Kari Pelton

Kari Pelton serves as a key procurement lead within the W6QK Acc-apg Cont Ct Software Sector under the Department of the Army, responsible for managing acquisitions that advance secure communications, mission-critical software systems, and battlefield-ready information technology platforms. Focused on enabling command and control, intelligence processing, and network resilience, Pelton oversees the procurement of complex IT infrastructure and software solutions tailored to distributed operational environments. Her work directly supports the Army’s modernization priorities by ensuring the timely delivery of scalable, interoperable, and cyber-secure systems aligned with DoD standards and defense acquisition regulations. Pelton maintains strategic relationships with a select group of contractors including British Telecommunications Public Limited Company, Liberty Communications, Inc., and Southwest Industrial Contractors & Riggers, Inc., reflecting a blend of large-scale telecommunications and specialized industrial support vendors. These partnerships emphasize end-to-end solutions for wireless communications, field-deployable hardware, and integrated software platforms. Her contracting approach prioritizes vendors with proven experience in military-grade systems, secure data transmission, and rapid field integration, fostering long-term collaboration grounded in compliance and performance reliability. Pelton’s procurement portfolio is exclusively set-aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a 100% commitment to small business participation. This consistent application of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation from niche providers and ensure broad economic inclusion across the defense industrial base. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong alignment with socioeconomic goals, prioritizing qualified small businesses capable of delivering specialized IT and communications solutions without compromising mission requirements. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS 334118 for computer peripheral equipment manufacturing and NAICS 423490 for professional equipment wholesale, indicating deep expertise in procuring ruggedized field hardware, secure data terminals, and mission-specific communication peripherals. Pelton’s domain knowledge spans tactical networking, embedded systems, and field-deployable IT infrastructure, ensuring acquisitions meet the stringent operational demands of Army modernization initiatives.