Claire Tonnies

Claire Tonnies serves as a primary contracting professional within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she plays a critical role in securing and modernizing the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. She manages the acquisition lifecycle for mission-critical telecom systems, including secure voice, data, and video networks, as well as virtual private network (VPN) deployments and satellite communications solutions. Her work directly supports DISA’s mandate to ensure resilient, interoperable, and classified network connectivity across military and federal operations, with a strategic focus on transitioning legacy systems to software-defined and cloud-enabled architectures. While specific contractor names are not available, Tonnies engages with a diverse ecosystem of defense telecommunications vendors, including systems integrators, cybersecurity-enabled network providers, and specialized infrastructure engineers. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, rigorous technical evaluation, and compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and CMMC. She routinely collaborates with vendors capable of delivering end-to-end solutions that meet stringent military-grade requirements for availability, encryption, and supply chain integrity. Tonnies demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, consistently prioritizing participation from small businesses, including 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB-certified firms. Her acquisition strategy integrates small business set-asides to foster innovation and diversify the supplier base, ensuring that emerging technologies from niche providers are evaluated alongside established defense contractors. Her industry focus centers on NAICS categories related to telecommunications network services, information technology infrastructure, and cybersecurity-enabled communications systems. She procures advanced routing and switching equipment, encrypted endpoint devices, managed network services, and software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) platforms, demonstrating deep expertise in DoD-specific telecom modernization initiatives and secure enterprise networking.