Her Story
About Ashley
Ashley Timmel, MBA, is a Lead Associate and Contracts Manager at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she specializes in federal acquisition, government contracting, and complex contract administration. With nearly a decade of experience supporting U.S. government agencies, she has built expertise in proposal development, contract negotiation, pricing strategy, subcontract management, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. Recently promoted to Lead Associate, she now supports the FBI account after transitioning from aerospace and defense, continuing to provide strategic acquisition and contracting leadership in a rapidly evolving federal environment.
Throughout her career at Booz Allen Hamilton, Ashley has led and supported every stage of the government acquisition lifecycle, serving as the primary interface between contracting officers, program teams, legal counsel, and industry partners. Her responsibilities include negotiating complex contracts and subcontracts, evaluating solicitation requirements, developing pricing strategies, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advising stakeholders on federal acquisition regulations and contractual risk. Her professional accomplishments include graduating from Booz Allen's LEAP leadership program, earning ten Living Our Values Everyday Awards, receiving the Collective Ingenuity and Ferocious Integrity awards, and serving as a panelist at the company's Rising Leaders Forum, where she shared her experiences balancing executive responsibilities, doctoral studies, and single motherhood.
Ashley holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is currently completing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Business Leadership at Liberty University, having completed her coursework and entered the dissertation phase. She also completed advanced studies in Procurement and Contract Management through the University of Virginia and maintains professional development through the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), including the FAR Overhaul certification. Ashley attributes her success to perseverance, resilience, and the motivation she draws from raising her children while pursuing ambitious professional and academic goals. She is passionate about continuous learning, leadership development, and preparing the next generation of professionals to succeed in government contracting through confidence, expertise, and lifelong growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to an unwavering drive to build a meaningful and fulfilling life—a drive that only grew stronger when I became a mother. My children have witnessed the milestones, the late nights, the challenges, and the moments when giving up would have been easier. Through it all, they have remained my greatest motivation. I believe you don’t have to choose between being a devoted mother and a driven professional. Ambition doesn’t take away from motherhood; for me, it has become part of it. My children aren’t competing with my dreams, they’re watching me pursue them. They’re seeing perseverance, resilience, and what it looks like to keep going when something matters to you. Motherhood has pushed me to dream bigger and work harder, because every accomplishment carries a lesson I hope they take with them: that meaningful things require courage and dedication, and that they are capable of creating the life they want, too. I want my children to see ambition up close.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
We’re all juggling a lot at once. One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is to distinguish between competing priorities. Some responsibilities are "glass" and cannot be dropped, while others are "plastic" and can wait if necessary. Not every task demands immediate attention, and effective leadership requires understanding which priorities are truly critical, personally and professionally. Each day, I focus on protecting what matters most while managing everything else with perspective and intention.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to speak up, build deep expertise, and never be afraid to take up space—especially in industries where women have historically been underrepresented. Confidence is often built through preparation, knowledge, and experience, so invest in becoming excellent at what you do. Know your subject matter. Trust what you bring to the table. And don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Be scared and do it anyway. Be underqualified and get in the room anyway. Be imperfect, uncertain, and still willing to show up anyway. Growth rarely happens in comfort. Get uncomfortable. Use your voice. Share your ideas. Step into opportunities before you feel fully prepared. You deserve to be in the room, and your perspective, leadership, and contributions deserve to be heard.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The government contracting industry is experiencing significant change, with evolving policies, workforce reductions, budget constraints, and organizational restructuring creating new challenges across the federal landscape. At the same time, tremendous opportunities are emerging through artificial intelligence and digital engineering. I believe success depends on staying ahead of these changes by continuously learning, participating in AI and digital engineering programs, and maintaining a long-term perspective rather than focusing solely on today's challenges.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
One of the greatest gifts a woman can give another woman is helping her feel like she belongs in rooms she’s still learning to believe she belongs in herself. I deeply value building up the women around me, reminding them of what they bring to the table, and creating space for others to grow and succeed. Any door that opens for me, I’ll be holding open for others.
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