The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association

August 2, 2022

NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting & Transportation Academy

The 10th annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting is scheduled for October 17-20, 2022 at the Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, MO. Register today and get ready for our Transportation Academy 60+ sessions that will capture this year’s theme “Defense Transportation & Logistics…Evolving the Strategic Advantage”.  […READ MORE…]

Evolving Logistics and Surface Transportation Innovations

By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source

“The Army and more broadly the joint sustainment environment, as we see it in the future, is complex, contested, and multifaceted. The Army is responsible for an expanded logistics requirement in support of the joint force, particularly in a maritime environment,” said MG Mark T. Simerly, USA, Commanding General of the Combined Arms Support Command, during his keynote address at the Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC). […READ MORE…]

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment [OUSD(A&S)] in cooperation with the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) will begin hosting Ukraine assistance updates. The first of these meetings will take place this week on Aug 3, 2022, at 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada). […READ MORE…]

By C.J. Lovelace, U.S. Army Medical Logistics Command

For decades, sustainment practices for U.S. Army medical materiel has been somewhat of a patchwork system. There were noted communication and training challenges, supply chain hurdles, and questions surrounding who exactly was responsible for maintaining different medical devices and systems.

[…READ MORE…]

Editor’s Picks

You Go to War with the Watercraft You Have
(War on the Rocks)  If there was a war in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. military is at risk of repeating Russia’s logistical failures in Ukraine to supply or maintain its troops. An obvious lesson for U.S. planners, policymakers, and legislators should be the importance of logistics to the successful execution of military operations.

After Years of Inattention, Congress Scrambles to Save Defense Supply Chain
(Defense News)  When Ukrainian fighters in May surrendered Mauripol’s sprawling steel plant to Russian forces after a months-long siege, the consequences were widespread. Russia effectively knocked out a plant central to Ukraine’s position as a powerhouse in global neon gas exports. These exports are key to manufacturing the very weapons the United States is sending to Kyiv to defend against Moscow’s invasion.

Flying Car Could Be Weeks Away from Takeoff
(The Hill)  The Switchblade, an aircraft that doubles as a car, could be just weeks away from getting its wheels off the ground after a recent Federal Aviation Administration inspection determined it’s safe to fly.

CMMC Set for Trial Run, But Criticism Abounds for Highly Anticipated ‘CAP’ Document
(Federal News Network)  The Pentagon’s contractor cybersecurity certification program took a major step forward this week with confirmation that voluntary third-party assessments will kick off next month, while at the same time a newly released process document is causing consternation in industry.

Army May Restructure Brigade Combat Teams Amid Recruiting Woes
(Military Times)  As the Army rolls toward a major end strength shortfall driven by a recruiting crisis, the service has been quietly studying where it can afford to cut personnel to ensure its combat formations stay manned even as numbers plunge, its top general told reporters Thursday.

The Navy Is Testing 5G For Future Forward Operating Bases
(Defense One)  The Navy’s SoCal Tech Bridge at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is experimenting with new 5G networks carried on the back of autonomous vehicles, so that when future robo-amphibs storm the beach, they can bring their own 5G network with them.

WELCOME New NDTA Corporate Member
Please join NDTA in welcoming our newest Sustaining member Rampart Aviation!

Southwest Airlines Eliminates Expiration Dates on Flight Credits
(Southwest Airlines)  Southwest Airlines has announced a first-of-its-kind policy and value among major U.S. airlines, eliminating expiration dates on all Southwest® flight credits unexpired on, or created on or after July 28, 2022.

Pasha Hawaii Announces Delivery of LNG-Fueled Ohana Class Vessel MV George III at Keppel AmFELS
(The Pasha Group)  Recently, Hawaii-based Pasha Hawaii, together with Texas-based Keppel AmFELS, proudly announced the delivery of the MV George III, the first Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG”) powered vessel to fuel on the West Coast and the first to serve Hawaii.

Boeing, U.S. Air Force Celebrate 50 Years of F-15 Innovation
(Boeing)  On July 27, 1972, the Boeing F-15 flew for the first time with Chief Test Pilot Irv Burrows at the controls. Fifty years later, the undefeated F-15 continues to evolve and add advanced capability to the U.S. Air Force fighter fleet.

Union Pacific Signs Largest Locomotive Modernization Deal in Rail Industry History with Wabtec
(Union Pacific Railroad)  Union Pacific has signed a historic deal with Wabtec Corporation for 600 locomotive modernizations featuring a suite of digital solutions and innovations. The agreement, worth more than $1 billion, is the largest investment in modernized locomotives in rail industry history.

The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.