C.Isha Arrington

C. Isha Arrington serves as the primary procurement lead for the DCSO Columbus Division #3 under the Defense Logistics Agency, overseeing the acquisition of critical strategic materials essential to national defense systems. Responsible for securing high-purity nonferrous metals, specialty chemicals, and engineered components used in aerospace, electronics, and weapons platforms, Arrington manages complex contracts requiring stringent technical compliance and supply chain resilience. Her work ensures the uninterrupted flow of mission-critical inputs for DoD platforms, with a focus on domestic sourcing and supply chain security. She handles acquisitions governed by FAR Part 13 and Part 15, often involving sole-source justifications due to the specialized nature of the materials procured. Arrington maintains a consistent working relationship with ARES STRATEGIC MINING, INC., a key vendor providing rare and refiner-grade metallic inputs critical to defense-grade applications. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established industrial suppliers with proven capabilities in metallurgical purification and material certification, often requiring ITAR compliance and facility security clearances. While she engages primarily with large, specialized contractors, her approach emphasizes long-term vendor performance, technical validation, and supply chain traceability over transactional procurement. Her set-aside preferences are overwhelmingly dominated by non-set-aside awards at 93.8%, reflecting the highly technical and niche nature of the procurements, which often preclude broad small business participation. The remaining 6.3% are awarded under Total Small Business Set-Asides, indicating selective but deliberate inclusion of qualified small firms when technical requirements permit. Arrington’s socioeconomic contracting patterns prioritize capability over socioeconomic status, aligning with DLA’s mission-critical imperatives. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 541715 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences) and 541990 (other professional technical services), alongside 334413 (semiconductor manufacturing) and 541614 (logistics consulting). She regularly procures advanced materials development, process engineering services, and specialized supply chain analysis to support next-generation defense systems, demonstrating deep expertise in technical sourcing for high-assurance industrial domains.