With over two decades in her profession, Jessica Ann Bradley is celebrated by Marquis Who’s Who and Who’s Who of Professional Women for her dedication, achievements, and leadership in the field of laboratory science. Bradley is a United States Air Force laboratory manager in D’Iberville, Mississippi. She is known for her innovation and ability to pivot and adapt to new challenges quickly.
From the U.S. Air Force to Formal Education
With her parents unable to further Bradley’s education after high school and her interest in pursuing other paths in life, she signed up for the U.S. Air Force. When she was 17, Bradley’s parents signed a waiver that allowed her to enter, joining with no promised job.
Often tired during her military basic training, Bradley selected jobs based on how many weeks of training she would have to complete. Surprisingly, this led her to an assignment to the medical laboratory field, one of the most challenging paths with longer training than other positions.
While on her vocational journey, Bradley pursued a formal education. She attended the University of Cincinnati, earning a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science in 2012. Furthering her education, she earned a master’s degree at George Washington University in 2018 and a leadership master’s degree from the U.S. Air Force.
Bradley also holds various certifications, including being a specialist in blood banking and a medical laboratory scientist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
A Fulfilling Military Career
Serving in the U.S. Air Force for over two decades, Bradley has cultivated a fulfilling military career. For the last 10 years, she has primarily served as a laboratory manager for the military branch, specializing in blood banking and other sectors of laboratory science.
One of Bradley’s most memorable military moments was leading an Apheresis unit while concurrently serving as the hospital secretary. During this time, she was involved in a study on cold-stored platelets, gathering data and reorganizing processes, validating a 14-day shelf life.
Bradley also worked on relocating the unit to a different building. This experience is a professional highlight for her as it allowed her to engage more deeply with her passion for blood banking and collaborate closely with high-level hospital leadership, including the chief executive officer.
Additionally, Bradley loves teaching. While not her primary source of income, she served as an adjunct professor for several universities in 2019, including George Washington University. She also remains affiliated with the Check Path Clinical Pathology Committee of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, highlighting her dedication to her professional passions.
Other Achievements and the Future
One of Bradley’s most notable achievements has been spearheading innovative and forward-thinking projects, including her involvement in the first group in Mississippi that had point-of-care bacterial testing for extended platelets on the shelf. This resulted in a shift from five days to seven days, well ahead of the FDA’s safety mandate.
Bradley plans to retire from the U.S. Air Force in 2025 to work for an IT company developing laboratory information systems. She would also like to continue her passion for teaching as a full-time assistant professor.
Bradley advises others to learn from the inevitable good and bad experiences in life, as they help mold you into who you are.
