Tara L. Horstmann

Tara L. Horstmann 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 procurement actions to secure and modernize the Department of Defense’s global communications infrastructure. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for high-performance telecom systems, focusing on secure network solutions, virtual private networks, and interoperable communication platforms. Her work directly supports DISA’s mission to sustain resilient, high-capacity connectivity for military and federal operations, ensuring compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards and enterprise architecture frameworks. Horstmann maintains consistent procurement relationships with leading telecommunications and systems integration vendors, including AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Liberty Communications, Inc., AOC Connect LLC, and Norfolk Fiber, LLC. These partnerships are primarily centered on the design, deployment, and maintenance of secure, scalable telecom architectures. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical compliance, and long-term service delivery, fostering collaborative relationships with contractors who demonstrate proven expertise in defense-grade network solutions. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competitions, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under no set-aside conditions. This indicates a strategic focus on maximizing competition among qualified large and mid-tier vendors capable of meeting the complex technical and security requirements of national defense telecommunications, rather than prioritizing socioeconomic set-asides. Horstmann’s acquisitions are exclusively classified under NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), reflecting her deep specialization in engineering and integration services for secure, mission-critical networks. She procures end-to-end system design, network architecture development, cybersecurity integration, and legacy system modernization services, demonstrating expertise in enterprise telecom infrastructure, IP-based communications, and DoD-compliant network protocols.