2019 NDTA-USTRANSCOM FALL MEETING

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – Occurring October 7 to 10, 2019, at St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri, the National Defense Transportation Association – U.S. Transportation Command Fall Meeting, has become the premier forum for U.S. military, government, and industry logisticians to learn about and discuss the challenges, opportunities, innovations, new technologies, and best practices impacting their profession. Fostering Partnerships To Preserve Peace And Prevail In Conflict…Then, Now, And Tomorrow serves as the theme for the seventh-annual, co-sponsored event. As NDTA observes its 75th anniversary in 2019, the Fall Meeting it co-sponsors continues to build on that lasting legacy, serving as the authoritative, premier defense transportation and logistics forum now and in the future.

“Congratulations to NDTA on achieving this incredible milestone. Since its establishment during World War Two, the organization has successfully advocated the critical importance of the industry-government partnership to America’s defense and security,” said Jack Svoboda, USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting Command lead. “And following the formation of USTRANSCOM 32 years ago, NDTA has been a dedicated partner in ensuring and enhancing the readiness of our global combatant command to meet national objectives. For the past seven years, they have also been a committed co-host in conducting a world-class event benefitting the defense transportation community.”

Offering something for everybody, the co-sponsored Fall Meeting 2019 consists of five keynote presentations from U.S. military, government, and industry leaders, as well as three roundtables addressing the private-sector’s significance to the Nation’s defense/security, cyber challenges to the global distribution network, and senior enlisted perspectives, respectively. Featured keynote speakers include USTRANSCOM Commander, U.S. Army General Stephen Lyons; the Honorable Robert McMahon, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment; American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier President and Chief Executive Officer, Eric Ebeling; the Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation; and FedEx Chief Economist, Tim Mullaly. Add One A Steadfast Partnership In addition, since the partnered event’s initiation in 2013, dozens of educational sessions, conducted by Federal government and private-sector instructors, as well as by academia, have provided a valuable resource for attendees. This year’s Transportation Academy, comprised of approximately 70 interactive classes/workshops, will address current, relevant topics and trends such as commercial logistics supporting the warfighter, legislation and policy, acquisition and finance, as well as information technology and cybersecurity.

 

U.S. Transportation Command Commander U.S. Army General Stephen Lyons serves as co-host and one of the keynote speakers at the seventh annual National Defense Transportation Association – U.S. Transportation Command Fall Meeting, October 7 to 10, 2019, St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri. The event provides a unique forum, where professionals gather to discuss defense logistics and transportation challenges, opportunities, innovations, new technologies, and best practices.   Photo by Rob Wieland, USTRANSCOM/PA

 

“Transportation Academy is “off the charts” as to how much participants find value in the wide variety of classes and workshops offered that are both insightful, as well as practical and job supporting,” Mr. Svoboda stated. “The proof of its success is in the continued attendee growth. For example, last year, the number of participating active-duty, junior- to mid-level enlisted and junior transportation and logistics officers quadrupled.”

In 2018, the Gaylord Convention Center, National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, hosted the conference, and during the previous two years, St. Louis Union Station served as the event site location. Fall Meeting 2019 seeks to build on the success and the momentum of last year’s gathering, rated “outstanding” by many of the 1,396 total attendees due to the right mix of networking, keynote speakers, and academics. Of the number of 2018 Fall Meeting participants, approximately 764 (55 percent) represented the DoD and U.S. government, and 632 (45 percent) served in the transportation industry. In addition, attendance at the sixth Fall Meeting increased by 13 percent from the 2017 event.

“We constantly challenge ourselves to ensure we are providing a richly rewarding experience for all participants. Surveys confirm the Fall Meeting General Sessions provide great insights from a wonderful mix of leaders from DoD, U.S. government, industry, and academia who highly encourage interactive dialogue from the attendees,” said Mr. Svoboda.

Individuals interested in attending the NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting 2019 can register at https://www.ndtahq.com/events/fall-meeting/ and also have the option to “register now/pay later!” USTRANSCOM conducts globally-integrated mobility operations, leads the broader Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise, and provides enabling capabilities in order to project and sustain the Joint Force in support of national objectives.