Kari L. Kinzel

Kari L. Kinzel serves as a key procurement lead within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, overseeing the acquisition of critical communications infrastructure to support Department of Defense global network operations. Responsible for managing complex telecom contracts, Kinzel ensures the delivery of secure, high-capacity, and resilient connectivity solutions that modernize legacy systems and enhance interoperability across military and federal networks. Their portfolio primarily includes wired telecommunications services, virtual private network deployments, and mission-critical network modernization initiatives aligned with DISA’s strategic imperatives for cyber-resilient communications. Kinzel maintains consistent partnerships with leading telecommunications providers including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., AOC CONNECT LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC, among others. These relationships reflect a preference for established contractors with proven capabilities in fiber-optic infrastructure, secure data transmission, and enterprise-grade telecom integration. The contracting pattern demonstrates a reliance on vendors with deep expertise in DoD-compliant network architectures and secure cloud-enabled telecom services, often requiring compliance with NIST, FISMA, and DoD Information Network standards. While the majority of acquisitions are unrestricted, Kinzel maintains a notable commitment to small business participation, with approximately 23.1% of contracts set aside for total small business concerns under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate effort to foster innovation and capacity-building within the defense telecom supply chain, prioritizing qualified small firms capable of delivering specialized telecom services without compromising mission requirements. The procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 517111 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) and 517810 (All Other Telecommunications), underscoring expertise in fiber backbone deployment, circuit provisioning, and non-traditional telecom solutions. Kinzel’s work centers on procuring secure, scalable, and future-ready network services that enable command and control, intelligence sharing, and expeditionary communications across the global DoD enterprise.