AS·CEND·ANT:

adj.RISING IN POWER AND INFLUENCE

Ascendant Strategic Partners is a consulting firm specializing in government funding, policy strategy, and market growth in the public health and healthcare sectors. We help organizations navigate federal and state funding, anticipate policy shifts, and develop strategies to mitigate risk and seize emerging opportunities. In an era of disruption and regulatory uncertainty, our team—comprising former federal executives, policymakers, and industry leaders—brings decades of experience in shaping public policy and market strategy. But we don’t just advise—we invest. As active investors in health sector startups, we put our own capital behind the innovations and business models we believe in. This firsthand experience gives us a deep understanding of the challenges investors face, allowing us to provide sharper insights, more actionable strategies, and a level of commitment that goes beyond consulting. Whether you're securing government contracts, expanding into new markets, or assessing investment risks, we turn policy intelligence into business success.

OUR TEAM

Kyle McGowan 

Founding Partner

Kyle McGowan has over a decade of federal service in both the legislative and executive branch. He was most recently the Chief of Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Learn More →

Amanda Campbell

Founding Partner

Amanda Campbell, a Georgia native, has spent the past 8 years working on health care and Federal budget policy in a variety of roles throughout the Federal government, with extensive experience in both Congress and the Executive branch.

Learn More →

Randy Pate

Strategic Advisor

Randy Pate is former Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Learn More →

Andrew Vogt

Strategic Advisor

Andrew Vogt is a policy professional with more than seven years of experience lobbying and working in the Senate. His time on Capitol Hill includes more than four years as a Health Professional Staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

Learn More →

Kyle McGowan 

Founding Partner

Kyle McGowan has over a decade of federal service in both the legislative and executive branch. He was most recently the Chief of Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Learn More →

Amanda Campbell

Founding Partner

Amanda Campbell, a Georgia native, has spent the past 8 years working on health care and Federal budget policy in a variety of roles throughout the Federal government, with extensive experience in both Congress and the Executive branch.

Learn More →

Randy Pate

Strategic Advisor

Randy Pate is former Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Learn More →

Andrew Vogt

Strategic Advisor

Andrew Vogt is a policy professional with more than seven years of experience lobbying and working in the Senate. His time on Capitol Hill includes more than four years as a Health Professional Staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

Learn More →

OUR SERVICES

Government Funding Navigation Strategies

Funding Risk Assessments

Policy Monitoring & Budget Impact Analysis

Crisis Preparedness for Public Health Events

Strategic Growth & Market Entry

New Market Strategies for Startups & Established Companies

Government Contract Advisory for Private Companies

Public-Private Partnership Development

Investor & Venture Advisory

Public Health Risk Assessments for Venture Funds

Due Diligence Support for Health Sector Investments

Strategic Insights on Policy Impacting Market Dynamics

Crisis & Reputation Management

Stakeholder Engagement Strategies

Campaign-Style Crisis Communications

Brand and Reputation Building