Lorraine Flanders likes a challenge. In her role as FLC Awards Committee Chair in 2009, she met a formidable challenge head-on. Seeking to level the playing field among all member organizations, large and small, Flanders and the Awards Committee dared to challenge convention. By introducing revisions to the awards criteria, simplifying and streamlining the application process, and expanding selection categories, all FLC member organizations, no matter their size, are now assured an equal representation in the competition of the FLC awards program. Without Flanders’ direction and administration of the FLC awards program, many worthy innovators, emerging synergistic relationships, and novel ideas or approaches in the technology transfer process might otherwise be overlooked in the program.

During her tenure as a member of the FLC Executive Board and Awards Committee Chair, Flanders has been an agent for change, always seeking creative and innovative ways to make improvements for the good of member organizations. She spearheaded outreach efforts to member organizations in the geographically outlying zones of the region to form collaborations in specific technology clusters. Federal labs, academia, industry, and economic development organizations were brought together as working groups to share information, collaborate, and foster relationships to facilitate the technology transfer process. Flanders was instrumental in the conception, implementation, and sustainability of the initiative, and its model was widely shared with other FLC regions.

In her work, Flanders encourages partnerships and the professional development of others in innovative and productive ways. She is constantly on the lookout for ways to apply what she learns from others in her personal and professional life. She personifies the characteristics of teacher and mentor, encourages excellence in others, and tirelessly promotes the benefits of hard work and development of the skills necessary for success. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) developed a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Learning Module Process that is currently being implemented in four NAVSEA labs across three states, touching the lives of 9,000 students. Flanders’ efforts were integral in the process development and facilitation of this Education Partnership Agreement with local school systems. By utilizing laboratory scientists and engineers to provide students with hands-on experiences, including in-school robotics curricula tied into social hot-button issues, middle school students were introduced to the essence of STEM. This model is being propagated to other DOD Army and Air Force labs through the 21CEETP program. Moreover, this model has been shared in various FLC regional and national venues.