Tara D Whitaker

Tara D. Whitaker serves as a key procurement professional within the Telecommunications Division (HC1013) of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she plays a central role in securing and modernizing the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. She manages complex acquisitions for mission-critical telecom services, including secure network connectivity, virtual private network deployments, and legacy system modernization initiatives. Her work directly supports DISA’s mission to ensure resilient, high-capacity, and interoperable communications for military and federal operations, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, bandwidth scalability, and network resilience. Whitaker typically handles sole-source and competitive procurements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation for services requiring high assurance and classified compliance. Whitaker maintains consistent contracting relationships with a select group of established telecommunications vendors, 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 vendors with proven expertise in secure fiber-optic infrastructure, enterprise-grade telecom services, and DoD-compliant network solutions. Her procurement patterns indicate a reliance on contractors with deep technical capabilities in secure transport, MPLS, and encrypted data transmission, often awarding contracts based on technical merit and past performance rather than socioeconomic status. Whitaker’s contracting portfolio shows no preference for set-aside programs, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic targeting, aligning with the Telecommunications Division’s priority for rapid, secure, and scalable network solutions. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 517111 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) and 517919 (Other Telecommunications), underscoring her expertise in procuring fiber-based backbone services, point-to-point circuits, and managed network infrastructure. She specializes in acquiring services that enable secure, low-latency, and highly available communications for tactical and strategic DoD environments.