Stephen J. Lemon

Stephen J. Lemon serves as a Contract Specialist within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where he plays a critical role in securing and modernizing the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. He manages the full lifecycle of complex telecommunications acquisitions, including network services, secure virtual private networks, fiber optic deployment, and interoperable command and control systems. His work directly supports DISA’s mission to ensure resilient, high-capacity, and encrypted connectivity across military and federal operations, with a strategic focus on replacing legacy systems and enhancing cyber-resilient telecom architectures. Lemon maintains consistent working 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 preference for established industry leaders with proven capabilities in mission-critical telecom engineering, network integration, and secure infrastructure deployment. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards, and long-term service-level agreements that ensure operational continuity across distributed environments. Lemon’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted without set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This reflects the specialized nature of the telecommunications systems he procures, which require advanced technical certifications, classified facility clearances, and scalable enterprise-grade capabilities typically found in large, experienced vendors. His primary procurement domain centers on telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber optic transport, encrypted data links, satellite communications support, and network management systems. He routinely engages with vendors possessing deep expertise in DoD-compliant protocols, TIA/EIA standards, and secure cloud-enabled telecom architectures, ensuring the agency’s network modernization efforts align with joint force interoperability requirements.