Surface Force Projection Conference

Registration

Exhibit Hall Set-Up

Registration

Exhibit Hall Set-Up

Breakout Session #1:  Inland Waterways Network – A Marine Highway (Open to all participants)

Description: The Inland Waterways Network in the U.S. consists of navigable rivers, canals, and lakes that provide a critical transportation route for moving goods, particularly bulk commodities like coal, grain, and petroleum. As a key part of the U.S. Marine Highway System, it offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to land-based transportation, reducing congestion and emissions. This network, which connects industrial hubs and ports, plays a vital role in the nation’s economy and is essential for both domestic and international trade. 

U.S. Coast Guard COTP and Port Readiness Committees, Mr. Eric Chapman, Chief, Maritime Security Planning DIvision, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

• PRC 2024 State of the Port Reports – Common Concerns
• PRC Concerns and Recommendations for Improvement

Break

Breakout Session #2:  JLOTS Gaza Deployment, Employment and Redeployment Lessons Learned (Open to all participants)

Moderator:  COL Gordon Vincent, USA, Chief, Future Operations, Military Sealift Command

Description:  The JLOTS (Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore) Gaza Deployment, Employment, and Redeployment Lesson Learned focuses on the logistical operations involved in the deployment, management, and redeployment of supplies and personnel to and from Gaza. This operation utilized JLOTS, a system designed for transporting cargo across shorelines without the need for traditional port infrastructure, often in conflict zones or areas with limited access. The lessons learned emphasize the importance of coordination, flexibility, and adaptability in managing complex logistics in challenging environments, while improving efficiency and minimizing risks during the process.

Networking Grab & Go Lunch (Advance purchase required)

NDTA Ports Subcommittee and Strategic Ports Meeting, Mr. Ernest Bezdek, Chair, NDTA Ports Subcommittee and Director, Trade Development, Port of Beaumont (Open to all participants)

Description:  NDTA Ports Subcommittee and Strategic Ports Pre-TTX

Break

Breakout #3:  Insider Threats Protection to Surface Modes

Moderator:  Ms. Michele Douglas, Insider Threat Section, Federal AIr Marshall Service, Transportation Security Administration

Description:  TSA’s Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) Insider Threat Section conducts outreach to raise awareness on how threats can occur from the inside using case studies – incidents involving not just terrorism, but:  sabotage, cyber, theft, disgruntlement, etc., as well as providing tools on what to report and how to report.

National Port Readiness Network (NPRN) Steering Group, Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, MARAD, and Chair, National Port Readiness Steering Group, supported by Mr. Matthew Butram, Program Analyst, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD

(Government Meeting – by invitation only)

Breakout Session #4:  Joint Transportation Management System (JTMS) 

The JTMS program office at USTRANSCOM provides an update on JTMS and answers your questions about the acquisition process and potential capabilities.

Break

Chairman’s Reception

Hosted by CNU’s Center for American Studies and NDTA, with remarks by:  Dr. Nathan Busch, Professor of Political Science and Co-Director, Center for American Studies, Christopher Newport University and VADM William “Andy” Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA

Registration 

Continental Breakfast & Networking

Opening Ceremony:  VADM William “Andy” Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA

Opening Remarks: 

• Dr. Nathan Busch, Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Co-Director, Center for American Studies, Christopher Newport University
• VADM William “Andy” Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA
• MG Lance Curtis, USA, Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
• Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, MARAD, and Chair, National Port Readiness Network (NPRN) Steering Group

Keynote Speaker #1

Topic:  Deploying large scale forces from CONUS

Description:  Thoughts about deployment operations, challenges of the contested environment, teaming with logisticians to accomplish the mission.

Networking Break/Expo Hall

Panel #1:  Optimizing Transportation Networks for Strategic Deployments:  Analyzing Capacity and Overcoming Limitations in Highways, Railways and Ports

Moderator:  Mr. Ryan Samuelson, SES, Brig Gen USAF (Ret.), Director, Joint Distribution Process Analysis Center, U.S. Transportation Command, and Executive DIrector, Transportation Engineering Agency, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Description:  Understanding highway, railway, and strategic port capacity and limitations maximizing deployment flow.

Break, Networking and Transition to Luncheon

Luncheon Keynote Speaker #2

Topic:  Protecting our Ports:  A Team of Teams

Description:  From domestic, cyber and environmental threats, we must identify the risks and employ training and preparation to mitigate and overcome the challenges.

Transition to Freeman Center

Keynote Speaker #3:  MG Lance Curtis, USA, Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Topic:  Power Projection By, With and Through Strategic Seaports

Panel #2:  Command & Control of the Deployment:  Remind me how that works again

Description:  In any large-scale deployment, effective command and control (C2) are critical to ensuring smooth operations and timely execution of missions. This session revisits the core principles of C2, focusing on the coordination, communication, and decision-making processes that underpin successful deployment management.

Networking Break/Expo Hall

Keynote #4:  Mr. Michael F. Tierney, Program Manager, DHS Science and Technology DIrectorate Center for Securing the Homeland, MITRE

Topic:  Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Policy Concerns

Description: Ports identified gaps in authorities and a lack of engagement strategies to protect critical infrastructure (Regulation change needed for countering crones)

President’s Reception

Hosted by CNU and NDTA

Registration

Continental Breakfast

Opening Comments and Conference Take-Away Review

• VADM Andy Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA
• Mr. Ernest Bezdek, Chair, NDTA Ports Subcommittee

Description:  The Ports Subcommittee Chair leads a review of the SFPC Take-Aways from Day 1 and 2

Keynote Speaker #5:  Mr. David (Chris) Fisher, Port Director and CEO, Port of Beaumont

Topic:  Delivering capacity for large-scale deployments

Description:  A discussion of innovations in technology, commercial capacity and capability to meet military requirements.

Panel #3: Artificial Intelligence and Member 1st (AIM1)

Moderator:  Ted Rybeck, CEO, Venly and Operations Center Lead for the Mary S. Peake Fellowship

Members:

• Mr. John Biagioni, CEO, Lampin Corporation
• Ms. Jamara Richardson, Peake Fellow ’25
• Maj Gen Cameron Holt, USAF (Ret.), President, Exiger
• Ms. Karuana Gatimu, Engineering Director, Customer Advocacy – AI & Collaboration, Microsoft 365
• Maj Gen David Sanford, USAF, Director of Operations/J-3, Defense Logistics Agency
• LTG Darrell Williams, USA (Ret.), President, Hampton University; Chair of the Peake Fellowship; and former Director, Defense Logistics Agency

Description:  AIM1 stands for the AI and Member 1st strengthening of 5,000 machine shops as pacesetters for the DIB. This session details the immediate private sector-led business-to-business strengthening of cybersecure growth, reliability, and resilience of the smallest DIB supply chain members as part of continuing efforts to strengthen other key DIB market categories.

Networking Break/Expo Hall

Keynote Speaker #6:  

Wrap-up/Closing Thoughts & Take-Away Items Review

• Mr. Ernest Bezdek (Action Item Review)
• Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, MARAD
• MG Lance Curtis, USA, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
• VADM Andy Brown, USN (Ret.), NDTA

Exhibit Hall Breakdown

National Port Readiness Network Working Group, Mr. David Hatcher, Director, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD, supported by Mr. Matthew Butram, Program Analyst, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD 

(Government meeting – by invitation only)