Abercrombie began her career as a program analyst at the National Democratic Institute observing elections in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Macedonia.

Later after graduating from Princeton she was selected for the Presidential Management Fellows Program serving in a variety of capacities at the Department of Defense beginning in 2003.

After returning to the Defense Department, she assumed the role of Principal Director for Security Cooperation Workforce Development.

[3] Most recently Abercrombie served as deputy assistant to the president and as a coordinator for defense policy and arms control.

[4] Abercrombie was nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition in April 2023.