Don McAlister
Director, Technology Commercialization ProgramsDonald McAlister works for the Center for Technology Commercialization as the Director of Technology Commercialization. Until April 2006 he also served as the Director of NASA’s Northeast Regional Technology Transfer Center where he oversaw NASA’s partnering and technology transfer activities within the New England, New York and New Jersey. In his present capacity he oversees CTC’s technology transition and commercialization efforts including technology evaluation, market assessment, licensing and partnering activities. As such, Mr. McAlister has played a key role in the evaluation of technologies and their commercialization potential for NASA, DOD and DHS.
A serial entrepreneur, Mr. McAlister has over 15 years of technology development and commercialization experience in a number of industries including aerospace, energy, component manufacturing, clean fuels research & development and enterprise software. Leveraging experience that spans R&D operations to production, Mr. McAlister has been instrumental in helping both early-stage and large technology companies achieve enhanced performance through proper introduction and implementation of new technologies.
Prior to joining CTC, Mr. McAlister was the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Business Development for Desktop Standard a software development company. During his tenure, Mr. McAlister played a key role in increasing sales through contributions to corporate strategy, new product developments and the Sales and Marketing Organization. He held a Director seat until the company was acquired by Microsoft in the fall of 2006.
Prior to Desktop Standard, Mr. McAlister was Vice President of Quantum Energy Technologies, Inc. a technology-development firm focused on commercializing technologies out of MIT. While at QET, Mr. McAlister oversaw research and development, international partnerships, and production operations.
Mr. McAlister holds a BSME from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, an MS in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University and an MS in Management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management where he was a Sloan Fellow. In 1996 Mr. McAlister was elected to a seat on the Board of Governors of the Society of Sloan Fellows. Additionally, Mr. McAlister is a graduate of General Electric’s Advanced Course in Manufacturing and presently sits on the Northeast Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council which is an adjunct to the Joint Anti-terrorism Task Force.
Donald likes to stay active and enjoys participating in and watching sports.