Surface Force Projection Conference

June 10-12, 2025

Newport News, Virginia

Attendee Survey

Surface Force Projection Conference

“Challenging the Joint Force Deployment Status Quo – Improving the Large-Scale Deployment Model”

June 10-12, 2025

Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA

The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies (CAS) jointly present the NDTA-CAS Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC):  “Challenging the Joint Force Deployment Status Quo – Improving the Large-Scale Deployment Model,” June 10-12, 2025.

The SFPC brings together government and industry logistics and transportation experts, members of the Joint Logistic Enterprise, to examine a wide range of challenges associated with deploying forces and moving sustainment to the point of need. During this time, we will build relationships and trust, examine deployment challenges, look for solutions, educate and collaborate and find ways to improve readiness and transportation capability.

Attendees will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions and meetings, engage with notable keynote speakers, moderators, and panelists, and network at receptions and in the exhibit hall.  The 2025 SFPC focuses on the deployment of large forces in a contested environment and examines our deployment capacity, capabilities and limitations.

The 2025 SFPC will feature:

  • Meetings and Breakout Sessions – meet, network and join the discussion with government and industry leaders covering topics on inland waterways, port readiness, Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) Operations, strategic seaports, threat protections, and the Joint Transportation Management System (JTMS)
  • Keynote Speakers – listen and engage with our six, senior government, military and industry keynote speakers as they discuss large scale deployment operations, protecting our ports, power projecting through strategic seaports, unmanned aerial systems policy, delivering commercial capacity, and embarking Marines.
  • Panels – learn from our three panels as their moderators guide the discussion on optimizing transportation networks, command & control of deployments and cybersecurity & counterintelligence.

Please join NDTA and CAS along with the NDTA Surface Transportation Committee and Ports Subcommittee as we team with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), USTRANSCOM’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) and Military Sealift Command (MSC), the U.S. Coast Guard, the logistics and transportation industry, and academia to collaborate and work together to build logistics and transportation capability and capacity.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

LTG Willard (Bill) Burleson III, USA (Ret.)
former Commanding General
Eighth Army

Commissioner Max Vekich
Commissioner
Federal Maritime Commission

Ms. Kristina O’Brien, SES
Deputy to the Commanding General,
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Mr. Michael Tierney
Program Manager, DHS Science and Technology DIrectorate Center for Security the Homeland
MITRE

Mr. Chris Fisher
Port Director and CEO
Port of Beaumont

Mr. Casey Albright
Senior Vice President, Network Operations ad Service Design
CSX

PANEL MODERATORS

Mr. Gordan MacMillan,  CISSP and ITIL4
Supervisory IT Cybersecurity Specialist
Chief, Cyber Analysis & Engagement Branch
U.S. Transportation Command

Mr. Ryan Samuelson, SES
Director, Joint Distribution Process Analysis Center, U.S. Transportation Command, and Executive DIrector, Transportation Engineering Agency, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Maj Gen Daniel Tulley, USAF
Director of Operations
U.S. Transportation Command

Mr. Ted Rybeck
Operations Center Lead, Mary S. Peake Fellowship and
CEO, Venly

MAKE AN IMPACT WITH NDTA

Join the National Defense Transportation Association’s global association of transportation, logistics and passenger travel professionals. Experience competitive benefits, rewarding professional development courses, exciting networking opportunities, and create a strong, efficient transportation system for the United States.

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