Laurie A Knop

Laurie Knop serves as a Contracting Officer within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she leads the acquisition of critical communications infrastructure to support the Department of Defense’s global network modernization efforts. Her portfolio centers on securing and expanding resilient, high-capacity telecom systems, including secure virtual private networks, fiber-optic transport, and mission-critical connectivity solutions. Knop ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with DISA’s strategic imperatives to enhance interoperability, cybersecurity, and network resilience across military and federal operations. She maintains longstanding relationships with key contractors including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These partnerships reflect a focus on Tier-1 telecommunications providers and specialized firms with deep expertise in secure network deployment, fiber infrastructure, and defense-grade telecom engineering. Knop’s contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical rigor, and long-term service sustainment, fostering collaborative vendor relationships grounded in mission-critical delivery requirements. Knop’s procurement patterns show a strong preference for unrestricted competitions, with 90.9% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting the complex, mission-essential nature of the acquisitions she manages. While small business participation is limited, she consistently allocates 9.1% of awards under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5), demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small businesses within the constrained telecom ecosystem. Her primary focus is exclusively on NAICS Code 517919—Other Telecommunications—which encompasses managed network services, backbone infrastructure, and secure telecom integration. She procures end-to-end solutions including dark fiber leasing, wavelength services, SD-WAN deployments, and network monitoring systems, requiring deep technical understanding of DoD cybersecurity standards and telecom architecture. Knop’s expertise lies in navigating the intersection of commercial telecom innovation and military operational needs.