ADELPHI, Md. – The U.S. Department of War bestowed the 2025 George F. Linsteadt Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer to AnnMarie Martin, a technology transfer specialist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory.
Martin received the prestigious award from the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering’s Technology Transfer, Transition and Commercial Partnerships Office March 11, 2026, for her years of valuable contributions in accelerating Army partnerships with industry.
Martin created a new approach in 2022 to establishing Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, or CRADAs, that cut the process time from six months down to 30 days for certain situations, including for Army’s premier persistent experimentation program, Project Convergence. This improved procedure made it possible for the Army to connect industry, especially small businesses, to Army experimentation events rapidly and efficiently.
“Technology transfer is imperative in defense innovation, and AnnMarie’s improvements resulted in getting technologies into the hands of the warfighter faster,” said Dr. Eric L. Moore, DEVCOM ARL acting director. “She broke down barriers that slowed the tech transfer process and helped the Army team up with industry to deliver war-winning and disruptive technologies at the speed our force needs. I am extremely proud to have such a dedicated professional on our ARL team.”
In addition to speeding up the process, Martin also played an instrumental role in establishing a first-of-its-kind CRADA between multiple Army laboratories and global energy giant Shell in 2023.
Shell expressed interest in partnering with ARL and other centers in DEVCOM and another command, but each Army research organization used different templates and procedures for executing their CRADAs, which complicated negotiations.
Martin led the effort to build a standard Army template and procedure that took the needs of all the different organizations into consideration under one agreement.
Her leadership and expertise resulted in Shell signing an overarching Army CRADA in August 2023 that allows multiple Army partners to work with Shell on projects of mutual interest. The CRADA’s first joint work statement tackled advanced technologies for energy resilience and security.
“As the point person facilitating this agreement, AnnMarie worked tirelessly across the Army to ensure that all partners’ goals were considered and integrated,” said Wendy Leonard, chief of ARL’s Partnerships Support Office. “Her technology transfer expertise, attention to detail and strong relationship-building skills made this agreement happen.”
Martin’s experience with reshaping technology transfer agreements later granted her the opportunity to lead the initiative by deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Research and Technology to create a standard template and process for the entire Army.
Martin’s commitment to growing the Army’s innovation ecosystem also fostered new relationships between ARL and the private sector that have yielded incredible benefits for both U.S. businesses and the Soldier.
Under her leadership, ARL built a portfolio that includes the development and management of more than 240 active CRADAs a year with more than 150 industry and academic collaborators.
Martin serves as the Technology Transfer chair for the DOW Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program and participates as an Army representative in almost every working group related to technology transfer.
Martin’s exceptional work and reputation in the technology transfer community demonstrate her devotion to the Army mission.
Recipients of George F. Linsteadt Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer embody the vision and spirit of George F. Linsteadt, a pioneer of the DOW’s technology transfer program who promoted technology commercialization across the Department.
“AnnMarie is a great mentor, an amazing relationship builder and a proactive steward for everything the Army has to offer,” Leonard said. “Her efforts are truly deserving of the recognition given by this award.”
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DEVCOM ARL is the Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory serving as the nexus of science between the military, academia and industry. ARL executes globally recognized research to accelerate delivery of war-winning, disruptive technologies for tomorrow’s Army.
For information, visit https://arl.devcom.army.mil/.
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