The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
December 11, 2024
Mark your calendar and register today for the GovTravels Symposium, happening February 24-27, 2025, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, VA. The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), in association with the General Services Administration (GSA), are looking forward to welcoming you to this key event where decision makers from government and industry convene to collaborate on and learn about passenger travel concerns. […READ MORE…]
Thank You for Supporting NDTA’s 16th Annual Toys for Tots Drive
NDTA wrapped up another successful Toys for Tots drive with a celebration at our headquarters in Alexandria, Va., Monday, Dec. 9. NDTA is proud to support the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation by holding this annual event. We want every child to receive a special gift, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed toys or monetary donations! Your generosity will go a long way to bring joy to children in need this holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
Your Source
Department of Defense Demonstrates Advanced Hypersonic Technologies
The US Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, conducted a commercially launched Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) flight test in November.
MACH-TB accelerates delivery of advanced capabilities to the warfighter by providing a hypersonic flight test capability for DoD and other Federal agencies. “Leveraging commercial launch services allows our Nation to affordably test components early and frequently, accelerating hypersonic development,” stated George Rumford, Director of TRMC. […READ MORE…]
WASHINGTON – For a fourth year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that $20 million will be awarded to 20 airport-owned airport traffic control towers across the country, spanning 15 states. This funding is for upgrading existing or building new control towers across the country, delivering on President Biden’s vision to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure through his Investing in America agenda.
The funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go to smaller and regional airports to improve safety and support critical aviation operations, such as commercial passenger flights, cargo flights, emergency services, agricultural aviation, and flight training. […READ MORE…]
The Big Deal: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Major Progress in Rebuilding America’s Bridges
MONROE, MICHIGAN – During a news conference at the River Raisin Bridge in Monroe, Mich., US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released a new report detailing 18 of the most economically significant bridges that are being rebuilt or repaired with funding from the Biden-Harris Administration. Click for report:
Rebuilding 18 of America’s Most Economically Significant Bridges Report.pdf
In November 2021, in anticipation of the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden announced that funding from this historic legislation would repair up to 10 of the most economically significant bridges in the nation to improve safety and efficiency, strengthen supply chains and support America’s economic competitiveness, and restore critical connections that are vital to commuters, emergency responders, truck drivers, and public transit riders. […READ MORE…]
First Belgian Air Force F-35A Lightning II Arrives at Luke Air Force Base
(The Aviationist) Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II arrived at Luke AFB (Air Force Base) in Arizona on Dec. 3, 2024, marking the beginning of its transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The jet, with the tail number FL002 and the colored roundel of the Belgian Air Force, landed at Luke AFB piloted by the 312th Fighter Squadron’s commander, Lt. Col. Jason Wall.
US Air Force Might Need to Reassess Bomber Force Size
(The Aviationist) While the US Air Force is gearing up to introduce the new B-21 and retire the B-1B and B-2A, the demand for the bombers is increasing with the mutated geopolitical situation. The head of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), Gen. Thomas Bussiere, said the bomber fleet’s size might need to be reassessed as demand for bombers is growing. This could require more B-21 Raider bombers beyond the currently 100 planned, so the bomber force would reach 220 aircraft to satisfy the requirements.
US Navy Increasingly Turning to Commercial Tankers for At-Sea Refueling Operations
(gCaptain.com) The US Navy is increasingly relying on consolidated cargo operations (CONSOL) with commercial tankers to support its global fleet, marking a strategic shift in the service’s fleet refueling operations. Last month, the Overseas Shipholding Group’s tanker Overseas Mykonos transferred fuel to the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), becoming the first commercial tanker to fuel a US Navy aircraft carrier in decades.
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti toured Boeing’s Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) manufacturing facility, met with Boeing contractors and Sailors assigned to Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Squadron (UUVRON) 3, and gave remarks about the importance of having robotic multi-mission submersibles in the fleet, Dec 6. The Orca XLUUV is one of several unmanned maritime systems programs that the Navy is developing and acquiring to expand to the hybrid Fleet.
This Marine Corps Unit Now Has a Ship-killing Missile in its Toolkit
(Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps’ newest formation has a ship-killing missile in its weaponry. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii recently announced the unit had received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS. The NMESIS serves as a critical weapon for Marines who have spent recent years restructuring the service to better assist the US Navy in gaining access to maritime territory defended by adversary missiles and warning systems.
Let’s give a big round of applause to our new NDTA members. We’re glad you’re here!
President’s Circle:
GMR Transport LLC
Universities:
SUNY Maritime College
Saint Louis University
University of Missouri – St. Louis
Aimbridge Hospitality Named Among U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Companies to Work For
(Aimbridge Hospitality) Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading, global hotel management company and the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, is one of the 2024-2025 Best Companies to Work For: Private Companies from U.S. News & World Report. This prestigious honor places Aimbridge among the top 25 percent of private companies evaluated across key metrics.
BNSF Sets New Container Volume Record at Southern California Ports
(Trains.com) BNSF Railway set a new annual on-dock container record at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., when it surpassed 1.5 million lifts for the year. The record comes amid a surge of imports through Southern California, which has been partly the result of shippers trying to avoid potential labor disruptions at ports on the US East and Gulf coasts, as well as at Canadian West Coast ports.
(CPKCR.com) Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and ATCO EnPower, a division of Canadian Utilities Limited, announced that construction of hydrogen production and refueling facilities in Calgary and in Edmonton is complete and the facilities are fully operational. As part of its innovative Hydrogen Locomotive Program, CPKC is retrofitting a number of diesel locomotives with hydrogen fuel cells so they can operate without directly generating emissions.
USMMI Adds Another Shallow-draft Tanker to its US Flag Fleet
(USMMI.com) US Marine Management (USMMI) is proud to announce its most recent contract win with the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) for the operation of another shallow-draft tanker in the Far East supporting the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The Redwood Trader re-flagged into the U.S. registry and has commenced performance under her charter with MSC. This new US Flag ship represents 17 new US mariner jobs being filled by supporting mariner unions AMO and SIU.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.