The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
August 20, 2025
Reminder – Register Today
Early Bird Rates Are Expiring
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Don’t delay! Discounted early bird registration for the 2025 NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting will no longer be available after Thursday, August 21. This event is a crucial opportunity for professionals involved in defense transportation, logistics, supply chain management and distribution. The detailed agenda is available to view. Act now and secure your spot at a reduced rate before it’s too late. […READ MORE…]
US Department of Transportation Launches New Air Travel Complaint System
On August 13, 2025, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) unveiled a modernized system for handling air travel complaints, replacing outdated technology from the 1990s. The update can speed up the resolution of passenger issues, strengthen data protection, and improve communication between consumers, airlines, and regulators. […READ MORE…]
Canada Eyes Arctic Ocean Port to Ship Gas, Commodities to Europe
By Brian Platt
(gCaptain.com) The Canadian government is looking at developing a remote northern port on Hudson Bay as a conduit for exporting natural gas, potash, canola, and other commodities as the country tries to reduce its economic dependence on the US.
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson sees “tremendous potential” for turning the port of Churchill, Manitoba, into a larger export hub, opening new trade routes to Europe. […READ MORE…]
Vital to National Security, Modernized Skies are a Public Trust
(Defense Opinion) The debate over who should be in charge of the nation’s airspace returns every few years, yet those who argue for air traffic control privatization have never successfully answered a core question: In a rapidly evolving airspace environment vital to national security, how would this serve the public’s interest?
Proponents of some form of non-government air traffic control (ATC) system always cite privatized models used in Canada, the UK or Europe, even though none can match ours for size, diversity and complexity – a gap between those systems and ours that is only likely to grow in the coming years. […READ MORE…]
The NDTA North Texas Chapter, in collaboration with NDTA Houston and NDTA San Antonio, is proud to host the NDTA Texas Regional Meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Texas Capitol in Austin.
This full-day event will bring together professionals from government, military, industry, and academia across Texas for a day of strategic insight, connection, and collaboration in transportation, logistics, and supply chain operations.
We are proud to feature three outstanding leaders at the meeting who are shaping the future of military logistics across the state and beyond:
LTC Dezerie “Dez” Jemmott, Commander of the 842nd Transportation Battalion – A proven logistics strategist with 20+ years in the US Army, LTC Jemmott oversees port operations and freight movement for the Army’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) in Beaumont, Texas.
Col Roger Neumann (Ret.), VP of Contingency Plans at AAFES – The Post Exchange – A retired US Air Force colonel and a senior DoD leader, Col Neumann helps ensure operational continuity and readiness for one of the largest morale, welfare, and retail organizations serving military communities globally.
CW3 Michael White, Procurement Officer for the Texas State Guard – With over two decades of military experience, CW3 White brings deep knowledge of emergency logistics, procurement strategy, and statewide mission support through the Texas Military Department.
This dynamic panel will be moderated by Stephen D. Bullard, President of NDTA North Texas and Director of Business Development for National Air Cargo, Inc. Stephen will guide the conversation around missions, procurement strategies, infrastructure challenges, and interagency collaboration, all within the unique context of Texas’s vital role in national defense logistics.
Join NDTA Texas Chapters at the Texas Capitol on Thursday, August 28, as we explore how military and defense agencies are aligning missions and logistics across the Lone Star State.
Act now! Registration ends Friday, August 22. REGISTER
You’re Invited to a Virtual Expert Panel!
Navigating Government Lodging Solutions
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025
Time: 2 PM – 3:30 PM ET
Location: Virtual – Register at www.usndtavc.org
Are you perplexed about government lodging programs? Whether it’s Fedrooms, DoD Preferred, or long-term lodging logistics, this session is for you!
Join us for an exclusive virtual panel discussion featuring top industry insiders who will unpack the complexities, share insider strategies, and help you stay ahead of the curve in 2025 and beyond.
What to Expect?
- Insights into Fedrooms and DoD preferred programs
- Long-term and emergency lodging solutions
- Booking strategies and available sources
- Compliance, policy, and buyer challenges
- Technology tools (DTS, etc.)
Why Attend?
This is your chance to hear directly from leading voices in government travel—names you’ll recognize—who will share what’s working, what’s changing, and how to stay compliant and competitive.
Register Now
For more information, visit https://usndtavc.org or contact Cheryl Inslee at cherylinslee@yahoo.com
Editor’s Picks
NAVSEA Puts Out Call for Next Generation Logistics Ship Concepts
(USNI.org) The Navy is moving ahead with the acquisition of a next-generation logistics ship to meet the demand for the sea service’s planned future of units spread over vast distances, according to a solicitation issued by Naval Sea Systems Command last week. The tentative plan for the program, also known as the Light Replenishment Oiler (TAOL), calls for 13 ships that would be smaller than the existing John Lewis-class of replenishment oilers currently under construction.
Navy Moving Away from ‘Optionally Manned’ Vessels as Service Mulls Unmanned Future
(USNI.org) The Navy is placing less weight on optionally manned surface vehicles as it refines requirements for a new type of vehicle that will support the surface fleet.
At a recent US Naval Institute event, three service officials responsible for crafting requirements for unmanned vehicles, developing new vessels and operating the current fleet of experimental craft said their preference was to keep sailors off the next generation of unmanned vessels.
Army Sees 3D Printing Taking off ‘Very, Very Soon’
The US Army intends to accelerate and scale the use of 3D printing, several officials said at a ground vehicles conference last week, as they’ve become increasingly aware of the advantages 3D printing capacities can provide for logistics and sustainment.
Already at least 1,500 different individual components for multiple Army in-service platforms and systems have been printed at the Rock Island Arsenal (RAI) Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC).
New Startup Unveils Autonomous Cargo Drones for Distributed Ops in the Pacific
(Air & Space Forces) A new startup has a contract with the Air Force’s innovation arm and a prototype to test its new concept: a network of “flying pickup truck” drones to solve the problem of logistics in the vast Pacific. Grid Aero debuted its “Lifter Lite” drone Aug. 18, as the firm announced $6 million in seed funding and a small business innovation research Phase II contract with AFWERX.
US MQ-9 Drone Just Flew a Mission Deep into Mexico
(The War Zone) An MQ-9 Guardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone operated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) flew deep into Mexico this morning, according to flight tracking data. The drone, using the call sign TROY701, took off from San Angelo, Texas, at about 4 a.m. Eastern Time and flew more than 800 miles south, including about 600 miles deep into Mexican airspace.
US Air Force Eyes Purchase of Tesla Cybertrucks … to Blow Up
(AirForceTimes.com) The US Air Force is looking to add two Tesla Cybertrucks to its precision munition weapons testing program at New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range. The request, submitted by the Air Force Test Center, singled out the vehicle by name among a 33-vehicle procurement list while citing the Cybertruck’s unique design and growing relevance as a potential battlefield threat.
Paratroopers Test Autonomous Vehicle with AI for Mortar Resupply
Paratroopers recently tested an autonomous vehicle that featured artificial intelligence during Agile Spirit 25 in Europe. The Army assessed the Overland AI ULTRA Fully Autonomous Tactical Vehicle prototype at the Vaziani Training Area in Georgia on July 29, according to a service release.
Poland Signs off on $3.8 Billion F-16 Fighter Jet Upgrade
(Breaking Defense) The Polish Ministry of National Defense has finalized a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the US government to upgrade its fleet of 48 F-16 Block 52+ multi-role combat aircraft to the advanced F-16 Viper configuration, also known as the F-16V. Lockheed Martin will serve as the primary contractor for the modernization effort, valued at approximately $3.8 billion.
New York Launches Landmark Hybrid-Electric Ferry Service to Governors Island
(gCaptain.com) The Trust for Governors Island unveiled the Harbor Charger, New York State’s first hybrid-electric public ferry. The vessel entered service August 13, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Governors Island being open to the public.
The vessel features Siemens Energy’s BlueDrive Eco diesel-electric propulsion system, BlueVault battery solution, and EcoMAIN monitoring technology. In hybrid mode, the ferry will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 600 tons annually.
Amazon Expands Same-day Delivery of Perishables in Big Grocery Push
(FreightWaves) Amazon has expanded same-day delivery for fresh groceries to more than 1,000 cities and towns, with plans to again expand the service offering to over 2,300 areas across the United States by year-end. The spread of temperature-controlled last-mile delivery means Amazon has perfected its system for efficiency across a wider footprint and will help it compete with other retailers that offer fresh grocery delivery.
ArcBest Corporation Named a 2025 Great Supply Chain Partner
(MarketScreener.com) ArcBest’s commitment to delivering smart, reliable logistics solutions continues to earn recognition across the industry. ArcBest was named a 2025 Great Supply Chain Partner by SupplyChainBrain and both ArcBest and our LTL carrier ABF Freight® have earned 2025 Quest for Quality awards from Logistics Management.
Fly Smarter: Faster Bag Drop, Security and Connections
(Delta.com) Delta is delivering a seamless travel experience — on the ground and in the air—through industry-leading government partnerships and cutting-edge technology. Whether departing, connecting, or arriving, customers are already benefiting from a simpler, faster journey. Thanks to cutting-edge tech and collaboration with Korean and UK governments and US Customs and Border Protection, travelers save up to 25 minutes and enjoy a smoother journey.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.