About Speaker

Dr. Christopher Wilhelm is the director of industry engagement and technology transition position is located in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's Office of Innovation and Collaboration. Wilhelm provides executive-level oversight, guidance and outreach to discover new innovators and partner with them to develop or adapt solutions to meet operational research, development, test and evaluation needs and oversees the transfer and commercialization of capabilities to end users to foster the growth of the homeland security marketplace. He provides executive-level oversight and guidance to the management of key transition activities, the establishment of transition guidance and support tools, and evaluation of and refinement of process and support activities in accordance with S&T's matrix
organization.

Wilhelm most recently served as the program manager for the Technology Transfer Program at Naval Surface Warfare Center
Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD). In this position, Dr. Wilhelm served as the Command’s Office of Research and Technology Applications representative as well as the program manager for the Naval Energetic Systems and Technologies Program. Wilhelm was responsible for the management of, and strategic planning for, NSWC IHD in the S&T product area; providing technical and management advice; leading the development of; and maintaining cost, schedule and performance metrics; as well as acting as the primary interface between the customer(s) and the appropriate principal investigators and branch management.

Wilhelm’s expertise was exemplified during other assignments to include team lead for the Explosive Detection Equipment Program and Counter Improvised Explosive Device Program in NSWC IHD’s D Department; first subject matter expert detail to Theater Explosives Exploitation at Combined Joint Task Force Paladin from September 2011 to February 2012, while stationed at Bagram Airfield Afghanistan. Wilhelm served as an active duty combat engineer in the United States Marine Corps from June 1994 to June 1998, earning personal awards up to and including the Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Dr. Wilhelm received his Bachelor of Science from Manhattan College in May 2002, his doctorate in Chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in May 2009, and his Master of Science in systems engineering Management from Naval Postgraduate School in September 2019. Wilhelm has also authored several research articles, and invented/co-invented multiple patents.