Ashley I. Kennemer, Contracting Officer

Ashley I. Kennemer serves as a Contracting Officer within the Missile Defense Agency, where she plays a critical role in securing advanced missile defense systems and enabling the agency’s mission to develop, test, and field layered intercept capabilities against evolving ballistic missile threats. She manages complex acquisition programs spanning guided missile systems, sensor modernization, and integrated battle management architectures, primarily overseeing full and open competitive procurements under the Department of Defense’s acquisition regulations. Her work directly supports the MDA’s strategic priorities in midcourse and terminal-phase interception, ensuring timely delivery of technologically sophisticated capabilities to protect U.S. and allied forces. Kennemer maintains longstanding procurement relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, firms with deep expertise in guided weapon system integration, radar modernization, and space-based sensor platforms. She also frequently engages Jacobs Technology Inc. for systems engineering and technical assistance services. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk-managed contract structures, and rigorous technical oversight to ensure mission-critical systems meet stringent operational requirements. Kennemer’s portfolio reflects a consistent preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This reflects the highly specialized nature of missile defense technologies and the limited pool of qualified industry partners capable of meeting the technical and security demands of MDA programs. Her procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing) and 336419 (Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), underscoring her expertise in procuring kinetic interceptors, command and control hardware, and associated propulsion and guidance subsystems. She operates at the intersection of defense engineering and acquisition policy, ensuring that cutting-edge missile defense technologies transition from R&D to operational fielding with precision and accountability.