“Tyrome “”Ty”” Smith is a federal innovation strategist and organizational architect with more than 25 years of experience bridging national security, emerging technology, and institutional transformation. He currently serves as Special Assistant to the Vice President of Research and Innovation at Bowie State University, where he works alongside Dr. Yvonne Harris to advance the university’s research mission and innovation ecosystem.

Ty has built a career at the intersection of public-private partnership and mission-driven strategy. As Director of Strategic Partnerships at Common Mission Project, he secured over $1.1 million in corporate funding — including $300,000 dedicated to HBCU innovation programs.

A sought-after facilitator and thought leader, Ty has delivered keynote addresses for NASA, served as Master of Ceremonies for the Federal Laboratory Consortium National Awards, and co-hosts the podcast What Problem Are You Solving? He sits on the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory Board, the SXSW Advisory Board, and serves as an incoming Council Member of the Stimson Center’s Alfred Lee Loomis Innovation Council.

Ty holds a Master of Arts in Human Communication from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Shippensburg University. His executive credentials include the Black Executive Leadership Program at McKinsey & Company, a Venture Capital Certificate from UC Berkeley Haas, and an Executive Leadership Certificate from UCLA Anderson.”