Kenneth Arena

Carrie A. Herndon serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contract Administration Services Division of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Procurement Operations, where she manages the acquisition of critical professional, scientific, and technical services essential to national security readiness. Her portfolio centers on the procurement of advanced radio and television broadcasting and wireless communications equipment, ensuring the integrity and interoperability of mission-critical communication systems. She plays a pivotal role in executing full lifecycle contract actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and administration—aligning all acquisitions with DHS’s strategic objectives in cybersecurity, systems engineering, and physical science innovation. Her contractor relationships are primarily with manufacturers and integrators specializing in secure wireless communications infrastructure, including firms with expertise in RF systems, encrypted transmission platforms, and hardened communication hardware. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with a broad base of qualified vendors capable of meeting stringent federal security and performance standards, fostering competitive, performance-based contracting environments. Carrie’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions designated as non-set-aside. This reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize technical capability, system interoperability, and mission-critical performance over socioeconomic classifications, though she remains compliant with all statutory requirements for small business consideration when appropriate. Her primary NAICS focus is 334220, indicating deep specialization in the procurement of radio and television broadcasting and wireless communications equipment. She routinely acquires encrypted transceivers, satellite uplink systems, tactical communication terminals, and related embedded systems engineered for secure, resilient, and high-bandwidth operational environments, demonstrating expertise in defense-grade telecommunications and electromagnetic spectrum management.