Opportunities abound for SME’s, small businesses, and startups to engage with government agencies to provide innovative technology solutions enabling government programs to achieve their missions. Understanding how best and with which agencies to engage can be a challenging proposition for players in the commercial sector. In this panel discussion, representatives of key government agencies employing rapid, direct, and non-traditional methods of funding, technology transfer, and insertion to accomplish their mission objectives will share their offices’ roles, processes, and opportunities. This session will inform and educate the commercial sector on the optimal ways to work with these agencies to mutual benefit.

Moderator

Teresa Pace Engineering Fellow L3Harris (United States)

Teresa Pace obtained her doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. Her technical area of expertise is in algorithm development for Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Image and Signal Processing, Target Detection, Tracking, Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) and classification. Currently, she is an Engineering Fellow with L3Harris and an Algorithm and Data Architect in the IRAD&Technology office in the Integrated Mission Systems segment. Previously, she served as the Image Processing Center of Excellence lead for L3 Technologies. She has held positions as Chief Engineer for Lockheed Martin, Director of Engineering for DSCI-SenTech LLC, Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Digital Image Processing at the US Army’s Night Vision Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD C5ISR RTI), Director of Image Processing for DRS Technologies, and Faculty Research Associate for the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State. Dr. Pace holds 14 patents and over 80 publications.

Panelists

Matthew Willis Director Office of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied SBIR Program Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (United States)

Matt Willis is the director of the Office of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied SBIR Program within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. The Office leads the Army’s portfolio of private sector collaboration through xTech prize competitions and Small Business Innovation Research contract opportunities, comprising over $300 million in annual research and development investments. The Army SBIR Program releases contract opportunities ad hoc to respond to current and anticipated warfighting technology needs. The Army xTech program holds several competitions per year, from open-topic competitions such as the flagship xTechSearch, to technology-specific competitions targeting specific Army priorities.

Matthew Turek Deputy Director Information Innovation Office DARPA (United States)

Matt Turek is the deputy office director for the Defense Advanced Research Agency's (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O), where he provides technical leadership and works with program managers to envision, create, and transition capabilities that ensure enduring information advantage for the United States and its allies. The Information Innovation Office (I2O) creates groundbreaking science and develops transformational capabilities in the informational and computational spheres to surprise adversaries and maintain enduring advantage for national security. The Information Innovation Office (I2O) has interest/needs/opportunities in four research thrust areas: (1) Proficient artificial intelligence; (2) Resilient, adaptable, and secure systems; (3) Advantage in cyber operations; and (4) Confidence in the information domain.

Alexandra Hale NASA Industry Engagement Lead & Senior Technical Advisor The Aerospace Corporation (United States)

Alexandra Hale sits within the Civil Systems Group at The Aerospace Corporation and currently serves as Industry Engagement Lead and Senior Technical Advisor within the Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies (CIS) Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She has previously served as Civil and Defense Partnerships Lead for the office and joined the CIS team after two years of serving as Vice President of the Space Transportation Association (STA). The Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies (CIS) office identifies opportunities, nurtures diverse relationships, and implements collaborative solutions to enhance capabilities and technologies in support of exploration and space communications. CIS fosters synergistic relationships and accelerate infusion opportunities by leveraging private industry, other government agencies, and international partners. Connecting experts from industry, academia, and other government and international agencies will create a community of innovators dedicated to providing dependable communications, navigation, and data acquisition services - all critical to executing revolutionary robotic, science, and human missions in space. This new approach to commercialization will enhance the alliance between industry and government, with industry leading, and NASA serving as a cornerstone to drive standardization and interoperability. Additionally, this is a shared opportunity for infusion of new and enabling technologies to provide for a robust marketplace with creative, cost-effective solutions.

Robert B. Meltzer Technical Executive National Geospatial, Intelligence Agency (United States)

Robert B. Meltzer is the Technical Executive for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Commercial Operations Group where he collaborates between industry and government to identify and deliver geospatial technology and commercial services to NGA, their customers, and partners. NGA Commercial Operations is focused on solving national security mission challenges with innovative commercial GEOINT solutions by surveying the GEOINT marketplace for innovative capabilities that meet customer needs, identifying the most promising candidates, and facilitating their adoption and integration. NGA Commercial Operations needs solutions that will make an operational impact with the ability to rapidly address mission needs and our investments are focused on ready capabilities that will enable our partners with unclassified and shareable GEOINT.

 

Event Details

FORMAT: Panel discussion followed by audience Q&A.
MENU: Coffee and tea service available nearby.
SETUP: Stage and theater style seating.

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