Tom leads the External Innovation Investment organization for R&D at Corteva Agriscience. In this role, he provides functional and operational leadership, overseeing a group of talented individuals dedicated to identifying and nurturing early-stage disruptive technologies that align with Corteva's strategic priorities and product pipelines. Under his leadership, the organization excels in defining technical landscaping approaches, forging strategic partnerships, and implementing investment strategies that drive impactful innovation. Tom's extensive career with Corteva and its heritage organizations spans over 24 years, during which he played a pivotal role in leading and developing the biotech and genome-edited trait pipelines across various crops and trait concepts on a global scale. Under his leadership, enabling capabilities critical for driving trait discovery and development, fueling advancements in agricultural science were established. Tom has a Ph.D. in plant physiology from Washington State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from North Carolina State University. He completed post-doctoral training at the University of Florida, specializing in maize biochemical genetics. Tom’s multidisciplinary background and relentless dedication to pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation make him a respected figure in the industry.