In a recent newspaper article focusing on Dr. Mike Sullivan’s efforts to share the U.S. Navy’s technology with Southern California area business and industry, he was described by the writer as “high-energy” and “a man of ideas.” Any one who has ever discussed technology transfer with Mike would agree with that writer’s description. Mike would modestly insist that heading a successful tech transfer program with a non-existent budget just takes a lot of energy, as well as ideas.

Like many other lab facilities dealing with staff and budget cuts, trying to do more with less at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Point Mugu has become “just part of the job.” But Mike believes in tech transfer, and if there is a way to initiate a CRADA, patent, licensing agreement, or produce a marketing tool, with or without benefit of funding, he will find it. He is constantly networking, and it is believed by some, that Mike eats, sleeps, and breaths tech transfer.

Recently, Mike was honored by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for his outstanding leadership and excellence in serving the needs of Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara Industrial Association, and the Santa Maria Economic Development Agency. Mike has helped 13 companies from the nearby county become involved in the tech transfer process with Point Mugu.

His tireless efforts promoting Point Mugu as an attractive research and testing resource, to private industry and local academic institutions interested the technology transfer process, have yielded 23 active CRADAs, 7 CRADAs in-progress, 70 active patents, 15 disclosure statements, numerous licensing agreements, as well as having one of the CRADA technologies featured on national television (The Discovery Channel).

As he begins his two-year term as the Far West Regional Coordinator, Mike hopes to expand on the initiatives that departing Coordinator Dr. Brenda-Lee Karasik set in motion. He is dedicated to helping regional ORTAs reach their goals and objectives, and is ready to share his experiences and ideas about leveraging technology exposure/development, as well as helping with ideas for the creative development and marketing of their facility’s individual technologies. If you have a technology problem, Mike will have an idea – or two.