regularly.  These include: 

• Clean Gulf Conference session on Oil Spill Response Facilities Capabilities Overview - November 9, 2022 

• International Oil Spill Science Conference presentation on Ohmsett Overview, Recent Activities, and Future Plans - October 5, 2022 

• Interspill Conference presentation on Equipment Testing in Ice-Infested Waters:  Recent Experience and Lessons Learned from the Ohmsett Test Facility – June 21, 2022 

• Spill Control Association of America Annual Meeting presentation on Ohmsett 
  Overview, Recent Activities, and Future Plans – April 27, 2022 

• National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, invited participant in the Offshore Situation Room – June 15-17, 2021 

• International Oil Spill Conference short course on Oil Spill Response 201; Beyond the Basics – May 6, 2021 

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “You don’t know what you don’t know” seminar series presentation on Overview of the Ohmsett facility – November 19, 2020 

Education:

• New York University Management of Technology M.S. 1993 New York, New York          
• Brandeis University Post-Doctoral Research Associate 1984 to 1985 Waltham, Massachusetts  
• California Institute of Technology Chemistry Ph.D. 1984 Pasadena, California R.H. Grubbs, thesis advisor – 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 
• Amherst College Chemistry, magna cum laude B.A. 1980  Amherst, Massachusetts   

While I haven’t been specifically involved in FLC positions since I took on management of the Ohmsett facility, I spend a large amount of time actively promoting the facility at conferences and through interactions with potential clients.  I support the staff’s attendance at the annual FLC meeting; this year the Senior Mechanical Engineer will be in attendance.  Prior to taking on the current role, I was employed by Exxon Mobil Corporation for more than 32 years in a variety of technical roles, most recently as the Oil Spill Response Technology Lead and the Technology and Advocacy Advisor.  In this capacity, I spent 15 years involved with oil spill response science and technology and visited the Ohmsett facility numerous times for research projects.  As a result of this, I understand the value of the facility, especially with respect to the global nature of the work that is performed there on a regular basis.  For example, we have an upcoming project that is funded via TEAMER that will evaluate a hydrokinetic energy device supplied by the University College Cork (Ireland).  My goal with respect to the FLC is to continue to expand my awareness of other facilities and understand how the Ohmsett facility may have an expanded technical footprint that is complementary to them. 

The candidate for the Southeast Regional Coordinator position is:

Sharon Soucek, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Statement and goals - Sharon Soucek:

The southeast region is emerging as a promising growth and innovation hub, and I couldn’t be more excited to support the process. I’m interested in exploring the diverse research areas, initiatives, and challenges in the federal labs that dot our region by meeting with each laboratory. I’d like to keep the lines of communication between our agencies open and prolific. My hope is to identify common values so that we can strategize on how to meet our diverse goals. Enlisting the help of volunteers in the three strategic areas-promote, educate, and facilitate-will boost the success of both our region and FLC.

I welcome the opportunity to serve as a resource to my fellow technology transfer colleagues –after all, southern hospitality is ingrained in our workplace!

Sharon Soucek Biography:

Dr. Sharon Soucek directs the Office of Technology Transfer at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), based out of North Carolina. Her office supports NIEHS researchers to partner with their counterparts in academia, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to deliver innovations that will benefit human health.

Sharon earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Northeastern University and her PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from Emory University. Her career in technology transfer began with a licensing internship in Emory University’s office of technology transfer. After graduating, she worked as a technology transfer specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she negotiated agreements for establishing research collaborations and transferring research materials, performed invention assessments, and devised marketing strategies for technologies developed in the Center for Global Health.

She first encountered FLC by a thorough reading of the Greenbook during her time at CDC. In 2015, she planned and facilitated a Southeast FLC meeting workshop to discuss marketing and commercialization strategies for inventions. She was awarded the FLC 2016 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for supporting the commercialization of a Candida infection diagnostic.

 

Deputy Regional Coordinator: Vacant