Kelly Smith-Marston

Kelly Smith-Marston serves as the primary contracting lead for the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) within the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she oversees the acquisition of mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure to support global Department of Defense communications. Her role centers on procuring secure, high-capacity network solutions that enable resilient, interoperable connectivity across military and federal operations. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on modernizing legacy telecom systems, deploying encrypted virtual private networks, and integrating next-generation bandwidth solutions to meet evolving operational demands. Smith-Marston maintains consistent partnerships with leading telecommunications and network infrastructure providers, including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These relationships reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in secure fiber optics, satellite communications, and enterprise-grade network services. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical compliance, performance-based outcomes, and long-term service sustainment, fostering collaborative vendor engagement to ensure mission readiness and system interoperability. Her contracting activity shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on technical capability and operational urgency over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing mission-critical performance over programmatic targeting. While small business participation is not formally incentivized, vendors of all sizes are evaluated strictly on technical merit and delivery capability. The division’s procurement focus is overwhelmingly centered on NAICS 517919—Other Telecommunications—which encompasses managed network services, secure data transport, and specialized telecom integration. A smaller but significant portion falls under NAICS 517111, Wired Telecommunications Carriers, indicating procurement of backbone connectivity and carrier-grade infrastructure. Smith-Marston’s expertise lies in securing advanced telecom systems that support DoD’s digital transformation, with deep technical familiarity in encrypted transport protocols, SD-WAN architectures, and fiber-based network modernization.