Christopher A Harrington

Christopher A. Harrington serves as Director, Small Business at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where he leads the strategic integration of small business capabilities into the command’s high-priority technology acquisition pipeline. In this role, he ensures that innovative small businesses contribute to the development and fielding of mission-critical capabilities in tactical communications, electro-optical systems, and rapid prototyping initiatives. Harrington aligns procurement strategy with USSOCOM’s mandate to maintain technological superiority through agile acquisition methods, overseeing the solicitation and award of services that support operational experimentation, field-deployable sensor systems, and advanced R&D efforts critical to special operations forces. While specific contractor names are not publicly enumerated, Harrington’s procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with professional services firms specializing in defense innovation, systems integration, and technical consulting. He cultivates partnerships with both established defense contractors and emerging small businesses capable of delivering rapid, scalable solutions under time-constrained operational timelines. His approach emphasizes collaboration, iterative feedback loops, and performance-based contracting to ensure solutions meet the unique demands of SOF environments. Harrington’s office exhibits a 100% non-set-aside contracting profile, indicating a preference for full and open competition across all socioeconomic categories. This reflects USSOCOM’s operational urgency and the need to access the broadest possible pool of technical expertise without socioeconomic restrictions, while still actively promoting small business participation through mentorship, subcontracting opportunities, and outreach initiatives aligned with the Small Business Administration’s goals. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 561920 (Convention and Trade Show Organizers) and 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), which encompass event-driven technology demonstrations, technical advisory services, rapid prototyping support, and mission-specific R&D coordination. These categories underscore his domain expertise in facilitating the transition of experimental technologies from lab to battlefield through structured acquisition frameworks tailored to USSOCOM’s agile, mission-driven culture.