Dr. José Colucci-Rios has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and has extensive experience leading and managing research collaborations that interface with government, academia, and industry. He is currently a General Business Specialist NIST Technology Partnership Office. Before this position Dr. Colucci-Ríos was the Resource Manager of eleven states at the DOE-NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. In addition, he had an 8 months Detail at the Department of Homeland Security. Previous careers included Professor, Administrator and Researcher at UPR Mayagüez, and fast tracked at Union Carbide from a Research Engineer to Market Manager. Recent awards include 2013-2016 USPTO’s Productivity and Docket Management Cash Awards, the 2018 NIST’s Bronze Group Medal Award, 2019 USPTO Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote Speaker, 2020 NIST Uriano Award and two NIST MEP Cash for Excellence Award (2019 and 2023). In 2022 he received a Commendation award from the Secretary of Homeland Security.