From the USPTO to the FBI to the NSA (where she has been for ten years), Karen Presley has spent the majority of her career working in public institutions and has always been in some way involved in the creation, protection, or transfer of a wide range of technologies. 

After sharing an overview of her fascinating career path (including some of the main challenges of working for the government), Karen delves into one of her current endeavors that she is palpably passionate about; the MSI Working Group CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) program.

In this episode, you will learn about the goals of the program, the three research areas that it focuses on, and the huge benefit it is affording universities, students, and the NSA! 

In This Episode:

[00:35] Introducing today’s guest, Deputy Director of the Office of Research and Technology Applications at the National Security Agency (NSA), Karen Presley. 

[01:39] Where Karen was first introduced to the field of technology transfer and how her career progressed from there.  

[05:04] Some of the biggest challenges faced by technology transfer professionals working in the public sector. 

[07:33] Karen explains what makes the NSA’s approach to technology transfer unique.

[10:36] The seven categories of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) as listed in the Higher Education Act. 

[11:15] The origins and goals of the MSI Working Group CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) program.

[14:04] The three main research areas that the CRADA program focuses on.

[15:38] Examples of how universities within the CRADA program are approaching their research. 

[18:25] How the CRADA program benefits the NSA and its partner universities. 

[21:14] Karen’s hope for the future of the CRADA program. 

Resources:

Karen Presley on LinkedIn

National Security Agency

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Working Group (WG) CRADA program

Common Mission Project