Pat Dillon, MBA is the Founder and Director of MNSBIR to help startups and small businesses transform their high risk, high-impact technologies into marketable products and services that solve problems by leveraging the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Pat has over 30 years of knowledge, experience, and relationships that has impacted hundreds of businesses to compete and win more than $250M in funding. Pat is a retired United States Navy Commander with 40 years of service with one tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Pat earned her degrees from Winona State University.