Amber Kennedy
Amber Kennedy is a Senior Contract Management and Acquisition professional with approximately 12 years of experience in federal procurement, commercial contracting, and full contract lifecycle management. Her career began in the United States Air Force, where she cross-trained into contracting and built a strong foundation in acquisition, compliance, and mission-driven procurement. Before entering the military, she worked multiple jobs while attending school at the age of 19 to support herself financially, driven by a determination to create a better future for her family and, later, for her own children. That early experience instilled a strong work ethic and resilience that continues to guide her professional approach today.
Throughout her career, Amber has held contract management roles supporting both the federal government and private sector organizations working with government clients. She has managed complex acquisitions across construction, services, and architect-engineering environments, including roles as a Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist within the U.S. Air Force and USDA. She later advanced her education by earning a Juris Master in Law with a focus on contracting, compliance, and risk management. She is currently working in the EPC construction industry, where her division is responsible for supporting the development of a steel mill project with clients and subcontractors. In her current role, she manages contracts end-to-end, ensuring performance, compliance, and successful project execution. When her team lead departed, she was elevated into a team lead role, reflecting her leadership capability and subject matter expertise.
Amber is a first-generation college graduate for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and she takes pride in the perseverance and discipline that shaped her journey. She grew up with parents who worked demanding hands-on jobs—her mother in hospitality and construction support roles and her father as a plumber—and she learned the value of hard work early in life by working alongside her father on job sites. Today, she is also a mother of eight children with her husband, balancing a demanding leadership career in a male-dominated industry with family life. She is known for her direct communication style, strong boundaries, and commitment to asking questions, building trust, and fostering respect within her teams. Her leadership is grounded in integrity, resilience, and a deep commitment to both professional excellence and family.
• FAC-C Professional
• Florida State University - JM
• Florida State University - BS, Interdisciplinary Social Science
• Community College of the Air Force - AAS, Information Resources Management
• Defense Acquisition University
• Habitat for Humanity
• Habitat for Humanity
• Christmas in April (home repairs for elderly)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to wanting more for my kids than I had growing up. That drive pushed me to work three jobs when I was 19 before I joined the military, and later to go back and earn my master's in law. Growing up, we struggled. My mom worked odd jobs as a waitress and bartender, and even worked on construction job sites. My dad was a plumber, and I'd go to work with him, crawling under trailers or houses to help. Watching their hard work and determination taught me perseverance. In this male-dominated industry, I've learned not to take any nonsense and to stand my ground. I ask questions when I don't know something, because I'm not afraid to show that I'm interested in the job and that I care about the work I do. I've built relationships with my team based on trust and mutual respect. We've got each other's backs. I also had great mentorship from my former boss, who took the time to explain things to me and relate new concepts back to my previous experience. I've learned to be confident, even when I'm not sure, and to show confidence in the decisions I make. I talk to everybody the same way, from the top all the way to the bottom, because I see people as humans. Just because of our job title doesn't make us any more important than someone else. I treat everyone with the same respect, and I think that's helped me gain respect in return.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from my former boss, the team lead whose position I took over when he left. He really mentored me when I came from a different area of contracts, having focused mostly on federal work. He took the time to sit down with me and explain things, putting concepts in different ways so I could relate them back to my experience with different types of contracts. That mentorship and his willingness to help me understand the work in a way that made sense to me was invaluable. Beyond that, the example set by my parents taught me so much. Watching my mom work odd jobs and even on construction sites, and going to work with my dad as a plumber, showed me the value of hard work and determination. Their example taught me to keep pushing forward no matter what.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to ask questions and don't be afraid to step up. When I got here, I didn't have all the resources I needed to do the job, and I was learning a new format of contracting. But I jumped in and started learning on my own so I would know what I could do. I constantly asked, 'What can I do? What can I do?' In the construction industry, you're working with a lot of males, and some can be loud and get frustrated, but ask them questions. If you're asking them questions, it shows that you're interested in the job and that you care about it. If you don't honestly care about the work you do, how will anybody else? You need to have pride in your work and pride in what you do. Also, have confidence, even when you're not sure. Show that you're confident in the decisions you make. And understand that you need to find a work-life balance. Sometimes you've got to step away, step back, and take a break. Don't be afraid to voice your opinion once you gauge the environment. I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and I talk to everybody the same way, from the top all the way to the bottom, because we're all humans.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
She believes one of the biggest challenges in her field is keeping pace with the growing need for advanced negotiation skills, deep regulatory knowledge, and strong risk management abilities. At the same time, these demands create opportunities for professionals who can combine commercial acumen with strategic thinking. Tech fluency, particularly with CLM systems and evolving digital tools, is becoming increasingly important in driving efficiency and value. She also sees strong relationship-building, mentoring teams, and aligning contracts with corporate goals as essential for long-term success in the industry.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are respect, trust, integrity, and trying to be positive, even when things change. I wanted more for my kids than I had growing up, which is why I worked three jobs before joining the military and later earned my master's in law. I believe in treating everyone with the same respect, from the top all the way to the bottom, because we're all humans. Just because of our job title doesn't make us any more important than someone else. I also value giving back to the community. When I was in the military, I volunteered a lot for Habitat for Humanity and participated in Christmas in April, where we would fix up homes for elderly people who didn't have the resources. I enjoyed doing volunteer work for the community and for children. Family is incredibly important to me. My husband and I have eight kids total between us, and I work hard to find that work-life balance. Even though I struggle on some days with all the deadlines and being short-staffed, I make sure to take time for my family. I understand that sometimes you've got to step away and take a break. Having pride in your work and caring about what you do is essential, but so is making time for what matters most.