Cassandra Y. Cooper

Cassandra Y. Cooper serves as a key procurement lead within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she oversees the acquisition of mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure to support Department of Defense global communications networks. Her responsibilities include managing complex contracts for secure network services, virtual private network deployments, and legacy system modernization initiatives that ensure resilient, high-capacity connectivity across military and federal operations. Cooper’s portfolio emphasizes mission assurance, cybersecurity integration, and interoperability across distributed command environments, aligning directly with DISA’s mandate to sustain and expand the DoD’s secure communications architecture. She maintains longstanding partnerships with leading telecommunications and network infrastructure providers, including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These relationships reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capabilities in secure fiber optic deployment, encrypted data transport, and mission-critical telecom integration. Her contracting approach prioritizes performance-based outcomes, technical compliance, and operational readiness, often resulting in multi-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and task order contracts. Cooper’s procurement patterns show a strong emphasis on open competition, with 97.2% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, reflecting the high-security and specialized nature of the requirements. Only 2.8% of awards are designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating that while small business participation is supported, technical complexity and mission urgency typically necessitate broad competition among qualified industry partners. The division’s acquisitions focus on advanced telecommunications services, including secure broadband, SD-WAN solutions, encrypted voice and data transmission, and fiber-based backbone infrastructure. While NAICS codes are not available, the technical domain centers on defense-grade networking, telecom system integration, and cyber-resilient communications platforms essential to joint force operations.