Cynthia Black

Cynthia Black serves as a key procurement lead within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she manages critical acquisitions to secure and modernize the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. Her responsibilities center on procuring advanced telecommunications services and network-enabling technologies that support mission-critical military and federal operations. She oversees the full lifecycle of contracts for high-assurance network solutions, including secure virtual private networks, fiber-optic backbone services, and integrated telecom systems, ensuring alignment with DISA’s strategic goals of resilience, interoperability, and legacy system modernization. Black maintains consistent, long-term partnerships with a core group of prime contractors including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These vendors are frequently selected for their proven capability in delivering secure, scalable telecom solutions under stringent DoD compliance standards. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical rigor, and vendor reliability, fostering collaborative relationships with contractors who demonstrate deep expertise in defense-grade communications architecture. Notably, Black’s portfolio reflects a 100% non-set-aside contracting pattern, with no utilization of 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This indicates a procurement strategy prioritizing technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the division’s urgent operational needs and the complexity of its technical requirements. Her primary procurement focus is exclusively under NAICS 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), encompassing managed network services, cybersecurity-integrated telecom, cloud-enabled communications, and mission-specific network engineering. She specializes in acquiring complex, integrated solutions that support real-time data transmission, encrypted command and control systems, and enterprise-wide telecom modernization initiatives across distributed military environments.