Ms. Regina "Gina" Sims
Director, Defense SBIR/STTR Program

Ms. Regina “Gina” Sims is the Director of the Defense SBIR/STTR Program Office for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Ms. Sims is the principal point of contact for Congress, the Small Business Administration, Government Accountability Office, and Interagency SBIR/STTR Community Representatives. Ms. Sims oversees and leads the SBIR/STTR Program to unify and convey transparency and trust across Defense agencies and components encompassing the program.

Prior to her role in OSD, Ms. Sims was the Department of Air Force (DAF) Specific Topic Branch Chief, a role she held in the AFVentures Division of AFWERX. Ms. Sims was responsible for the facilitation of the DAF’s SBIR/STTR Life Cycle, designed to rapidly and efficiently transition innovative technology to the Airmen and Guardian Warfighter communities. Ms. Sims was also responsible for the planning and execution of an annual portfolio of $400M while managing the day-to-day efforts of the Specific Topic Branch within AFVentures, supporting a variety of mission partners.

Ms. Sims has been a DoD Civilian for 15 years, serving in several different acquisition program management roles within the DAF. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two children and is an avid reader. She has an affinity for mentoring and coaching, dedicating time fostering creative thought and developing the next generation of civilian leaders.

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CONTACT US

Who We Are

MISSION

Translate DoD technology needs into opportunities to leverage the innovation potential of small businesses and entrepreneurs, incentivize transition and commercialization, and foster a collaborative environment across DoD, Federal agencies, industry, and academia.

VISION

Be recognized across the DoD enterprise as an impactful source for technological innovation and advanced capabilities that address national security challenges and contribute to a strong defense industrial base.

GOALS

Stimulate technological innovation for DoD to maintain technological superiority and military readiness to deter military operations from U.S. adversaries.
Increase private sector commercialization of Federal R&D to increase competition, productivity, and economic growth.
Stimulate a partnership of ideas and technologies between innovative small businesses and research institutions (STTR).
Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR/STTR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
By including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific R&D needs.

Our History

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is responsible for policy development, planning, resource management, and program evaluation. The OSD includes the offices of top civilian defense decision-makers with regard to personnel, weapons acquisition, research, intelligence, and fiscal policy, as well as offices the Secretary establishes to assist in carrying out assigned responsibilities.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was established in 1982 to strengthen the role of innovative SBCs in Federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). Specific program purposes are to: (1) stimulate technological innovation; (2) use small business to meet Federal R/R&D needs; (3) foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged SBCs (SDBs), and by women-owned SBCs (WOSBs), in technological innovation; and, (4) increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal R/R&D, thereby increasing competition, productivity, and economic growth.

Established in 1992, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program expands public/private sector partnerships and stimulates ideas and technologies between innovative SBCs and non-profit Research Institutions. By providing awards to SBCs for cooperative R/R&D efforts through formal collaborations with Research Institutions, the STTR program assists the U.S. small business and research communities by supporting the commercialization of innovative technologies. STTR’s most important role is to bridge the gap between basic R&D and commercialization of resulting innovations.

The SBIR and STTR Programs are the nation's largest source of early-stage technology financing, and are funded at more than $4 billion annually. The Department of Defense (DoD) accounts for more than half of the federal government's total SBIR/STTR program. 15 USC 638 Sections 9(j) and 9(p) of the Small Business Act – require that the Small Business Administration (SBA) issue Policy Directives for the general conduct of the SBIR and STTR programs within the Federal Government. However, each Federal agency independently manages its SBIR and STTR programs independently in accordance with SBA policy, and has the flexibility to tailor its program to meet the needs of the individual agency. The SBIR and STTR programs are funded through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The federal budget process occurs in two stages: appropriations and authorizations. The NDAA is an authorization bill, which directs how federal funds should or should not be used. NDAAs often include direction and requirements that supplement the provisions set forth in the Small Business Act that impact the SBIR and STTR programs in the areas of contracting, reporting, and other provisions. These programs have a combined budget of nearly $1.8B.

PARTICIPATING COMPONENTS


Department of Army (Army)	Department of Navy (Navy)	Department of Air Force (Air Force)	Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD)


Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)	Defense Health Agency (DHA)	Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)	Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA)


Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)	Missile Defense Agency (MDA)	National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)	United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)


	Office of the Secretary of Defense	Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office