JENNIFER BOLLINGER
Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel
Jennifer Bollinger is an accomplished executive, attorney, and trusted advisor with extensive experience at the intersection of law, business operations, emergency management, homeland security, and government administration. As Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Emergent Global Solutions, she provides executive leadership across operations, legal strategy, governance, risk management, contracting, and regulatory compliance, helping organizations navigate complex legal and operational challenges while achieving strategic objectives.
Jennifer brings a unique combination of executive management and legal expertise developed through senior leadership roles in California state government and private practice. She is recognized for delivering practical, business-oriented legal counsel that enables organizations to manage risk, accelerate decision-making, and successfully operate in complex, highly regulated environments.
Most recently, Jennifer served as Chief Counsel for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), where she was a key member of the executive leadership team supporting one of the nation's largest and most complex emergency management organizations. She provided strategic legal counsel during California's response to catastrophic wildfires, public safety emergencies, cybersecurity incidents, and the COVID-19 pandemic, advising executive leadership and the Governor's Office on high-consequence legal, operational, and policy matters. She also led the development of gubernatorial emergency proclamations, executive orders, and Presidential Major Disaster Declaration requests that supported statewide emergency response and recovery efforts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer played a pivotal role in securing California's emergency medical supply chain by co-negotiating and structuring a landmark $1 billion procurement agreement that established a dedicated pipeline for more than 300 million NIOSH-certified N95 respirators and surgical masks. The agreement significantly strengthened California's healthcare resilience, protected frontline workers, supported schools and businesses, and accelerated the state's recovery.
Previously, Jennifer served as Chief Counsel and Deputy Director for the California Department of General Services (DGS), the state's primary business and procurement organization. There, she led legal operations supporting a multi-billion-dollar enterprise responsible for statewide procurement, contracting, real estate, facilities management, and administrative services. She oversaw legal strategy for thousands of contracts annually, complex procurement actions, regulatory compliance, and high-profile bid protests while driving operational excellence and sound governance.
Earlier in her career, Jennifer held senior legal positions with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS), advising on procurement, pension administration, technology acquisitions, complex commercial agreements, and administrative law. She also practiced with leading regional and national law firms representing public agencies and private sector clients in litigation, financial services, and commercial business matters.
Jennifer has served on numerous governing boards and executive advisory bodies, including the California Residential Mitigation Program Joint Powers Authority and the California Fire and Rescue Training Authority, providing strategic oversight of resilience, public safety, governance, and organizational performance.
Jennifer earned her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and her Bachelor of Science from California State University, Sacramento. She is an active member of the State Bar of California.
Her combination of executive leadership, legal acumen, operational expertise, and crisis management experience makes her a trusted advisor to organizations seeking to strengthen governance, manage enterprise risk, improve operational performance, and successfully navigate today's increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape.