Surface Force Projection Conference

MARAD Gateways Summit (by invitation only)

Moderator:  Captain Jeffrey C. Flumignan, USN (Ret.), Director, Office of Maritime & Intermodal Outreach, Maritime Administration

Description:  The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) ten regional Gateway Office Directors meet annually. MARAD is pleased to hold this meeting in conjunction with the Surface Force Projection Conference.

Registration

Exhibit Hall Set-Up

Port of Virginia Norfolk International Terminal Tour

Registration

Exhibit Hall Set-Up

Breakout Session #1:  TSA Intermodal Security Training and Exercise Program (I-STEP)

Description:  This session will focus on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Intermodal Security Training and Exercise Program (I-STEP). I-STEP is a federal exercise program focused on security in the Nation’s transportation sector that provides training and security planning tools; its mission is to enhance security and reduce risk across the transportation network.

MARAD Gateways Summit (by invitation only)

Moderator:  Captain Jeffrey C. Flumignan, USN (Ret.), Director, Office of Maritime & Intermodal Outreach, Maritime Administration

Description:  The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) ten regional Gateway Office Directors meet annually. MARAD is pleased to hold this meeting in conjunction with the Surface Force Projection Conference.

Meeting:  U.S. Coast Guard COTP and Port Readiness Committees (PRC)

• PRC 2023 State of the Port Reports – Common Concerns
• PRC Concerns and Recommendations for Improvement
• Lessons Learned – Protest Activities and Military Outload Operations

Static Display:  Port of Virginia Mobile Command Center

Description:  The Port of Virginia provides attendees with the opportunity to visit the Virginia Port Mobile Command Center to learn how this important piece of equipment supports and enables port operations in times of crisis or emergency.

Break

Breakout Session #2:  Port Study and Port Look Study Reports

Moderator:  Mr. Philip Krueger, Chief of Ports for National Defense, Transportation Engineering Agency, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC)

Description:  An examination of the process to write reports for National Defense Port Study and Port Look Study. 

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 at Port of Beaumont (Open to all participants)

Description: NDTA Ports Subcommittee meeting focused on identifying and resolving government and industry issues associated with ports and national defense.

Break

Breakout Session #3:  Port Security Grants Program (Open to all participants)

Moderator:  Mr. Duane Davis, Port Security Grant Program Section Chief, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Description:  A look at the grant program controlled by Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It has major stakeholders from USCG using military allocations.

National Port Readiness Network (NPRN) Steering Group, Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, Director, Acting 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) (Open to all participants)

Moderator:  Mr. Aloysius (Al) Albers, Chief, JTMS JPO Division, U.S. Transportation Command

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

Break

Chairman’s Reception

Hosted by CNU’s Center for American Studies and NDTA, with remarks by:  Dr. Nathan Busch, Distinguished 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

Color Guard:  TABB High School NJROTC

National Anthem:  Ms. Lacey Creeden, Vice President, TABB High School Girls Ensemble

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 Gavin Lawrence, USA, Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
• Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, Acting Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, Maritime Administration, and Chair, National Port Readiness Network (NPRN) Steering Group

Keynote Speaker #1:  Major General James M. Smith, USA, Director of Operations, G-43/5/7, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff G-4, United States Army

Topic:  Fighting Through the Contested Environment to Deliver Logistics

Description:  Thoughts about the contested environment and how the Army is working with the Joint Staff J4 to deliver on time and on target.

Static Display:  Port of Virginia Mobile Command Center

Description:  The Port of Virginia provides attendees with the opportunity to visit the Virginia Port Mobile Command Center to learn how this important piece of equipment supports and enables port operations in times of crisis or emergency.

Networking Break/Expo

Panel #1:  Physical Threats to Ports and What to do About it

Moderator:  Captain Jennifer Stockwell, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia

Participants:

• CAPT Ryan Ventresca, USN, Commodore, Mine Countermeasures Group THREE
• Mr. William Burket, Director, Maritime Incident Response Team and Emergency Operations, Port of Virginia
• LTC Matthew Ferretti, USA, Battalion Commander, 841st Transportation Battalion (SDDC), Joint Base Charleston

Description:  Understanding potential threats to deployment readiness focused on port infrastructure and operations.

Break and Transition to David Student Union

Luncheon Keynote Speaker #2:  Major General Constance L. Jenkins, USAF, Director of Logistics and Engineering, J4, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

Welcome and Introduction:  VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA

Topic:  Supporting Deployment Operations from the United States 

Description:  This discussion focuses on understanding USNORTHCOM’s role in supporting mobilization and deployment operations in the United States.

Transition to Ferguson Center

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

Topic:  Power Projection By, With, and Through Strategic Seaports

Description:  A discussion of SDDC’s mission to support power project to and through the Strategic Seaports.

Panel #2:  Lessons Learned:  Power Projection Through Strategic Seaports

Moderator:  Major General Gavin Lawrence, USA, Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Participants:

• COL Daniel J. Duncan, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff for G4 Sustainment, I CORPS
  
• LTC Gregory S. Darling, USA, Transportation Officer, III Armored Corps
• COL Michael Patrick Post, USA, Assistant Chief of Staff G4, VXIII Airborne Corps
• Mr. Ameed D. Micko, Senior General Manager, DoD Sales, American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier, Inc.

Networking Break/Expo Hall

Keynote #4:  BG Beth A. Behn, USA, Chief of Transportation, Commandant, U.S. Army Transportation School, Combined Arms Support Command

Topic:  The State of the U.S. Transportation Corps

Description:  Transportation insights from the U.S. Army Chief of Transportation.

President’s Reception

Hosted by CNU and NDTA

Registration

Continental Breakfast & Networking

Opening Comments and Conference Take-Away Review

• VADM Andy Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA
• Mr. Ernest Bezdek, Chair, Ports Subcommittee, leads a review of SFPC Takeaways from Day 1 and 2.

Keynote #5:  Mr. William Woodhour, President & Chief Executive Officer, Maersk Line, Limited

Topic:  Challenges Sailing through the Gulf of Aden

Description:  A discussion about operating in today’s contested environment, challenges and successes.

Panel #3:  Decision Advantage Information to Enable Surface Force Projection and Sustainment

Moderator:  Mr. Timothy Quillin, Director, Deployment Process Modernization Office, U.S. Army

Participants:

• Mr. Stephen Hendren, Chief, Logistics Functional Management Branch, U.S. Transportation Command TCAQ-JO
• Mr. Ken Letcher, PhD, Specialist Leader, Deloitte
• Mr. Josh Hunt, Chief, ITV/AIT Branch, USTRANSCOM J4-LT
• Mr. Eric Russell, Deputy Section Chief, Cyber Operations, Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Description:  The utility of information flows that align and synchronize the flow of materiel under contingency conditions that are cross-cutting, i.e., require multiple elements) to see, anticipate and act of force projection operations that eventually converge on a seaport.

Networking Break/Expo Hall

Keynote Speaker #6:  RDML Philip Sobeck, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command

 Topic:  Partnering Together for Effective Operations

Description:  This discussion focuses on how MSC and SDDC as the single port manager work together to ensure the smooth upload/offload and on-time departure of deploying forces. Ensuring the port environment is safe, the upload is efficient, and equipment is properly secured for transit and ready for smooth discharge takes preparation and practice.

Wrap-up/Closing Thoughts & Action Item Review

• Mr. Ernest Bezdek (Action Item Review)
• Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, MARAD
• MG Gavin Lawrence, USA, SDDC
• VADM Andy Brown, USN (Ret.), NDTA
• Dr. Nathan Busch, CNU

Exhibit Hall Breakdown

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

(Government Meeting – by invitation only)