Navy SBIR/STTR
Jonathan Mulberg & Brian Shipley
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NavySBIR.com
SBIR.gov
Jonathan Mulberg is a Senior Coordinator for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) supporting Headquarters & Directorates and PEO Carriers since 2020. Before joining NAVSEA, he supported the DOD SBIR Program at the Pentagon. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington. When not at work, Jonathan is highly active in local community theater groups and plays percussion in an Irish band.
Brian Shipley is the Director for the Department of the Navy (DON) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. In this role he oversees implementation of the programs to stimulate technological innovations, use small business to meet Federal research and development needs, increase private sector commercialization of Federally funding research and development, and foster and encourage minority and disadvantaged participation in technological innovation.
Mr. Shipley has over 30 years of experience working with DON and DoD programs. He began his career in financial management providing programming and planning for DON shipbuilding and research and development programs. In 2007, he joined the DoD Office of Small Business Programs to provide overarching program management support to the DoD SBIR/STTR Programs. In 2013, Mr. Shipley transitioned to the DON SBIR/STTR Programs Office to support policy development, program management and outreach and joined the civilian workforce in July 2020 as the DON SBIR/STTR Commercialization Program Manager. He has been in his current role as Acting Director since May 2024.
Mr. Shipley earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Management from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University.
NSWCCD - Carderock Division
Leaning into Additive and Advanced Manufacturing
Dr. Cynthia Waters & Ms. Liz Henry
Dr. Cindy Waters is the Senior Science Technology Manager (SSTM), Principal for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, for NAVSEA. She is known for her passion around advanced manufacturing and growing the field including aspects of building a diverse workforce. She has many decades of research in materials and mechanical engineering. In 2019, she transitioned to the naval research position from a tenured faculty position. She supports the insertion of additive manufacturing, materials, and advanced manufacturing processes into expeditionary and future naval platforms designs.As a lead technical expert in the Naval Research and Development Establishment, she strives to integrate best practices from Industry and Academia into the organization. Current efforts include leading the SSN(X) additive manufacturing roadmap effort and consulting frequently in the Submarine Industrial Base advanced manufacturing efforts as well as a variety of topics in the manufacturing and material science. She is a Sustainment and Repair Knowledge Point Champion for NAVSEA working with headquarters and CNR to prioritize and guide S&T research investments for better discussion with outside world. She served as an ONR Coordinator for the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP). Her schedule includes frequent outreach at scientific, industry and DOD meetings and participates in invited talks to external organizations. She has authored many peer-reviewed conference and journal papers and co-authored a book titled “Additive Manufacturing for Designers: A Primer”. Her open-door policy provides opportunity for many to reach out for professional and personal mentoring. She is known for her optimism, her outgoing nature and that fact that she builds active networks everywhere she goes.
TechLink
Troy Carter & Nida Shaikh
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Troy Carter is a technology manager and certified licensing professional at TechLink, where he has helped companies find new technologies and form meaningful partnerships with federal laboratories since 2017. Before joining TechLink, he served as a U.S. Army infantryman in the 10th Mountain Division.
Nida Shaikh, PhD, CLP-A, cRTTP, is TechLink’s DoD Navy Lead Senior Technology Manager, overseeing and managing all activities related to Navy partnerships. She joined TechLink in 2022, after obtaining training in university technology transfer, federal technology transfer, and in intellectual property law.
TEDCO
Julia Deng
Julia Deng is the Director of SBIR Programs at TEDCO. Julia leads efforts to support early-stage technology and life science companies by helping them secure federal seed funding through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. She actively engages with a broad portfolio of client companies and entrepreneurs, guiding them through the process of crafting and submitting proposals, securing grants, and successfully transitioning innovative technologies into practical applications. Julia oversees key initiatives, such as the SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab, the state’s SBIR/STTR Match and Technical Assistance programs, and TEDCO’s Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) programs.
Julia is a seasoned research and development expert with over 20 years of experience in cutting-edge fields, including Cyber Security, Wireless Networking, AI/ML, and Big Data Intelligence. Her expertise spans from securing competitive government research grants to leading agile, cross-functional teams in developing and transitioning technologies from concept to deployment. She has served as the principal investigator and technical lead on numerous successful R&D projects funded by various government agencies such as the Army, Air Force, Navy, DHS, and DOE with a proven track record.
In addition to her deep expertise in securing competitive government research grants, Julia has a strong product development and technology transition background. In her previous role as the Senior Director of the Network and Cyber Security Division at BlueHalo, she led an R&D team of over fifty research scientists and engineers. By adopting agile methodologies, she spearheaded the development of multiple product pipelines, turning innovative research concepts into deployable technologies. Julia is also deeply committed to fostering innovation, regularly consulting with and advising several startup companies in the Washington D.C. area.
Montgomery County Office of the County Executive
Judy Costello
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Judy Costello, Special Projects Manager – Business, Innovation, Economic Development. Judy Costello is the Special Projects Manager for Business, Innovation, and Economic Development in the Office of the County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland. In this role, she supports a wide range of business growth, expansion, and international partnership activities for organizations of varying sizes and industry sectors. She provides guidance to the County’s Business Center and on a variety of economic development activities. Before joining the County in 2021, she worked as Managing Director of Economic Development for BioHealth Innovation, Inc., Director of the Maryland Department of Commerce's Office of BioHealth and Life Sciences, and as Deputy Director of the department's BioMaryland Center. Prior to working for the State of Maryland, she served as Executive Director of a nonprofit, the Business Alliance for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where she organized venture pitch forums, entrepreneur bootcamps, tech transfer showcases, educational seminars, and other programs connecting entrepreneurs, faculty innovators, students, and industry leaders in Maryland, DC and Virginia with each other and with those providing funding and the resources to young companies. Before joining the Business Alliance, Costello held positions in economic development, financial services marketing, and university public relations. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, holds an MBA from Loyola University in Maryland.
Small Business Administration
SBA.Gov/LocalAssistance
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Agenda
