Letter from FLC Chair Whitney Hastings: New Role, 2026 National Meeting, and Awards Season

Dear FLC Community,

I want to start this note with some personal news: After many years at the Department of Health and Human Services technology transfer, including the Food and Drug Administration and my current position at the National Institutes of Health, I am departing to start as the Division Head, Office of Partnership and Technology Transfer at Fermilab. While it is hard to say goodbye to my friends and colleagues, this is an exciting opportunity for me. And it is not a goodbye to the tech transfer community or the FLC.

This new chapter for me marks a first for FLC, as I will now be the first FLC Chair to serve from a government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) lab. I’m excited for this new chapter and look forward to bringing a fresh perspective to our shared work.

We are entering one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year! We have officially begun our journey to the 2026 National Meeting in Seattle, the Emerald City. Mark your calendars for May 12–14, 2026, for the biggest annual event in federal tech transfer. Visit our website to learn more and submit topic proposals for National Meeting sessions you want to lead or attend.

Nominations are also open for the 2026 FLC Awards, which recognize the top teams, innovations, and individuals in federal tech transfer. This is an invaluable opportunity to showcase your achievements and gain visibility on a national stage. Awardees are honored at a ceremony during the National Meeting and promoted through FLC media outreach, social media, Labs in Action, and more. We also notify each winner’s agency leadership, as well as their state and local representatives.

Finally, I encourage you to contribute your expertise to the FLC Learning Center. We’re looking for subject matter experts (SMEs) to review courses and ensure our training continues to serve the needs of our tech transfer community. The Learning Center is a one-stop destination for training, workshops, and educational sessions designed for every stage of your career in tech transfer. Sharing your knowledge as an SME is a great way to give back and support the future of the profession.

If you have also had updates in your life — such as a new job, title, or email — don’t forget to keep your own FLC profile current. This account is easy and free to create, and it’s required to submit to the call for topics, FLC Awards, and more. This is also your key to unlocking FLC tools and resources, including the Learning Center, FLC Business, and emails to keep you in the loop. Visit federallabs.org, click on My FLC at the top of the page, and select My Profile.

Thank you, as always, for your dedication and engagement. I’m honored to continue this journey with you — now from a new vantage point at Fermilab — and can’t wait to see all that we accomplish together.

Warm regards,

Whitney Hastings

FLC Chair