Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at NASA (2026)
Chapter: Appendix C: Annex to Chapter 4
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Appendix B: Biographies of Committee Members
Appendix C
ANNEX 4-2
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix C: Annex to Chapter 4." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at NASA. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29381.
Appendix C
Annex to Chapter 4
ANNEX 4-1
NASA Program Manager Interviews: Attendees and Dates
| NASA Office | Interview Date | NASA Attendee(s) | NASA Attendee Title(s) at Time of Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Office | 5/8/2024 | Kathryn Kvaternik | Acquisitions Unit Lead |
| Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate—Space Operations Mission Directorate (ESDMD-SOMD) | 8/22/2024 | Carla Cohen | Office Portfolio Manager Review & Selection Process | Team Lead Mission Directorate Liaison |
| Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) | 8/22/2024 | Bruce Cogan | Mission Directorate Liaison |
| Science Mission Directorate (SMD) | 8/23/2024 | Eric Ting | Review and Selection | Team Support Acquisition Management | Unit Support Mission Directorate Liaison |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix C: Annex to Chapter 4." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at NASA. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29381.
| Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) | 8/23/2024 | Keith Woodman | Awardee Support and Tracking | Team Lead Mission Directorate Liaison |
| Langley Research Center (LaRC) | 8/30/2024 | Eileen Nelson | Review and Selection | Team Support Customer Management | Unit Support Center Lead |
| Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) | 9/19/2024 | Quenton Bonds | Review and Selection | Team Support Acquisition Management | Unit Support Center Lead |
| NASA SBIR/STTR Office | 10/4/2024 | Howard Conyers | Awardee Support & Tracking | Team Support Customer Management | Unit Support STTR “Mission Directorate Liaison” |
| Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) | 10/4/2024 | Haley Doude | Solicitation & Requirements Development | Team Lead |
| Johnson Space Center (JSC) | 10/18/2024 | Shobhana Gupta | Review and Selection | Team Support Acquisition Management |
| NASA SBIR/STTR Office | 11/1/2024 | Jason Kessler | Program Executive |
| Glenn Research Center (GRC) | 5/30/2025 | Brandon White | Awardee Support & Tracking | Team Support Acquisition Management | Unit Support Center Lead |
| Kennedy Space Center (KSC) | 5/30/2025 | Michael Vinje | Awardee Support & Tracking | Team Support Customer Management | Unit Support Center Lead |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix C: Annex to Chapter 4." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at NASA. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29381.
| Stennis Space Center (SSC) | 6/13/2025 | Marc Shoemaker | Solicitation & Requirements Dev | Team Support Acquisition Management | Unit Support Center Lead |
| Ames Research Center (ARC) | 7/11/2025 | Ryszard Pisarski | Solicitation & Requirements Dev | Team Support Acquisition Management | Unit Support Center Lead |
| NASA SBIR/STTR Office | 9/19/2025 | Dina Salazar | Acquisition Management | Unit Lead |
| NASA SBIR/STTR Office | 12/5/2025 | Chase Decker | Business Intelligence | Unit Lead (Acting) |
| NASA SBIR/STTR Office | 12/5/2025 | Tony Damian | Systems Management | Unit Lead |
| NASA SBIR/STTR Office | 12/12/2025 | Abby Tabor | Customer Management | Unit Lead; |
| Vanessa Jordon | Customer Management | Unit Support |
NOTES: Participant titles were accurate at the time of the discussion. All NASA centers and directorates were invited to meet with the committee (with the exception of the Mission Support Directorate, which does not offer SBIR/STTR awards), but the committee was unable to meet with a representative of the Armstrong Flight Research Center. A representative from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory met with the committee at its July 29–31, 2024, meeting in Irvine, California (see Appendix A).
ANNEX 4-2
NASA Program Manager Interviews: Discussion Questions
-
Process Overview
- – Please tell us about the SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer) process (topic selection, reviewer section and role, and differences between Phase I, Phase II, and Ignite programs)
- How are topics developed, including whether input is sought from firms, industry associations, or university researchers?
- – Please tell us about the SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer) process (topic selection, reviewer section and role, and differences between Phase I, Phase II, and Ignite programs)
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix C: Annex to Chapter 4." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at NASA. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29381.
-
-
- How are reviewers selected?
- How are processes different between Phase I and Phase II awards?
- Differences between SBIR and STTR?
- How are processes different for Post Phase II awards (Phase II-E and Phase II Sequential)?
- What is the SBIR Ignite program?
- How does the PSST tool work (Portfolio SBIR/STTR Support Tool) for ranking applications?
- What is the approval process for selecting awards?
- – How are initial and expected TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels) determined?
- – What is the Phase I contract process? Are there differences for Phase II?
-
-
Outreach
- – How do you educate potential applicants about the SBIR/STTR programs?
- – Do you reach out to potential applicants? How do you decide which communities to conduct outreach with?
- – Describe applicant assistance—webinars, etc.
- – Have there been major shifts in outreach that have occurred in the last 10 years?
- – What is the role, if any, of MPLAN (MUREP Partnership Learning Award Notification) in SBIR outreach?
-
Commercialization Programs
- – What resources are available to awardees? Please describe how you use TABA (Technical and Business Assistance), I-Corps, and CCRPP (Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program)
-
Technology Transitions
- – Can you tell us how NASA helps companies turn SBIR/STTR projects into products that meet NASA mission needs?
- – How are Phase III awards determined? How do program managers help this happen?
-
Success Stories
- – Describe the most impactful award you made. Why was this impactful?
- – How would you describe a successful project? Are there different types of success?
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix C: Annex to Chapter 4." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at NASA. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29381.
-
Multiple Award Winners
- – What are the situations where you continue to fund the same company?
- – Are multiple awardees subject to more scrutiny?
-
Insights for Improvements
- – If you could change one anything about the SBIR/STTR programs, what would that be?
-
Other
- – Is the anything else you think we should ask about or need to know?
- – Is the anyone else we should speak with?
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