Raymond Wells

Mr. Wells brings more than 30 years of experience advising and assisting high-technology, high-growth companies, major defense contractors, defense agencies, technology startups, and private investors. His work focuses on bridging the gap between technology development, market needs, and the resources required to advance technologies toward adoption and commercialization.

He currently serves as a Portfolio Manager for the Air Force AFWERX STRATFI/TACFI program. In this role, he facilitates the development, transition, and adoption of high-impact technologies by coordinating with companies, Technical Points of Contact (TPOCs), government and industry subject matter experts, contracting personnel, and financial stakeholders. He supports a streamlined process for funding, technology development, success tracking, and technology adoption.

He has served as an SBIR Senior Acquisition R&D Analyst for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Commercialization Readiness Program at the Space and Missile Systems Center (Los Angeles AFB). He also directed and led statewide initiatives for the California Space Authority; led and conducted SBIR/STTR commercialization evaluations through the NASA Commercialization Center; and administered technology-funding evaluations for the Office of Naval Research's Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT).

In the academic and startup sectors, he served as the Research Translation Specialist and SBIR/STTR Coordinator at a major research university. In that role, he increased funding from Federal and State agencies supporting commercialization of IP and technology transfer out of the University, and assisted researchers, Incubator, and Accelerator companies in grant identification, proposal development, and business consulting, and has worked extensively in the design, development, and delivery of programs and services to support technology startups.

Over three decades, Mr. Wells has supported high-technology, high-growth and emerging-growth companies throughout California. His experience spans research and development, technology development, business development, technology funding and commercialization, economic development and workforce development. He has worked with companies from early-stage concept through funding, growth and commercialization. He has served on several Boards, including the National Contract Management Association, the Association of Internet Professionals and the OC Multimedia Association.