Chantel A. Smith

Chantel A. Smith serves as a Contracting Officer within the C5I Division 3 Portsmouth of the U.S. Coast Guard, where she leads the acquisition of mission-critical command, control, communications, computers, cyber, and intelligence (C5I) systems. Her portfolio encompasses the procurement of advanced maritime surveillance, navigation, and secure communication technologies essential to enhancing maritime domain awareness and national security operations. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts—from market research and solicitation to award and performance oversight—ensuring alignment with DHS and Coast Guard strategic priorities in cyber resilience and operational modernization. Smith specializes in complex, high-technology acquisitions that support real-time data fusion, sensor integration, and networked command systems across maritime and coastal environments. She maintains a sustained working relationship with Trimble Inc., a key contractor providing precision positioning, geospatial, and mission-critical timing solutions integral to Coast Guard navigation and surveillance platforms. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term vendor collaboration, often engaging prime contractors with proven expertise in defense-grade C5I systems and secure infrastructure modernization. Smith fosters partnerships with vendors capable of delivering integrated, interoperable solutions that meet stringent military and maritime operational standards. While no formal set-aside data is currently available, Smith operates within a framework that prioritizes socioeconomic contracting goals, actively encouraging participation from small businesses, 8(a) firms, HUBZone entities, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) where feasible. Her contracting decisions reflect a deliberate effort to expand the industrial base and promote innovation through diverse supplier engagement, consistent with Department of Homeland Security mandates. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS categories related to defense electronics, telecommunications equipment, cybersecurity services, and systems integration for government networks. She routinely procures secure radio systems, radar integration platforms, satellite communication terminals, and cyber-hardened data architectures, demonstrating deep expertise in maritime C5I modernization and mission-critical infrastructure resilience.