Stephanie R. McCarthy

Stephanie R. McCarthy serves as a Contract Specialist within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to secure and modernize the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for telecommunications systems, network resilience solutions, and integrated security services, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-aligned technical requirements. Her work directly supports DISA’s strategic goals of enhancing interoperability, deploying secure virtual private networks, and transitioning legacy telecom systems to next-generation architectures. McCarthy maintains consistent procurement relationships with key contractors including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC, among others. These partnerships span fiber-optic network deployment, managed telecom services, and secure communications infrastructure, reflecting a preference for vendors with proven expertise in defense-grade telecommunications and network hardening. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based outcomes, and technical compliance with DoD cybersecurity and interoperability standards. A strong advocate for small business participation, McCarthy consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides, allocating approximately 78% of her acquisitions to small businesses under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate socioeconomic strategy to foster innovation and capacity-building within the defense industrial base, particularly among firms certified under HUBZone, SDB, and SDVOSB programs. Her portfolio demonstrates a commitment to equitable access and supplier diversity across the telecommunications supply chain. Her primary NAICS focus includes 333415 for climate-controlled infrastructure supporting telecom hardware, 561621 for integrated security systems, and 561210 for facilities support services essential to maintaining secure network operations. These categories reveal a specialized procurement domain centered on physical and cyber-physical infrastructure integration, where telecommunications systems are supported by hardened facilities, environmental controls, and perimeter security services.