Elizabeth Brooke Pyne provides consistent, exceptional service as the FLC Midwest Regional Coordinator, a position she was re-elected to in 2018 (first elected in 2016). She is the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane’s Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) Technology Transfer (T2) Program Manager and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Manager.

Her responsibilities include strategic management of NSWC Crane’s intellectual capital and SBIR/STTR program; planning, administration and monitoring of T2 mechanisms; marketing, negotiation and management of patent licensing; and economic development commercialization activities onsite and external to NSWC Crane.

Pyne fosters lasting relationships within the regional network that she established, helping industry and academic partners understand where they align technically with the federal lab network, and helps prospective partners navigate the lab system and resources. She provides analyses of intellectual property in order to align the technology sector with the energy technology focus area.

Pyne makes the expanded awareness of T2 and its benefits a priority.  “We partner with the (FLC) Southeast Region on our annual (FLC) regional meeting. This creates a broader audience, leverages funds, and increases lab participation. I drive home how leadership at the highest level is critical to have successful T2. I have in-depth conversations and foster communication,” she explained.

“She shares information regarding Crane T2, and she discusses the FLC, the labs, their contacts, and provides information to new FLC user communities. She is always well received; when she demonstrates the FLC Business tool, her enthusiasm is infectious.”

According to Jenna Dix, T2 Agreements Administrator, NSWC Crane Chief Technology Officer and FLC Midwest Deputy Regional Coordinator, Pyne always takes advantage of any opportunity to discuss the FLC with the SBIR community. “She shares information regarding Crane T2, and she discusses the FLC, the labs, their contacts, and provides information to new FLC user communities. She is always well received; when she demonstrates the FLC Business tool, her enthusiasm is infectious.”

Pyne has helped develop 15 Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) partners, which include not-for-profit organizations. Since 2014, she has increased the number of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) from 12 to 116. Crane does not pay its PIA partners; instead, Pyne has created a PIA network with which she has collaborative CRADAs, strong relationships, and trusted engagements. Thus, she expands the impact and resulting collaborations by partnering through her PIA network.

While recognized by the FLC for her own work, and as a key contributor to Crane, Pyne also enables other people’s success. Her enthusiasm and dedication to the FLC and its mission are demonstrated by this recent example. For the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), Pyne presented technology transfer, best practices, lessons learned and advice on how to execute programs and engage with the FLC. Thanks in part to her informal mentorship, an ERDC official won her own award. “My primary goal is the betterment and engagement of the FLC as a whole,” said Pyne.

Contact: Elizabeth Brooke Pyne, (812) 854-4823, [email protected]