The SBIR/STTR is a robust program designed to help small businesses address government needs while promoting commercialization. This session is dedicated to providing a primer on the program with tips on getting involved and getting engaged with the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR).Mr. Shadi Azoum joined NAVWAR in March 2008 and assumed his current SBIR/STTR Program Manager position in June 2016. He concurrently serves as the NAVWAR Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) Program Manager with a goal to find synergies between the two programs and leverage the RIF Program as a successful transition venue for SBIR and STTR efforts. He also aims to leverage technologies that aid Navy-wide Program Management Office personnel in facilitating development of contracting packages and increased, aided oversight of SBIR and STTR efforts.

Mr. Azoum participated in the SBIR/STTR programs as an Assistant Program Manager (APM) for Science and Technology (S&T) for the Navy's Cyber Security and Information Assurance Program Office, PMW 130, of the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence. As APM, he made critical, actionable contributions, including developing a technology roadmap; mentoring computer scientists and software engineers on Naval Fleet needs; and briefing senior officials on upcoming threats and trends. In times of budgetary restrictions, he forged relationships with other agencies and organizations, namely DARPA and DHS, to collaborate on shared capability gaps. He has worked at NAVWAR as a software and systems engineer developing testing tools for High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor devices, specifically in the compliance of the Simple Network Management Protocol. He pioneered the development of the first Common Cryptographic Management Information Base, now an Internet Engineering Task Force published and working document.

Mr. Azoum earned an M.S. in Information Security and B.S. in Computer Science, both from Florida State University.