Whitaker: Why did you choose to do your fellowship at the USPTO?

Squire: I was intrigued by the agency's mission and the chance to work at its highest level. You go to a new-to-you agency and get some freedom to define the fellowship and help build it out for future members.

Whitaker: Had you heard about the USPTO previously?

Squire: No. You know what patents are, you know what trademarks are. I didn't know deeply about intellectual property. I quickly saw the world completely differently: IP, ideas, and innovation are everywhere. I toured the Global Intellectual Property Academy, and the patent for the chair you're sitting in is on the wall.

The USPTO's mission is to get these ideas into impactful public use. Visiting military bases helped me connect with folks who were like, 'Why the USPTO? Why are you here?' We need to continue reaching this community.

Whitaker: What are some other fellowship highlights?

Squire: As perhaps the first defense fellow here, I found where the Air Force's priorities align with the USPTO's. I helped design my own fellowship even as we increased military outreach.

I can't see the world quite the same after this experience. If I heard about intellectual property, it might have been in ways you see in the headlines. I peeled back that understanding by learning from USPTO colleagues.

I attended last year's National Inventors Hall of Fame inductionwith world-changing inventors. NIHF shows how the USPTO inspires future generations to improve on innovations or invent the next big thing. I looked at my husband and thought this is wildly inspiring.

I connected with innovators and entrepreneurs and watched them start and grow businesses. Connecting participants to each other and to resources was the biggest highlight.

Whitaker:How will your USPTO experience help you at the Pentagon?

Squire: There are relevant lessons in the importance of IP rights, technology transfer, and dual-use technologies for the military and civilians. Having helped create USPTO programs will carry me further.

At some point I'll hang up the uniform and figure out what's next. Now I know how to find the right people and resources.

Whitaker: What's similar and different between working as a civilian for the last year and military service?

Squire: There are big differences - by design. The military is more hierarchical. It took a little bit of learning to work in a flatter organization. There's a lot more autonomy here.

I was surprised to see many similarities. The people I worked with got stuff done. That's something the military instills: Get after this, find a way towards something possible. Other differences are obvious: I chose what to wear every day.

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