T2 Stars: Jeff Salamone Supporting the Warfighter at DEVCOM CBC
T2 Stars highlights people who are making a difference and leaving their mark on the federal tech transfer community. As a technology transfer specialist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC), Jeff Salamone focuses on remaining flexible, patient and focused on his office's mission to support the warfighter.
How did you get involved in technology transfer?
It was an exciting and interesting road for me to arrive at DEVCOM CBC. I have functioned in a few different roles over the last decade supporting the Army in diverse ways such as operations, large-scale event logistics, and aiding project management of current operational technologies in the field. Back in March of 2021, I was hired by the DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center for this role to apply my past experience in technology transfer (T2) efforts.
What do you love about your job?
First and foremost, my teammates - both inside the T2 office and our subject matter experts in the lab making it happen every single day. The opportunity to get a chance to work with the country's brightest scientists and engineers and aid in their ideas coming to fruition is very rewarding. T2 plays a critical role in the Army's research and development lane for the warfighter. At its very foundation, T2 aids in the potential patenting and commercialization of technologies and products that touch our lives every day in different ways.
What is your most valuable skill or asset at work?
My most valuable skill is my ability to remain organized and committed to the Center's big picture. Whether this picture is executing a difficult agreement that may have several moving pieces or stakeholders, or executing a large event for the Center in which T2 will have a role, it's important to remain organized and level-set to ensure the job gets done as efficiently as possible.
What's the biggest challenge in your position?
For me, the biggest challenge with this position is that it's not always linear or straightforward. There are many potential routes in front of you to the finish line. I tend to thrive in an overall production and output environment, and working agreements just do not always pan out the way you'd anticipate.
What do wish more people knew about the U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center?
The DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center truly has a unique role in technology advancements that cannot be replicated by private industry or research universities. Additionally, I wish people better understood our longstanding history, and that there are so many ways that DEVCOM CBC could potentially help businesses, companies, etc. We have so many bright minds in our labs and offices that it will make your head spin!
What has been your favorite FLC experience?
My favorite FLC experience (so far) was being present in March of 2023 in Cleveland when our then-director, Dr. Eric Moore, received the Lab Director of the Year Award.
What do you do for fun?
Spending any time that I can doing activities with my 5-year-old daughter Charlotte and my wife Rachel is the most fun for me. Additionally, outside of work I've played guitar for over 20 years, I am avid into powerlifting, and I enjoy trying to sharpen my skills as a 'wannabe chef.'
What advice would you give to someone who is new to the tech transfer profession?
This one is tough for me to answer because from time to time I still feel new to T2. Our supervisor, Amanda Hess, always says "T2 is a contact sport." I try to remember this, as with anything in T2, no single agreement, relationship or partnership is the same. You must remain flexible, be able to pivot, exercise patience, and remember the "why" for why you're there in the first place. For those of us at DEVCOM CBC, that "why" is simple. It's always to support the warfighter.