Jenna Dix's career trajectory at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) exemplifies a remarkable journey of leadership and innovation in technology transfer. In less than a decade, Dix entered the field of technology transfer and ascended to NSWC Crane’s executive leadership team as Director of Engagement. She has also become an active and influential member of the FLC community.

From 2005 to 2015, Dix provided programmatic and logistics support to the Navy’s Small Arms Program office. It was an easy transition from that office to NSWC Crane’s Chief Technology Office, where she oversaw the strategic management of intellectual capital and developed vital partnerships to enhance NSWC Crane's research and development (R&D) capabilities. Soon, she became Crane’s subject matter expert in technology partnerships. With laser-like focus and business acumen, she expertly supported Crane’s top R&D goals and mission objectives.

Dix began working in Crane’s Chief Technology Office in 2015. At the same time, though brand-new to technology transfer, Dix was elected Deputy Regional Coordinator of the Midwest Region in 2016. Diving into her role, Dix immediately began searching for ways to improve FLC engagement among the 30 labs in her six-state region. By 2019, midway through her second term as deputy, Dix assumed two new roles: Regional Coordinator and acting NSWC Crane ORTA.

Recognizing Dix’s background in public administration and management and her enthusiasm for and exemplary service to the FLC, the Consortium's then-Chair John Dement wasted no time appointing Dix to the ad hoc committee developing plans for the FLC’s future. Dix’s astute contributions there led to another key appointment: assembling the FLC Facilitate Committee, whose mission is to proactively engage and leverage partnerships that connect the private sector with federal laboratories to increase measurable outcomes.

It speaks to Dix’s extraordinary professionalism that she was picked to build Facilitate from scratch with just five years of technology transfer experience. Furthermore, Dix was tapped to be the inaugural chair of Facilitate, a position that capitalized on her dynamic leadership skills. Within that year, however, her work as NSWC Crane’s ORTA increased exponentially, which necessitated relinquishing the chair to regain the quarter of her professional time she dedicated to Facilitate. Still, she continues volunteering time to champion FLC and Facilitate.

With grounding in Dix’s foresightful leadership, Facilitate is fulfilling its mission and increasing FLC engagement. Among its laudable successes in its first three years were 17 new strategic partnerships, including the U.S. Small Business Innovation Research program, Development Capital Networks and Xelevate. The pillar also achieved a rise in engagement, with an increase of 1,308 non-federal entities at FLC events between 2020 and 2022.

Dix has earned numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to technology transfer and innovation. These include the George Linsteadt Technology Transfer Achievement Award; the Warfare Center Innovation Award; and FLC Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer, Interagency Partnership, Innovation in Technology Transfer, Covid Response and Rookie of the Year.

Dix's journey underscores her commitment to advancing technology transfer efforts, both within NSWC Crane and the broader federal laboratory community. Through her leadership and dedication, she continues to drive impactful collaborations and facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge technologies to benefit national security and economic growth.