From Bench to Mission: Designing Internal Innovation Programs in Federal Labs

In many federal labs, groundbreaking research often stops short of realizing its full mission or commercial potential. Internal innovation and intrapreneurship programs bridge this gap by equipping scientists and engineers with the tools, context, and confidence to engage markets and partners directly.  

This session explores proven models for designing and scaling innovation programs that empower researchers, improve technology transfer outcomes, and strengthen mission alignment. Drawing from FedTech’s experience leading intrapreneurship and commercialization accelerators across defense and civilian agencies, participants will gain a framework to build impactful, sustainable programs that shift lab culture toward innovation and engagement.  

Participants will leave with:  

1. A roadmap to design and implement lab innovation programs  

2. Templates and examples for researcher engagement frameworks  

3. Lessons from federal labs that have launched successful intrapreneurship initiatives  

4. Practical guidance on aligning innovation efforts with lab missions 

Stephen Crutchfield is the Technology Transfer (T2) Office Deputy at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific, a Navy research facility located in San Diego, CA. His T2 career began in 2009 developing marketing materials and videos to promote NIWC Pacific technologies available for commercialization. Stephen currently facilitates T2 agreements including Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements, Education Partnership Agreements, and Partnership Intermediary Agreements. He has facilitated over 200 T2 agreements covering a broad range of topics. Stephen’s work also involves identifying NIWC Pacific technologies for transfer, creating partnerships between NIWC Pacific and non-federal personnel, and participating in activities to stimulate T2. Stephen currently serves as the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) Far West Deputy Regional Coordinator. The FLC Far West Region named Stephen the T2 Professional of the Year in 2019. Stephen holds a double major Bachelor of Arts from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., and a Master of Arts from San Diego State University.

Debi Hudgens is a Licensing Executive at Sandia National Laboratories, where she leads partnering and commercialization efforts for early-stage technologies in the material science, bioscience, medical devices, and energy portfolios. Her work enables the advancement of Department of Energy (DOE) mission-relevant innovations toward real-world impact. With nearly 20 years of combined experience in technology transfer, business development, licensing, and alliance management, Debi has contributed to a vast number of technology transfer successes. Her unique perspective, gained from working across national laboratories, corporate environments, and academic/non-profit sectors, allows her to identify opportunities for collaboration and support technology development initiatives. Prior to joining Sandia, Debi held director-level business development roles at Biogen and Organon (a Merck & Co. spin-out). Earlier in her career, she served as the Assistant Director of Business Development & Licensing at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), a biomedical non-profit, and as a Licensing Associate at the University of Virginia.

Debi holds a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Virginia, an MBA from Oklahoma City University, and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Arkansas. She has been a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) since 2011 and earned her Certified Achievement in Alliance Management (CA-AM) designation in 2023.

Christie Funk is the Technology Transfer Expansion (T2X) manager, responsible for Agency-level management of T2X in support of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program. Through T2X, Christie focuses on entrepreneurial innovation and commercialization of NASA’s patent portfolio, driving new venture creation and providing startup support, expanding NASA’s reach across the U.S., investing in inclusivity and future talent pipelines, and heightening the impact of NASA investments back to local and state economies.

Christie studied Business Management at Saint Leo University (BA), Aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (MAS), and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University (MS). Christie’s earlier-stage NASA career was focused on aeroelasticity, performing wind tunnel testing and analysis of fixed wing subsonic and supersonic aircraft. Prior to her work at NASA, Christie spent 13 years working in the restaurant business, paving the way for networking opportunities that ultimately led to her position at NASA. She grew up in Virginia Beach and resides in Yorktown, VA. 

Anne Marie Lyons is a Technology Transfer Specialist on FedTech’s Technology and Commercialization Strategy Team, where she works with federal agencies, universities, and industry partners to identify promising technologies and connect them with high-potential commercialization opportunities.

She brings more than 20 years of experience in technology transfer and business development across the pharmaceutical industry, private technology transfer firms, and the NIH and NIAID Technology Transfer Office. Her career has focused on moving scientific and engineering innovations from research environments into real-world applications through licensing, partnerships, and venture development.

Anne Marie holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Anh-Dung Le is a Technology and Venture Consultant at FedTech, where he supports technology scouting, IP evaluation, and partnership development across federal laboratories and research institutions. He works with lab researchers, startups, and corporate partners to identify high-potential technologies and translate them into viable commercialization pathways.

His background spans federal technology transfer, regulatory science, and venture formation. As an FDA ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow, he conducted pharmacokinetic modeling and supported regulatory pathways for biosimilar and therapeutic protein approvals. At Sandia National Laboratories, he worked on IP portfolio development, licensing strategies, and patent landscape analysis. He has also founded companies in biotechnology and bioinformatics.

Anh-Dung holds a Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering from the University of New Mexico, bringing deep technical and regulatory expertise to the commercialization of emerging technologies.