Craig J. Carlton

Craig J. Carlton serves as a key procurement lead within the Headquarters Defense Media Activity (HQ DMA), responsible for managing acquisitions that support the agency’s mission to produce, distribute, and broadcast multimedia content to U.S. military personnel and global audiences. He oversees contracts for digital media platforms, broadcast infrastructure, and strategic communications systems, ensuring alignment with DoD standards for content security, network resilience, and modernized delivery. His procurement portfolio emphasizes technical services and equipment critical to sustaining morale and operational messaging across terrestrial, satellite, and digital channels, making him a pivotal figure in enabling the agency’s media modernization initiatives. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Carlton’s contracting patterns reflect a balanced engagement with both large-scale technology providers and specialized small businesses, particularly in media production, broadcast engineering, and IT services. His working relationships are characterized by consistent collaboration with vendors capable of delivering secure, scalable content delivery solutions and integrated multimedia systems, often requiring compliance with DoD cybersecurity frameworks and interoperability standards. Carlton demonstrates a strong preference for small business participation, with 21.4% of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a deliberate commitment to fostering innovation and diversity in the vendor base. He does not rely heavily on socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB, suggesting a focus on capability-driven competition within the broader small business category. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 511210 (Motion Picture and Video Production), 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), and 541199 (All Other Legal Services), reflecting expertise in media content creation, digital platform development, and compliance-related advisory services. He routinely procures broadcast equipment, streaming infrastructure, and cybersecurity-enhanced content management systems, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with the convergence of media technology and national defense communications.