John Williams (he/him)

John Williams has dedicated his career to ensuring that tech startups, particularly those from underserved communities, receive the necessary resources and support through effective federal policies.
With a recent capstone on his 35-year federal career, Mr. Williams served as a Senior Executive at the Small Business Administration (SBA), where he led the strategic planning, management, and implementation of the $4.4 billion Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. His oversight spanned 30 federal offices and required close collaboration with Congress as he established and implemented policy to execute these two program
Mr. Williams played a pivotal role in constructing a national innovation support ecosystem that enhanced the participation and success of underserved communities in securing Federal R&D funding. Under his leadership, programs such as the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program and Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).
A seasoned advocate, Mr. Williams testified before Congress on five occasions and served as the SBA lead for various White House initiatives. For a five-month period, he assumed the role of Acting Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Investment and Innovation (OII), overseeing the Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC) program.
Prior to joining the SBA in 2014, Mr. Williams served as the Director of the Navy SBIR and STTR programs and the Navy Technology Transfer Office. Notably, he conceptualized the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to accelerate the integration of SBIR-developed technologies into DOD systems and private sector applications.