Our Team

Jessica Kenyon has more than 20 years of experience with the development of advanced medical technology, with special expertise in federal research and acquisition. For the Conafay Group, she provides expertise in federal R&D programs as well as in partnerships across government, academia, and industry.

For five years, Jessica served as Vice President for Health and Life Science Programs at American Defense International, Inc., where she advised numerous corporate, academic, and non-profit clients, both domestic and international, on their federal engagement strategy, particularly with the Department of Defense (DoD).

Jessica came to the private sector with more than 10 years of experience in the oversight, planning, and management of DoD medical research and development (R&D) programs in multiple technical domains. From 2001 to 2011, she served in several capacities at the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), where she played a central role in developing a portfolio of medical research to deliver critical medical technologies to the warfighter. Jessica served as the Director of TATRC’s West Coast Satellite Office in Marina del Rey, California, where she worked to build strategic partnerships among government, academia, and industry in order to foster successful military medical R&D. In addition, she established and funded competitive research programs to promote, support, and accelerate university-based, military-relevant medical research and entrepreneurship in Southern California. Before taking the reins of TATRC West, Jessica served as Congressional Liaison at TATRC’s headquarters office, a role that required her to interface with Congressional staff and understand and communicate all aspects of proposal selection, funding, and product development processes within the Army as well as the tri-service realm.

Since 2003, Jessica has been an avid endurance athlete, having completed 12 marathons and many other running events, as well as more than 20 triathlons, including Ironman Cozumel in 2009. Born and raised in Frederick, Maryland, Jessica graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University, and earned her Master of Arts from Bryn Mawr College.