Carissa Lechner

Carissa Lechner serves as a Contracting Specialist within FA7037 Amic Det 2 JB San Antonio, a critical unit of the Department of the Air Force responsible for acquiring advanced engineering, information technology, and secure communications systems to sustain and modernize air operations infrastructure. She manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for mission-critical capabilities including software-defined radio technologies, cyber-enabled command and control systems, and integrated communications platforms. Her work directly supports the agency’s strategic priorities in enhancing digital resilience, expanding training in emerging technologies, and ensuring operational readiness through timely and compliant acquisitions. Lechner collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, primarily engineering services firms and IT solution providers specializing in defense-grade systems. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with vendors possessing DoD CMMC compliance, ISO certifications, and experience in secure network modernization. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and adherence to FAR and DFARS requirements, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors who demonstrate technical agility and mission alignment. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 75% of awards issued without set-aside designations, while 25% are competitively awarded under the 8(a) Business Development Program. This balance underscores her commitment to maximizing competition while actively supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged small businesses capable of delivering high-complexity technical services. Lechner’s primary NAICS focus areas include 541330 (Engineering Services), 541513 (Computer Facilities Management Services), and 541930 (Translation and Interpretation Services), reflecting her specialization in technical systems integration, IT infrastructure support, and multilingual mission support for global operations. She routinely procures services related to systems engineering, cybersecurity architecture, data center operations, and linguist support for classified environments, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of defense technology and mission-critical communications.