Christina Wildfire, a researcher at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), has been honored with the Bayh-Dole Coalition 2025 American Innovator Award for her pioneering work in utilizing microwave technology to convert waste plastics into valuable products such as hydrogen and carbon nanotubes. The award recognizes her dedication in transferring federally funded inventions into the marketplace for public benefit. Wildfire's innovative approach has led to significant hydrogen recovery rates from plastic waste, exceeding traditional methods, and offering a sustainable waste-to-energy solution with low emissions, aligning with the U.S. objective of energy dominance. This technology, developed in collaboration with Cecilia Energy, has garnered international patent applications and shown potential for applications in space missions, highlighting its broad impact. Besides this achievement, Wildfire has been lauded for her numerous technology transfer partnerships, role in forming startups, and leadership in energy innovation at NETL. Her contributions demonstrate a commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and driving impactful innovations in waste management.