The Army’s Pilot Shortage, Defense Industry Manufacturing Challenge, & more news
There’s Still Time to Be a Part of the 75th Anniversary Efforts
Many thanks to all of the companies and individuals who have participated in the 75th Anniversary sponsorship efforts. We are close to our goal of $50,000, but we aren’t there yet and we need your help! Many thanks to those of you who have contributed, but for those who have not there is still time to have your name or your company’s name published as an Anniversary Sponsor in the 75th Anniversary Yearbook which will be handed out to members at the Fall Meeting. As such, this will likely be our last gentle reminder.
Again, the levels of contribution(s) I am suggesting are as follows:
$1,000 – Diamond Anniversary Benefactor
$500 – Platinum Benefactor
$200 – Gold Benefactor
$50 (or other) – Anniversary Supporter
Thank you for all of your support! Please feel free to go to www.ndtahq.com/ndta-75th-anniversary-funds-campaign/ to donate.
Sincerely,
William A. Brown
VADM (Ret.), USN
President and CEO
Check It Out – Fall Meeting News:
Economist to address the economy’s impact on defense logistics at National Defense Transportation Association-US Transportation Command Fall Meeting Read More or to register for the meeting, visit 2019 NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting.
The Pilot Shortage: The Army’s Struggle to Fix Its Aviation Problems
(Army Times) Despite years of attempts to address the problem, the Army is struggling to deal with a shortage of about 700 pilots, a persistent manpower problem that could impact the readiness of the entire force. READ MORE
A Secure Network Is Not Enough, Cyber Wargames Show
(Breaking Defense) If a hacker shuts off a base’s electricity or stops spare parts from arriving on time, they can sabotage a military mission without ever attacking a military network. READ MORE
Sink or Swim: Chinese Port Plans Put Pacific Back in Play
(Reuters) The proposed construction of a Chinese facility on the Samoan island of Savai’i that could be turned into a military asset in hostile times has worried the United States and its regional allies. READ MORE
Army Halts Plans to Scuttle Its Fleet of Watercraft
(Military.com) The Army has suspended plans to shut down its watercraft units and sell many of the service’s ships until a congressionally-mandated study is complete, Pentagon and Army officials have confirmed. READ MORE
Is This The First Step to Military Passenger Drones?
(C4ISRNet) Recently, Japan’s NEC Corp demonstrated its autonomous flying passenger vehicle. While the vehicles are primarily designed for urban and commercial markets, advances in vertical mobility in that space is worth watching for military planners. READ MORE
Industry News
Hypersonics By the Dozens: US Industry Faces Manufacturing Challenge
(Defense News) The US military is a few years from launching offensive hypersonic weapons that are currently under development. But building those initial missiles is one thing—manufacturing the weapons in multitude is another issue entirely. READ MORE
US Officials Warn of Iranian Threats to Commercial Vessels, Including GPS Interference
(New York Post) Iran has been using GPS jammers to try and “spoof” commercial vessels into traveling through Iranian waters so they can seize them, according to federal officials. READ MORE
How Blockchain Will Redefine Supply Chain Management
(Knowledge@Wharton) When does blockchain become a significant technology in supply chain management? Only when it adds value by automating interactions and by building trust. READ MORE
What 5G Means for the Transportation and Logistics Industry
(Logistics Viewpoints) What does 5G mean for the logistics and transportation industry? There are both short- and long-term impacts that shippers, carriers, and 3PLs will need to prepare for. READ MORE
Early-Stage Driver Turnover on the Rise
(Heavy Duty Trucking) Early-stage driver turnover is increasing overall across the trucking industry, according to Stay Metrics, which offers driver retention tools for motor carriers. READ MORE
Member Highlights
A First in Liner Shipping: Hapag-Lloyd to Convert Ship to LNG
(Hapag-Lloyd) When Hapag-Lloyd starts converting the large container ship “Sajir” in mid-2020, it will be launching a pilot project that could pave the way for the entire shipping industry. READ MORE
CN and CSX Announce New Intermodal Service Offering
(CSX) CN and CSX have announced a new intermodal service offering between CN’s greater Montreal and Southern Ontario areas, and the CSX-served ports of Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area. The intermodal offerings aims to convert long-haul trucks to interline rail services. READ MORE
Seacor Holdings Announces Acquisition of Joint Venture Partner’s Interest in Sea-Vista
(Seacor Holdings) SEACOR Holdings Inc. has announced it has become the sole owner of its consolidated SEA-Vista joint venture. READ MORE
Southwest Airlines Launches New Pilot Pathways Program
(Southwest Airlines) Southwest Airlines has launched an innovative career program called Destination 225° which provides pathways to becoming a competitively qualified candidate for future Southwest First Officer positions. READ MORE
Choice Privileges Recognized as a Leading Travel Rewards Program for Fourth Consecutive Year by U.S. News & World Report
(Choice Hotels) Choice Privileges, Choice Hotels’ loyalty program, has been honored by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Hotel Rewards Programs for 2019-20. READ MORE
NDTA News & Events
NDTA 75th Anniversary
We are excited to celebrate NDTA’s 75th Anniversary which will culminate with our Fall Meeting in St. Louis, 7-10 October 2019. The NDTA staff and key volunteers are working to put together a significant amount of celebratory opportunities. We’ve commissioned a piece of art which “tells the story” of NDTA’s history. It will be available at all major events. The first soft “unveiling” was held at the GovTravels Symposium and the Fall Meeting will host our official unveiling. We have also committed to publishing a 75th Anniversary Yearbook which will republish much of the editions from the 50th and 65th yearbooks—and years 66 through 75. The yearbook will be a limited publication to be primarily handed out to Fall Meeting registrants. We have thought extensively regarding the appropriate way to go about fundraising for the celebration—and have decided to ask for modest contributions. To find more information on these fundraising efforts and to make a donation, please visit: www.ndtahq.com/ndta-75th-anniversary-funds-campaign/. As we look back, we are also looking ahead to the future—continuing to educate and add value through dialog and relationship building. Thank you for all of your support!
Find NDTA chapter events on the NDTA CALENDAR.
The NDTAGram is produced weekly by NDTA, a non-profit, non-political educational association, for informational purposes only. We want to hear from you! For questions or comments please email sharon@ndtahq.com. To change your subscription, email leah@ndtahq.com.