Ashley A.H. Gray, MPP, has established herself as an expert in health policy and federal health programs. As the founder and chief executive officer of Onyx Rose Advisors LLC in Virginia, she leads coalitions and engages with members of Congress on Capitol Hill. Her work focuses on developing policy solutions for public and private clients, including state and federal governments, health information technology (IT) companies, payers, and nonprofit organizations. Ms. Gray specializes in Medicare, Medicaid, health IT, social determinants of health, and health equity.
In 2024, Ms. Gray founded Onyx Rose Advisors LLC to broaden her consulting services beyond traditional government affairs. Prior to this role, she served as vice president at Sirona Strategies and as executive director at Aligning for Health, where she was instrumental in advancing health equity initiatives. Her tenure at Sirona Strategies was marked by her involvement in a giving circle that raised funds and provided mentorship to first-time women business owners, offering support to disadvantaged small business owners.
From 2022 to 2023, Ms. Gray served as the principal of health program analysis and transformation and group leader of CMS coverage, payment, and equity at MITRE. She also worked as lead health domain specialist for the company from 2020 to 2022. While at MITRE, Ms. Gray managed a $45 million federal contract, leading a team of 67 staff members to assist under-resourced areas within the federal government. Through her leadership, she established a structured and efficient organizational culture, ensuring the mission’s success in strengthening federal health programs.
Ms. Gray’s career experience also includes key leadership roles at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, where she was managing director from 2019 to 2020 and director of Medicaid from 2017 to 2019. Previously, she worked as the director of federal policy and a health research associate at Medicaid Health Plans of America from 2015 to 2017. Earlier in her career, she was a senior associate at Avalere Health LLC from 2014 to 2015 and as a research fellow at the Schroeder Center for Health Policy at the College of William & Mary from 2012 to 2014. Laying a strong academic foundation, Ms. Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts in public policy analysis from Vanderbilt University in 2010, followed by a Master of Public Policy in health policy analysis from the College of William & Mary in 2014.
Moreover, Ms. Gray is actively involved in civic and professional organizations. Since 2024, she has served as an advisory council member for the Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention. From 2020 to 2024, she co-chaired the Board of Medical Assistance Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia, contributing to policy improvements in Medicaid and public health programs. As an active member of her industry, Ms. Gray has been a dedicated member of AcademyHealth since 2016 and maintains memberships in the American Public Health Association, the Virginia Public Health Association, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
In recognition of her achievements, Ms. Gray was honored with the “40 Under 40” award by the Leadership Center for Excellence in 2021. She attributes her success to her attentive listening skills, which have been instrumental throughout her career as a consultant and representative for trade association members at both the federal and state levels. By actively listening to her clients’ needs, she develops practical solutions tailored to their experiences, ensuring her work remains impactful and relevant.
Ms. Gray was born in Miami and is married with three children. She enjoys spending time with her family, supporting her children’s growth, volunteering, and reading. Looking to the future, she aims to expand her consultancy by securing contracts with federal and state governments, as well as nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Passionate about supporting government initiatives, Ms. Gray is also committed to working with community-based organizations that may have limited resources.