About Us
We pair PhD researchers with senior-ranking veterans and security, systems, and software engineers to develop operationally relevant solutions and deliver best-in-class engineering services.
Co-Founder & CEO
I founded Caliola in 2019 to improve and protect our way of life through secure and resilient communications. We have a goal of powering one billion mission-critical communications links by 2034. If you seek impactful work at a small but mighty business, please consider joining our team.
Caliola is a 100% Woman Owned Small Business Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO.
Leadership
Jennifer Halford
Jennifer Halford is the CEO and Visionary at Caliola, a woman-owned defense contractor that builds secure and resilient solutions for mission-critical communications. She co-founded Caliola in 2019 following seventeen years at The Aerospace Corporation, where she led teams in software architecture, mission assurance, and enterprise ground system development. At Caliola, she works fiercely and fearlessly towards her vision of securing one billion mission-critical communications links by 2034.
Recognized for both technical and entrepreneurial excellence, Jennifer was named to Aviation Week's “Top 40 Under 40” in 2014. Under her leadership, Caliola ranked #102 on Deloitte's 2024 Technology Fast 500™ with 1,178% three-year growth, placing first in Colorado and first in the communications and networking sector. She also received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2025 Mountain West Award.
Jennifer holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science and a BA in Business Economics from UCLA, as well as dual MBAs from UCLA Anderson and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.
Dr. Tom Halford
Dr. Tom Halford is the Chief Scientist of Caliola Engineering, a woman-owned defense contractor that builds secure and resilient solutions for mission-critical communications. He co-founded Caliola in 2019 following a decade at TrellisWare Technologies, where he helped develop communications systems that are now deployed on hundreds of thousands of platforms worldwide. As Chief Scientist, he leads Caliola's technical roadmap and innovation strategy in pursuit of the company's vision to secure one billion mission-critical communications links by 2034.
Trained as a coding theorist, Tom has built a career bridging academic research and real-world system design. He designed key elements of TrellisWare's TSM waveform and the Navy's RoCCE waveform. He has also contributed algorithmic enhancements to the Navy's TTNT waveform that are now being fielded on F/A-18E/Fs, EA-18Gs, and E-2Ds.
Tom holds a BS in Engineering Physics from Simon Fraser University and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. He has authored nearly fifty peer-reviewed papers and holds more than a dozen patents in wireless communications.
Ryan Biondo
Ryan Biondo is an internationally recognized subject matter expert in operations of the AEHF SATCOM system. He joined Caliola in 2019 and serves as the bridge between our product development team and the SATCOM operational community. Throughout his twenty-year career, Ryan has provided direct support to the Combatant Commands, Space Systems Command, Combat Forces Command, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, US Navy Strategic Systems Programs, the White House Communications Agency, and numerous other organizations.
Ryan holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park and an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. He is an Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
We were honored to be recognized as a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company for 2024.
We were honored to be recognized as a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company for 2024. With year-on-year growth of 314% from 2020 to 2023, Caliola was named the top company in the communications and networking sector nationwide, and the top company across all sectors in the State of Colorado.
Achieved Level 2 CMMC Certification ...with a PERFECT 110/110 score!
Caliola was one of the first companies in the Defense Industrial Base to successfully achieve a CMMC Level 2 certification from a Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO). We are ready to support Department of War procurements requiring CMMC Phase I and 2 compliance.
“As a small business focused on secure communications, it is doubly important that we maintain a robust cybersecurity posture. Our CMMC Level 2 C3PAO certification is representative of our commitment to accessibility. We continuously establish and maintain the business systems, facilities, clearances, and certifications required to get on contract fast.”
Co-Founder & CEO
Caliola Recognized with 2025 Gold HIRE Vets Medallion Award
The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans.
Recipients of the 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, ranging from veteran hiring and retention to providing veteran-specific resources, leadership programming, dedicated human resources, pay compensation and tuition assistance programs.
We're proud to be a recipient of this elite award. To learn more about the award visit HIREVets.gov.
Awards
Caliola Acquires WPL
In 2022, Caliola acquired WPL, Inc. WPL supported the development, operations, and sustainment of MILSATCOM space segment, ground control, and user terminal systems for over four decades. Caliola now supports the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) and Space Systems Command (SSC) with subject matter experts at Peterson Space Force Base, Offutt Air Force Base, and Patch Barracks.
Providing Trusted Solutions for Mission-Critical Communications.
© 2025 Caliola, Inc. All rights reserved.