The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
April 2, 2025
Surface Force Projection Conference
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. […READ MORE…]
2025 NDTA Foundation Scholarships
NDTA is excited about the education and professional development of our nation’s future logistics and transportation leaders and is offering four scholarship opportunities for members and their children.
- Program A – for currently enrolled college students
- Program B – for soon-to-be high school graduates accepted at an accredited institution
- Program C – for currently enrolled, distance learning college students
- Program D – The Denny Edwards Graduate Scholarship for graduate (master’s degree) students
All scholarship winners will receive a unique opportunity to join our Industry Connect Program (ICP), which links interested students with an industry mentor to help them bridge to the future. More information can be found here.
To learn about the scholarship qualification details and how to apply, go to https://www.ndtahq.com/foundation/, call us at (703) 751-5011 or send us an email at ndtahq@ndtahq.com. Read student testimonials from previous scholarship recipients to learn about the impact it has had on their studies. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
‘Time Is Now’ to Look at New Airlifter: USTRANSCOM Boss
March 26, 2025 | By Unshin Lee Harpley
The head of the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) doesn’t want to wait to start planning on a new airlifter to replace the C-5 and C-17 fleets, which serve as the command’s “workhorses.”
“The issue with the C-17 is, while it performs well, a lot of folks think that it’s new, and it’s not a new plane, and so we will continue to use it and stress it,” Air Force Gen. Randall Reed said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on March 25. “And, because it takes such a long time to build the next plane, the time is now to start looking at the next one.” […READ MORE…]
Monday, March 31, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC – US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a grant agreement has been executed for $221 million in federal funding awarded to Rhode Island’s Washington Bridge project. The previous administration announced funding for Washington Bridge in Fall 2024 but failed to sign the agreement. […READ MORE…]
America’s Arsenal of Democracy Needs a Software Renaissance
By Dr. Mung Chiang, Mark Esper and Christine Fox
In 1940, as Europe descended into chaos and the specter of war loomed, the US faced an urgent need to rearm and prepare for conflict. Within a few short years, the nation transformed itself into the “Arsenal of Democracy,” producing weapons, vehicles and munitions on an unprecedented scale. This industrial mobilization did more than supply the Allied forces — it showcased America’s unmatched ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Today, the stakes are also critical. The global security environment is undergoing seismic shifts, with threats evolving at a speed and scale unseen since the Cold War. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
St. Lawrence Seaway Launches 67th Navigation Season
The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) and its Canadian counterpart the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) opened the binational waterway’s 67th navigation season on March 25.
The ceremonial opening featured the Articulated Tug and Barge (ATB) Everlast and Norman McLeod as the first vessel to transit the waterway, highlighting the continued importance of this crucial maritime corridor that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.
USS Nimitz Waves Goodbye to San Diego for Likely Final Deployment
The US Navy’s eldest aircraft carrier set sail out of San Diego on Wednesday for what is sure to be its final trip. The Nimitz, which was commissioned in 1975 and given a service lifespan of 50 years, left Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego — once its homeport for 11 years — for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group arrived in California after leaving Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wa., on March 21.
Silver Ships Delivers Assault Amphibian Safety Boat to Marine Corps
Silver Ships, Mobile, Ala., has completed testing and delivery of an assault amphibian safety boat (AASB) for the US Marine Corps and Navy, marking the 25th of 31 vessels delivered on schedule. The first hull was built and tested in under nine months after the initial contract award.
The AASB supports amphibious training for the Marine Corps, working with amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) and amphibious combat vehicles (ACVs) in the US and overseas. The 39’x10’ vessel can transport 28 passengers and is equipped with communications, safety, and rescue equipment for offshore and nighttime operations.
Surface Transportation Demand Starting to Soften
Requests for truckload capacity (OTVI) have averaged nearly 9% lower year over year (y/y) since mid-February, while intermodal volumes (ORAILL) have remained relatively steady, growing at a 5% rate since the start of the year. This places total transportation demand in a state of decline, regardless of seasonal influences. Should this be considered a concerning signal from an economic perspective? The short answer is yes, but it is not alarming. Headlines about tariffs and uncertainty surrounding trade policy have dominated business media since late February.
Radars Deployed to Mexico Border to Detect Cartel Drones
The US Army is contributing ground-based radars to help spot and track drones as part of the continued build-up of US military support along the US-Mexican border. Drug cartels in Mexico have been steadily increasing their use of weaponized uncrewed aerial systems, as well as unarmed types for surveillance and smuggling. There are also growing concerns about the threats drones pose to the US homeland, especially military bases and other critical infrastructure.
Please join NDTA with a big shout-out to two new members!
Chairman’s Circle:
Sustaining:
Sea Express America Corporation
ABS Is Founding Member of New MIT Maritime Consortium
ABS has joined an ambitious initiative from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to tackle challenges facing global shipping. The MIT Maritime Consortium unites academia and industry to support the development of cutting-edge technologies that aim to transform the sector, including alternative fuel and new nuclear technologies, data-powered strategies for efficient operations and decision making, autonomy and cybersecurity, and on-board manufacturing of spare parts.
The founding members of the Maritime Consortium are ABS, Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp., and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering.
Industry-first Program Cuts Supply Chain Emissions for Freight Rail Customers
Norfolk Southern Corporation launched RailGreen, a first-of-its-kind solution enabling customers to reduce emissions from their freight rail shipments. RailGreen makes Norfolk Southern the only freight railroad in the world to offer verified certificates for supply chain emissions reduction. Shipping by rail versus truck reduces emissions 75% on average. Freight customers can address the remaining 25% of emissions through RailGreen.
Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC Supports US Army’s Holiday Block Leave, 2024
Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC, based in Atlanta, donated and helped distribute holiday care packages to support USO’s efforts for the US Army’s Holiday Block Leave that occurs annually in mid-December. More than 11,000 service members traveling home for the holidays from Basic Training transited through Atlanta, Georgia’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport where they were greeted by USO Georgia volunteers and given small care packages and a place to rest. These charitable activities are representative of the efforts NDTA members and chapters put forth on an ongoing basis.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.