Keri Cline

Keri Cline serves as a key procurement lead within U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), driving the acquisition of mission-critical technologies that enhance the tactical superiority of special operations forces. Responsible for managing complex contracting actions under the H92222 agency code, Cline focuses on rapid prototyping and field-deployable systems that support advanced communications, electro-optical sensors, night vision systems, and next-generation surveillance platforms. Her work directly supports USSOCOM’s mandate to accelerate innovation through agile acquisition pathways, ensuring warfighters receive cutting-edge capabilities with minimal latency. She routinely handles sole-source, urgent requirement, and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) actions aligned with the command’s experimental and developmental priorities. Cline collaborates closely with a dynamic ecosystem of defense prime contractors and niche technology innovators specializing in classified and unclassified defense applications. While specific vendor names are not publicly disclosed, her contracting patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms possessing ITAR/EAR compliance, DOD security clearances, and proven experience in ruggedized electronics, signal processing, and embedded systems. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and technical evaluation over cost alone, fostering partnerships with vendors capable of rapid iteration and field validation. Cline’s procurement portfolio exhibits a 100% preference for non-set-aside awards, indicating a primary focus on technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic classifications. This reflects USSOCOM’s operational urgency and the specialized nature of the technologies required, where only a limited pool of qualified vendors can meet stringent performance and security standards. Her primary procurement focus lies under NAICS 339999 (All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing), encompassing custom-built defense systems such as wearable sensor arrays, compact comms hardware, directed energy components, and integrated electro-optical suites. Cline’s expertise centers on procuring highly specialized, low-volume, high-technology manufacturing solutions tailored to the unique demands of special operations forces operating in contested environments.