TPO Staff

Dr. Courtney Silverthorn is the Acting Director of the Technology Partnerships Office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). With over a decade of experience in Federal technology transfer, she is currently responsible for providing leadership for TPO’s responsibilities in advancing NIST technology transfer and commercialization and the NIST SBIR program, and leading implementation of interagency technology transfer policy efforts via NIST's Return on Investment Initiative and the White House’s Lab-to-Market Cross-Agency Priority goal. She also oversees NIST-centric and agency-wide economic analysis on the impact of federal technology transfer.

Courtney is a Co-Chair of the National Science and Technology Council’s Lab-to-Market subcommittee and coordinates several Interagency working groups for tech transfer and intellectual property issues. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Office of Science and Technology Policy through a detail assignment in 2018, supporting both Lab-to-Market and Citizen Science.

Courtney is a member of the Board of Directors of the Innovation Research Interchange, a world-wide network of thought leaders from large corporations, small businesses, and federal labs focusing on researching, developing and sharing best practices in innovation management, and serves as the Finance Officer on the Executive Board of the Federal Laboratory Consortium, a nationwide network of over 300 Federal laboratories focused on enabling commercialization of federally-funded technological developments.

Dr. Silverthorn earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a M.S. in Leadership and Public Policy from Washington University in St. Louis, and a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Sweet Briar College. She has also earned certificates in Biotechnology Enterprise from Johns Hopkins and in Policy Strategy from the Brookings Institution.

Jeffrey DiVietro is the Acting Deputy Director of the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He works with NIST's operating units and external organizations to negotiate and draft cooperative research and draft agreements and other technology transfer agreements.

Prior to joining TPO, Jeffrey was a Licensing Officer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Also, he worked in technology transfer offices at Georgetown University and the National Cancer Institute.

Jeffrey holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Virginia and a BS in chemical engineering from Bucknell University.

Cecelia Huestis-Beshai is the Secretary to the Director of the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She is the TPO and the Technology Discovery Office Manager. Cecelia’s responsibilities include directing and coordinating all office administrative actions, as well as supporting the Lab-to-Market program.

Cecelia oversees coordinating the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) travel arrangements and training orders for the FLC meetings and events. She works together with the FLC meeting coordinator to facilitate FLC events on a national level.

Cecelia’s responsibilities also include coordinating meetings, purchase card transactions, c-request acquisitions, time and attendance, and travel actions and records. She serves as both the TPO training and property officer. She performs many other activities to assist the staff in accomplishing TPO business.

Donald Archer, PhD, is the Senior Patent Officer in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Archer chairs the NIST Patent Review Committee, advises NIST researchers who have innovations/inventions to patent and manages NIST's patent portfolio.

Prior to joining TPO, Dr. Archer worked in the NIST Technology Innovation Program and the Advanced Technology Program, and a physical scientist at the NIST Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL). His CSTL work focused on high-accuracy calorimetric methods and thermal analysis. Don received ASTM's International Award of Merit and the accompanying title of fellow, the highest organizational honor for individual contributions to standards activities.

Dr. Archer holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Delaware and a BS in chemistry from Drexel University. 

John Bittman is an Interagency Policy Specialist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He works on convening intramural personnel, conducting outreach to commercialization stakeholders and assisting in program and policy formulation on behalf of the interagency technology transfer community.

Prior to joining TPO, John was as a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. He worked as a Technology Transfer Manager and Invention Development and Marketing Specialist within the NCI’s Technology Transfer Center, and as a Special Assistant in the Department of Health and Human Services. While at HHS, he managed the Deputy Secretary’s Innovation and Investment Summit and helped develop a new office focused on accelerating clinical innovation.

John served on active duty in the United States Army as a paratrooper, where he was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn. He holds a PSM in nanotechnology, a BS in interdisciplinary studies (Physical, Biomedical, and Behavioral Sciences) and a Certificate in technology ventures from the University of Central Florida.

Dana Bowins is an Intellectual Property Administrator and Paralegal in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She manages day-to-day operations for the Patents & Trademarks portfolio at TPO, wherein Dana handles all docketing functions, responsible for all aspects of U.S. and foreign patents and trademark prosecution.

Prior to joining TPO, Dana worked for Blake Hostetter as a Senior Intellectual Property Specialist, for Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice as a Docketing Manager, for Medimmune, Inc. as a Senior Intellectual Property Coordinator/Legal Affairs and for Hogan & Hartson as a Senior Foreign Filing Paralegal.

Dana is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Services and served in the U.S. Navy for four years.

Teresa Bradshaw is an Administrative Assistant in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She provides administrative support to the Deputy Director’s office within TPO, as well as provides support to NIST associates.

 Prior to joining TPO, Teresa worked as an illustrator for Litton Bionetics, Inc., in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, creating illustrations of the results of cancer and genetic research. She worked as a graphic artist for Stan Hitt Graphics with a major focus on producing a monthly 64-page magazine for the American Health Care Association. Teresa also worked as a graphic artist for Total Marketing, Inc where she produced mail marketing materials for many large real estate companies in the area.

Robin Bunch is a Senior Project Manager/Engineer in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards (NIST). Robin assisted with the creation of the Technology Discovery Office to make NIST products and services more discoverable.  Robin serves as the senior project manager for this initiative.

Prior to joining TPO, Robin worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland in as a math and physics high school teacher. Robin then spent 12 years working as a physical scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and four years at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a Supervisory Grants Officer before coming to NIST as the Grants Management Division Chief in 2014.

Robin holds a MS in electrical engineering from Howard University, a MS in public health from the University of Maryland in College Park and a BS in electrical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University.

Marshall Child is an Information Specialist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards (NIST). Marshall communicates and promotes the transfer of technology and patents from NIST to internal and external audiences within NIST, industry, academia, and other governmental agencies.

Prior to joining NIST, Marshall interned at a public relations agency where he designed strategic plans to pitch national media outlets to acquire coverage for clients. Marshall is also a six-year veteran of the U.S. Army where he was a human intelligence collector.

Marshall holds a BA in public relations and strategic communications from American University.

Mary Clague is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Manager in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She manages research and development proposals and grants for small businesses responding to specific technical needs.

Mary has worked at TPO since 2001 and has been with the SBIR Program for the past 12 years.
Prior to joining TPO, Mary has worked for Lockheed Martin, COMSAT Corp., and CALCULON in corporate information positions.

Mary holds a BS in technology management from the University of Maryland.

Xinyun (Cindy) Gong is an Information Specialist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She provides information technology support to the TPO division, as well as administers the NIST Associates Information System (NAIS).

Cindy joined NIST in 2011 after 6 years working at NIST /NAIS as a contractor. She was employed by Catapult Technology as a software engineer where she developed NAIS.

Cindy holds a MS in computer information systems.

Nicole Gingrich is an Economist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Nicole prepares annual reports on technology transfer, both at the departmental and federal levels; supports economic analysis activities through data collecting and processing; and serves as a contracting officer’s representative for TPO’s economic analysis contracts.

Prior to her current role in TPO, Nicole started as an aide for the TPO's paralegal. In May 2015, she shifted to her current role, working with the team of economists on technology transfer reporting.

Nicole holds a MS in applied economics from The Johns Hopkins University and a BA in economics from Hood College.

Michael Hall, PhD, is an Economist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Hall conducts research on federal technology transfer activities and their economic impact.

Prior to joining NIST, Dr. Hall was an assistant specialist at the University of Kansas conducting research on economic development and teaching economics and finance. Dr. Hall also held a teaching position at Central Michigan University.

Dr. Hall holds a PhD, as well as a MA and BA in economics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Interagency and iEdison Specialist

PHN: 301-975- 0496

Bethany Loftin is an Interagency and iEdison Specialist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  She works on the coordination and design of NIST’s iEdison website and acts as a liaison for intramural and external users of the iEdison system. Bethany also assists with policy formulation and implementation with an emphasis on Bayh-Dole regulations and administration of the interagency working group for Bayh-Dole.   

Prior to joining TPO, Bethany spent more than eight years as Director and Chief Operating Officer at TreMonti Consulting. While at TreMonti, she supported numerous technology transfer offices throughout all steps of the commercialization process, including best practices and Bayh-Dole and iEdison Compliance. Bethany also worked as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the State of Tennessee and an intern at the University of Louisville’s Technology Transfer Office.  

  Bethany holds a JD from the University of Louisville and a BS in recording industry from Middle Tennessee State University.   

Jaime Maynard is a Cooperative Research and Draft Agreement (CRADA) and Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Administrator. She manages agreement flow CRADA’s and processes applications and manages the review process for SBIR.

Prior to joining TPO, Jaime worked at the F. Edwards Hebert School of Medicine within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science as an Admissions Officer.

Jaime holds a BA in political science from Chestnut Hill College.

PHN: 301-975-3042

Steven Marquis is a Senior Partnerships Officer in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He works with NIST’s operating units and external organizations to draft and negotiate cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) and other technology transfer agreements.

Prior to joining TPO, Steven was a Senior Partnership Manager at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) where he negotiated CRADAs, licenses and other technology agreements, managed patent prosecution, and served as the NRL Human Research Protection Officer. Steven was a Senior Technology Transfer Manager at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where he negotiated CRADAs and other technology transfer agreements, managed patent prosecution and supervised technology transfer Managers. Also, Steven served as the Technology Information Management System Manager overseeing the development and implementation of the database for tracking all the technology transfer and trademark actions. He was a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office where he examined patent applications in the areas of batteries, fuel cells and electrochemistry.

Steven holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland (UMD) and studied pharmacy at UMD’s School of Pharmacy and Immunology.

Technology Partnerships Officer

PHN: 301-975-4980

Margaret Murphy is a Technology Partnerships Officer at the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She works on the research that is developed by the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) and the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). 

Prior to joining TPO, Margaret worked as a Global STEM Alliance (GSA) Mentor for the New York Academy of Sciences, and as an AmeriCorps Volunteer, where she was awarded the President’s Award for Volunteer Service. Margaret is certified by the United States Department of Homeland Security in Operational Security (OPSEC), Cybersecurity within IT and ICS Domains, and Mapping Mission-Critical Control Systems. 

Margaret holds a MS in Cybersecurity Intelligence from Utica College with a specific focus in the fields of nuclear engineering, non-proliferation and the protection of critical infrastructure. Margaret’s research was published by ProQuest and is titled ‘The Cybersecurity Protection of Peacetime Organizations: Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization’ (Murphy, 2019). She was also studied at Emory University with a focus on anthropology and the preservation of endangered language and culture, with a core concentration in Africa. The study of geographic regions has contributed to Margaret’s work within the field of non-proliferation. 

Chuck Na is the Senior Interagency Policy Specialist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Chuck works to support the coordination of government-wide policy efforts to improve federal technology transfer. Chuck directly supports the coordination of interagency workgroups for technology transfer and Bayh-Dole, facilitates the Host Agency functions for the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, and participates in various projects to support the Lab-to-Market Cross-Agency Priority goal in the President’s Management Agenda. While working at TPO, Chuck was as an author on the 2018 NIST Return on Investment green paper and has served as the NIST representative on intellectual property licensing standards development committees.

Prior to joining TPO, Chuck was a licensing manager at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a technology transfer specialist at both the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He also worked in intellectual property management, operations, R&D, and project management for several biotechnology companies in Maryland.

Chuck holds a MS in biology from The Johns Hopkins University and a BS in biology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also has a certificate in policy strategy from Washington University at Brookings.

Jack Pevenstein is a Technology Transfer Advisor in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Jack is responsible for engaging NIST researchers and management in the general processes of Technology Transfer, especially regarding the emergence of innovative technology and the disclosure of potentially patentable inventions.

Prior to joining TPO, Jack was a was a Senior General Engineer/Senior Evaluator in the NIST Office of Technology Innovation. Prior to that, he was vice president for marketing and new product development for NUSAC. Prior to NUSAC, Jack was a project manager within the Planning Research Corporation for a DARPA-sponsored research project supporting the national intelligence community.  He was also a commissioned officer in the U.S. army and served one tour in Vietnam where he received a Bronze Star and two Air Medals.

Jack holds a ScD in engineering management and a MS in engineering management/operations research from George Washington University and a BS in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon.

Brenda Thomasson is the Administrative Officer for the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She provides all aspects of budget and financial management to the TPO management and financial and resource administrative support to the TPO staff.

Prior to joining TPO, Brenda was the Deputy Director Secretary to the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL) at NIST and the Administrative Assistant to the Administrative Officer for EEEL. She also served as the secretariat to the Institution Review Board dealing with human and animal research.

Brenda holds an AS in paralegal studies from American Public University.

Michael D. Walsh, PhD, is a Senior Economist in the Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He works to coordinate efforts to update NIST's technology transfer metrics and is responsible for preparing both Department of Commerce (DOC) and federal technology transfer reports. Dr. Walsh also served as an Industrial Economist for NIST's Technology Innovation Program and as a Life Sciences Group Leader in NIST's Advance Technology Program.

In addition to providing economic analysis of technological developments and financial viability assessment of companies engaged in high-risk research, Dr. Walsh has authored and directed impact studies involving DNA diagnostic tools, tissue engineering, and the healthcare industry.

Prior to joining TPO, Dr. Walsh taught at economics at Clemson University, the University of Georgia, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Loyola College, and the US Naval Academy.

Dr. Walsh holds a PhD in economics from the University of Georgia and an MA and BA in economics from Clemson University.