In a recent gathering at the Johnson Space Center’s Business Development & Technology Integration Office, Jason Foster attended what he believed would be a routine meeting involving team updates and discussions. However, the meeting took an unexpected turn when it was announced that Foster had been honored with a 2025 Rookie of the Year – Honorable Mention by the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s annual awards program. This acknowledgment is particularly significant as it is given to early-career professionals, with less than three years under their belt, who have shown exceptional promise in the field of technology transfer.
Out of the entire federal government, Foster was one of only three professionals to receive this recognition in the Rookie of the Year category. Expressing his surprise and gratitude, Foster remarked, “It was quite an honor, because it’s not only representing Johnson Space Center but also NASA.” This accolade highlights the incredible work being done at Johnson Space Center and underscores NASA’s commitment to fostering innovation and growth within its teams.
Foster serves as a licensing specialist and New Technology Report (NTR) specialist within the Technology Transfer Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston. This team is tasked with ensuring that the innovations developed for aeronautics and space exploration are accessible to the public, thereby maximizing their benefits to society. Foster’s role involves identifying new technologies developed at Johnson and facilitating their marketing and licensing to companies that wish to use and further develop these innovations.
He describes his work as “technology hunting,” which involves engaging with various branches, offices, and teams across the center to educate them about the Technology Transfer Office, NTRs, and the importance of technology reporting for both NASA and the public. The NTRs are a crucial element of this process, as they serve as the foundation that enables the office to transfer technology effectively. “We need to know about a technology in order to transfer it,” Foster explained.
Foster’s proactive approach in streamlining and enhancing the reporting and patenting processes of Johnson’s innovations garnered recognition from the consortium. His outreach efforts and relationship-building initiatives have significantly improved customer service, leading to 158 NTRs in fiscal year 2024—a record number disclosed by federal employees at any NASA center. Additionally, Foster initiated a three-month NTR sprint, leading a team of seven in an intensive effort to identify and report new technologies. This initiative not only cleared a backlog of leads but also uncovered more than 120 previously undisclosed NTRs. “We are still using that process now as we continue processing NTRs,” Foster noted. Beyond these accomplishments, he also played a pivotal role in securing the highest recorded number of license agreements with commercial entities in the center’s history, with 41 licenses executed in fiscal year 2024.
Reflecting on his achievements, Foster expressed pride and gratitude towards his team, stating, “I am very proud of my accomplishments; none of it would be possible without the open-mindedness and continuous support of my incredible team. They have always provided a space to grow and actively welcome innovation in our processes and workflows.”
An enthusiastic space aficionado, Foster always envisioned a future at NASA, albeit initially as an astronaut. Although he began his academic journey with aspirations of obtaining an astrophysics degree, he discovered a passion for engineering. This led him to pursue a degree in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering, blending his fascination with space and engineering. During his final semester at California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, he secured an internship with the Universities Space Research Association at Johnson Space Center. There, he contributed to flight software development for crew exercise systems on the International Space Station and future exploration missions. His engagement with the Johnson Space Center team and the nature of the work prompted him to consider a career with NASA sooner than he had anticipated.
Following graduation, Foster joined the Technology Transfer team as a licensing specialist under the JETS II Contract as an Amentum employee. Eager to broaden his role and skill set, he remarked, “The more I can learn about anything NASA’s doing is incredible. I found myself in this perfect position where literally my job is to learn everything there is to learn.”
As Foster celebrates three years with NASA this July, he has come to appreciate the importance of understanding his colleagues’ needs to effectively assist them. Before meeting with someone, he takes the time to research the organization or team they belong to, the work they are involved in, and potential topics of discussion. Additionally, he considers how each individual prefers to communicate and collaborate. “Doing your homework pays dividends,” Foster remarked, emphasizing that being well-prepared opens doors to more opportunities and saves valuable time for busy team members.
When not engaged in his professional pursuits, Foster indulges in the art of fire spinning. This unique hobby, which he picked up in college, involves creating geometric patterns using fire and capturing them through long exposure photography. “It was kind of a strange thing to get into, but it was really fun,” he shared. His curiosity and love for learning extend to other activities as well, including gardening—a hobby inspired by his realization that he had never grown anything before.
“It’s a genuine joy, I think, coming across something with curiosity and wanting to learn from it,” Foster reflected. “I think it especially helps in my job, where your curiosity switch has to be on at least 90% of the time.”
This story of Jason Foster’s unexpected recognition and his contributions to NASA’s Technology Transfer Office exemplifies the dedication and innovative spirit that drive technological advancements and their dissemination to benefit society. Foster’s journey serves as a testament to the value of curiosity, preparation, and teamwork in achieving remarkable accomplishments in the field of technology transfer at NASA.
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