On June 24, 2025, a Tide Talks collaboration was held at TechPort and TechGrid. This was a hybrid event that took place both virtually and in person at the Southern Maryland and High Desert Tech Bridges. The event featured a joint discussion between Rick Tarr, Director, NAWCAD Technology Transition Office, Director, SOMD Tech Bridge, and ORTA and Dylan Riley, Co-Director High Desert Tech Bridge, NAWCWD Director of Technology Transfer, and ORTA. They discussed the intricacies of their roles, how they collaborate together, and the ways they work with small businesses and academia, all to support the warfighter. They specifically covered the topics of partnering with the Navy, the roles of Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) Representatives, Technology Transition (T2) and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
The NavalX Tech Bridge Network provides front-door access to Department of the Navy (DoN) priorities and opportunities for academia, startups, small businesses, and local experts who want to work with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Serving as technology scouts, local networking hubs, and connection points between potential solution providers and Naval Warfare Centers and Labs, the NavalX Tech Bridges have the connections and expertise to help nontraditional technologists navigate the naval innovation ecosystem.
