Mass spectrometry has evolved at an exponential rate over the last 100 years. Innovations in the development of mass spectrometers have created powerful instruments capable of analyzing a wide range of targets,. from rare atoms and molecules to very large molecules, such as a proteins, protein complexes, and DNA. These performance gains have been driven by sustaining innovations, punctuated by the occasional disruptive innovation. The use of mass spectrometry for proteome analysis was driven by disruptive innovations that created a capability for large-scale analysis of proteins and modifications.