Shawn Arentsen

Shawn Arentsen serves as the primary contracting lead for the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) within the Defense Information Systems Agency, overseeing the acquisition of mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure for the Department of Defense. Responsible for securing and modernizing global network capabilities, Arentsen manages a portfolio of contracts focused on wired telecommunications services, secure virtual private networks, and interoperable communications systems that support military and federal operations. His work ensures resilient, high-capacity connectivity across distributed environments, with a strong emphasis on replacing legacy systems and deploying next-generation telecom solutions aligned with DoD cybersecurity standards. Arentsen maintains consistent partnerships with leading providers including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These relationships are characterized by long-term, performance-based engagements centered on network design, fiber deployment, bandwidth provisioning, and managed telecom services. His contracting approach favors established vendors with proven expertise in secure military-grade communications, often leveraging indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and blanket purchase agreement (BPA) mechanisms to ensure rapid scalability and operational continuity. While the majority of procurements (75.7%) are conducted without set-asides, Arentsen maintains a robust commitment to small business participation, with 24.3% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to integrate capable small firms into the telecom supply chain without compromising mission-critical performance requirements. His procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 517111 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) and 517121 (Telecommunications Resellers), reflecting deep expertise in fiber-optic network deployment, circuit provisioning, and wholesale telecom resourcing. Arentsen’s technical domain centers on secure, scalable, and resilient communication architectures essential to DoD’s global operational tempo.