Stephanie Elento

Stephanie Elento serves as a Contract Specialist within the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), supporting the Department of Defense’s mission to deliver secure, resilient, and interoperable information systems for global military operations. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for mission-critical communications and cyber-enabled infrastructure, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and defense-specific cybersecurity standards. Her portfolio centers on complex, high-stakes procurements that enable command and control, secure data transmission, and network modernization across all operational domains, requiring deep familiarity with DoD acquisition policy and risk mitigation strategies. Elento collaborates extensively with a diverse ecosystem of vendors, primarily small businesses certified under socioeconomic programs, to fulfill DISA’s technical requirements. While specific contractor names are not disclosed, her contracting patterns reflect a consistent preference for agile, innovative firms capable of delivering secure software solutions, network services, and cyber defense capabilities. Her working relationships are characterized by early vendor engagement, clear performance metrics, and a focus on long-term sustainment and scalability of delivered systems. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Elento directs 100% of her acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, ensuring equitable access to DoD opportunities for qualified firms. Her contracting approach prioritizes socioeconomic diversity, with a strong emphasis on empowering small businesses to contribute to national security innovation. This commitment aligns with DISA’s broader goal of fostering a resilient, decentralized supply chain capable of rapid adaptation. Her primary technical focus is NAICS 517919—Other Telecommunications—which encompasses specialized services such as secure network operations, managed connectivity solutions, and mission-specific communications infrastructure. She routinely procures cybersecurity-enabled platforms, encrypted data transport systems, and software-defined networking tools that support global military operations, demonstrating expertise in both telecommunications architecture and defense IT modernization priorities.