The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
April 20, 2021
There’s Still Time to Register for the SFPC
There is still time to register for the NDTA-CAS Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC) taking place virtually May 18-20, 2021.
2021 marks the 3rd annual SFPC. This year’s conference focuses on the deployment and movement of US Military Forces and sustainment from CONUS to the INDO-PACIFIC region considering Dynamic Force Employment to develop a range of options, while leveraging Strategic Port readiness and a wide-range of surface connectors needed to respond to US security threats. This year’s theme, “CONUS to the INDO-PACIFIC Region: Projecting Forces through Strategic Ports to Provide Combat Power,” guarantees this will be a “must attend” event.
Register by May 17, 2021 to take advantage of all the NDTA-CAS Surface Force Projection Conference (Virtual) has to offer. For questions, please email ndtahq@ndtahq.com.
NDTA Announces New Young Leaders Committee Chair
By VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.), President & CEO, NDTA
The National Defense Transportation Association is proud to announce Mr. Garrett McGregor, Senior Account Manager, Southwest Airlines, as the NDTA Young Leaders Committee Chair.
Garrett grew up just north of Dallas in Allen, Texas. He studied at Oklahoma State University, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Sports Management), with a Minor in Marketing. Before joining Southwest Airlines, he worked for the Frisco RoughRiders, a Texas Rangers Minor League Affiliate, as well as the Dallas Mavericks. Garrett left the sports world to join the aviation industry approximately six years ago and has been with Southwest Airlines ever since. […READ MORE…]
Longtime Puget Sound Member Heads to the Lonestar State
After taking the reigns as Puget Sound Chapter President for a second time and 10+ years in the Pacific Northwest, LTC Lawrence (Bud) Bittner, USA (Ret.), is now headed to the great state of Texas to pursue the next chapter of his life.
Bud served as Chapter President from 2014 to 2016, while concurrently fulfilling his duties as the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command Mobility Chief. He has been an active member of NDTA since 1991. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
GAO Report: Military Readiness
Department of Defense Domain Readiness Varied from Fiscal Year 2017 through Fiscal Year 2019
Nearly two decades of conflict has degraded military readiness at a time when the National Defense Strategy calls for preparedness for great-power competition. The strategy states that the Department of Defense (DOD) should be ready to operate in all warfighting domains—ground, sea, air, space, and cyber. […READ MORE…]
Passenger Travel: Adapting to Meet the Changing Environment
By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source
Government and industry travel experts gathered virtually February 23-25, 2021, for the 5th Annual NDTA-DTMO GovTravels Symposium. The theme of this year’s event was “Respond, Adapt, Innovate—the Changing World of Government Travel.” Looking across the passenger travel landscape, keynote speaker Kurt J. Ekert, President and CEO of CWT, examined the impacts of the pandemic on the industry and the government traveler. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
USTRANSCOM Prepares for Third-Party Cyber Compliance Assessments
(Federal Computer Week) U.S. Transportation Command is preparing a test program for cyber compliance to hold commercial partners accountable for supply chain risks in preparation for broad adoption of the Defense Department’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, FCW has learned.
Afghanistan Withdrawal Plan Could Involve Small Troop Surge
(Military Times) The Pentagon is pulling out its old Afghanistan drawdown plans and reworking them for a Sept. 11 deadline, per President Joe Biden’s announcement of the end of Operation Resolute Support on Wednesday. The 2,500 troops deployed to that country may see some back-up arriving to help with removing equipment, shutting down operations centers, and maintaining security as the Taliban seeks to take advantage of their focus on closing up shop.
The Army’s Newest $21 Billion Contract Is Not Your Typical Government Contract
(JD Supra) Recently the Army awarded Microsoft the Integrated Visual Augmentation System contract, a potentially $21 billion undertaking to develop next-generation night vision and “situational awareness capabilities” in a Heads Up Display. The contract was awarded under the Army’s Other Transaction authority (OTA) and the sheer size of it is certain to bring renewed attention to this contracting vehicle.
Space Force Wants to Introduce Commercial Capabilities to All Mission Areas
(C4ISRNet) While commercial services have played a significant role in the military’s satellite communications and launch enterprises, the Space Force has not integrated commercial services more widely. However, as the service begins looking at its future plans, it sees industry as a much bigger partner.
Republicans Say Less Than 6% of Biden’s Plan is Traditional Infrastructure. BofA Says It’s More Like Half
(Insider) The leaders of the Republican party have argued that President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan funds too many things that aren’t physical, or traditional, infrastructure, saying that less than 6% of its spending goes to rebuilding roads and bridges.
Commentary: Now is a Great Time for Veterans to Enhance Their Education
(Military Times) There may be no “silver lining” to the COVID-19 pandemic in the traditional sense. But there is an opportunity for veterans and soldiers to embrace new technologies, maximize indoor time on our computers and pursue degrees that will help us serve today and possibly prepare for the private sector with greater income opportunities.
Hyliion Partners with Transport Providers to Equip Class 8 Trucks with Natural Gas-Powered Electric Powertrain
(The Trucker) Agility has placed an order for 1,000 trucks with Hyliion, a provider of electrified powertrain solutions for Class 8 trucks, a move Agility CEO Tarek Sultan says will, “get reliable, efficient, zero-emissions electrified trucks on the road much sooner and rapidly begin to decarbonize heavy-duty trucking.”
AAR Elects Ellen M. Lord to Its Board of Directors
(AAR CORP.) AAR has announced that Ellen M. Lord, former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment for the United States Department of Defense, has been elected to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Bennett’s CEO Marcia G. Taylor & Cultural Ambassador Katlyn Foulks Featured on Women of Character Podcast
(Bennett International Group) Marcia G. Taylor, President & CEO, and Katlyn Foulks, Culture Ambassador of the Bennett Family of Companies, were recently featured in the first episode of The Women of Character podcast with Anne Quiello of the Turknett Leadership Group.
ARC Loads Army Aviation Unit in The Netherlands for Operation Atlantic Resolve
(American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier [ARC]) American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) loaded 1,162 pieces of equipment in support of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) onto M/V Endurance at the Port of Rotterdam for delivery to Jacksonville, Florida.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Continues Strong Growth in Asia Pacific with Accelerated Expansion Planned in 2021
(Wyndham Hotels & Resorts) Wyndham continued on a strong growth trajectory in Asia Pacific in 2020, overcoming global uncertainty to achieve a series of important hotel openings, major milestones, and a strong pipeline of new properties scheduled to launch in 2021 and beyond.
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