Wendy's Bio

Wendy Sammons-Jackson is a highly experienced retired U.S. Army Colonel and Biodefense Research Microbiologist with more than two decades of experience, specialized in infectious diseases, clinical laboratory sciences and medical countermeasure research and development. She serves as a Principal on the firm’s federal government relations team and primarily assists clients in the defense and defense health space. Wendy joins Cornerstone following her time as the acting Deputy Principal Assistant for Research and Technology (PART) for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). In this role, she advised the PART on policy implications, strategy development, program implementation and execution oversight of a $2 billion Medical Research and Development portfolio. Wendy also led and served on multiple working groups and committees providing joint medical research oversight, to include development of a. Science and Technology Management Structure in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020, directing the funding, manpower and other resources from the USAMRDC to be transferred to the Defense Health Agency. Following her transition from the military, Wendy served as the Director and Science Advisor of the Medical and Software Services Division for Advanced Technology International, where she provided technical and programmatic oversight of $66 million in COVID-19 related science and technology awards. In addition, she advised a current Cornerstone client, the Medical Technology Consortium (MTEC), on infectious disease projects to enable a greater level of fidelity on technical and scientific issues and risks that impact project execution and the ability to achieve milestones and project goals. As a US Army Colonel, Wendy served as the Director of the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program.  In this role, she developed the infectious diseases science and technology strategic plan in support of the Army Modernization Strategy, Joint Service Requirements and the National Defense Strategy.  As the chair of the joint infectious disease program, she advised the Defense Health Agency and Health Affairs on research priorities and progress towards delivering capabilities needed to ensure Service member health, readiness and operational effectiveness.  She provided direction and oversight of more than $100M Cares Act and Department funding in support of the national response to COVID-19 and the Department’s role in advancing research and development of novel prevention, treatment and diagnostic technologies. Wendy received her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from the University of South Florida, and her BS in Medical Technology from Salisbury University.