The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
December 11, 2025
Register Today
February 23 – 26, 2026
The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), in association with the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and the General Services Administration (GSA), is hosting the 2026 GovTravels February 23-26, 2026, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, VA.
GovTravels is a four-day event that brings together bringing together experts from across the federal government and the commercial travel industry to examine a wide range of issues that impact the government’s multi-billion dollar travel enterprise. During this event we educate and train DoD travel managers on best practices and strategies, allow government program administrators to learn more about emerging technologies, exchange ideas and collaborate on travel issues, identify & capture actions and build relationships among government and industry commercial travel experts. […READ MORE…]
Save the Date
May 18-21, 2026
NDTA-CAS
Surface Force Projection Meeting
Join the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies (CAS) Surface Force Projection Meeting (SFPM), May 18-21, 2026, at Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA. Connect with top U.S. government and industry experts to tackle deployment and sustainment challenges and address this year’s theme, “Projecting Power in a Globally Contested Environment — Ideas into Action!” Network with peers, attend insightful sessions, and hear from renowned speakers. NDTA, along with CAS, partners with the U.S. Army Transportation Command (ARTRANS), Military Sealift Command (MSC), U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), the U.S. Coast Guard, logistics and transportation industry, and academia to provide the SFPM. Mark your calendar and don’t miss out! Details on agenda, lodging, and registration will be available on our website starting December 18, 2025. Registration opens on January 29, 2026. Become an NDTA member today for exclusive benefits!
Please join us for the NDTA Europe & Africa Regional Committee meeting at the Workforce Development Center in Sembach Kaserne, Germany. The theme of the meeting is “Building Trust and Collaboration: Fostering Partnerships for Sustainable Impact.”
This highly anticipated annual event serves as a forum that brings together government, military, industry, and allied stakeholders to coordinate and collaborate on defense transportation, logistics, and mobility challenges. The agenda includes several notable keynote speakers, committee sessions, and a sponsored off-site dinner with entertainment.
Four regional subcommittees will help bridge civil-military, industry, and government perspectives, offering a neutral, non-political space for problem solving, innovation, and strategic alignment:
Air / Airlift Subcommittee
Surface / Land Transport Subcommittee
Sealift & Ports / Sea & Port Operations Subcommittee
Passenger Travel Subcommittee
Please visit our webpage for registration details, the event agenda, sponsorships, information contacts, and more!
Paul Abbott, CEO, AMEX, GBT, to Keynote at 2026 GovTravels
Mr. Paul Abbott, CEO, AMEX GBT, will deliver a keynote presentation titled “Strategic Partnership for Global Readiness: The Future of Government Passenger Travel,” at 2026 GovTravels in Alexandria, Va., on Feb. 24, 2026. His keynote will highlight how government and industry partnerships are shaping the future of passenger travel to ensure global readiness. The press release below recounts a recent interview with Mr. Abbott.
Why AI Will ‘Strengthen and Strengthen’ TMCs
Paul Abbott does not expect travel management companies’ (TMCs) merits to decline as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the corporate travel sector.
“I am very, very bullish about the value proposition,” the CEO of American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) said.
“I think it will be maintained. I think it will strengthen and strengthen,” Abbott said in response to a question from Jeff Klee, CEO of AmTrav. While he recognized AI is a disruptor, Abbott said the technology poses opportunity for TMCs and Amex GBT.
Instead of a drop like other sectors may face, Abbott said he expects demand for travel to continue to grow — and Amex GBT is already seeing AI-related improvements. […READ MORE…]
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and President Donald J. Trump unveiled the Administration’s new “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” proposal to reset the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. This action will save American families from bearing a hidden cost-of-living increase in auto prices. […READ MORE…]
Hegseth Outlines New National Defense Strategy During Speech at Reagan Library
By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News
During a keynote speech that one Pentagon official speaking on background said represented a preview of the War Department’s forthcoming National Defense Strategy, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth outlined four distinct lines of effort for the department to take, so as to guarantee peace through strength for the U.S. and its allies in the coming years. […READ MORE…]
NDTA continues to be an advocate and supporter of The U.S. Army Transportation Corps Museum at Ft. Eustis, Va. Our mission is to develop future Logistics & Transportation leaders! During this year, the Center of Military History (CMH) has decided to close the museum. Since that time, the Army Transportation Museum Foundation (ATMF) has encouraged members of the Foundation to write letters and send emails to leaders supporting the educational value of the museum as a bridge to the future. To help support this effort, please review the attached information below.
NDTA is proud to announce open season
to apply for 2026 NDTA Foundation Scholarships,
now through Wednesday, April 15, 2026
NDTA is announcing open season for NDTA Foundation Scholarship applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applications may be submitted now through April 15 via e-mail at ndtahq@ndtahq.com for our four academic scholarship programs 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
NDTA offers all scholarship winners a unique opportunity to join our Industry Connect Program (ICP). The ICP links interested students with an industry mentor to help them bridge to the future. More information can be found here.
NDTA is excited about the education and development of our Nation’s future logistics and transportation leaders! Providing scholarships and the ICP helps us promote learning and professional development. To learn about scholarship qualification details and how to apply, go to https://www.ndtahq.com/
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
With your help, we filled our conference room with toys once again for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. These toys and financial donations will help bring joy and brighten the holiday season for children in need in our community.
Thank you very much to our friends and Corporate Members, including American Maritime Congress, Apex Communications Corporation, Enterprise Mobility, International Auto Logistics, LMI, JET Infrastructure, National Air Cargo, Omega World Travel, Patriot Maritime, and SEKO for donating to the drive and coming out to support the event!
Editor’s Picks
Congress Wants to Know if the C-130 Hercules Could Be the USAF’s New ‘Doomsday Plane’
Congress is looking to press the U.S. Air Force to provide details of its place to maintain the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) capability — better known as Looking Glass — including the possibility of hosting it on a platform based on the Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 cargo plane. The ABNCP mission involves the relaying of orders to Air Force nuclear-capable bombers and silo-based Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.
100th KC-46A Pegasus Delivered to Travis AFB
Air Mobility Command welcomed the 99th and 100th KC-46A Pegasus delivered to the U.S. Air Force, during an arrival ceremony at Travis Air Force Base Dec. 2.
Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and the commander of Air Force Reserve Command, flew the 99th KC-46A in formation alongside Gen. John D. Lamontagne, AMC commander, who flew the 100th aircraft to Travis AFB, increasing the wing’s ability to connect and project the joint force around the world.
Army Launches New Marketplace to Battle Rising Drone Threats
The U.S. Army will lead the creation of a federal digital marketplace under Joint Interagency Task Force 401 that is intended to sort, test and share information about counter-drone systems for agencies that need tools safe enough to use around aircraft, communications and crowded public spaces. The portal comes at a time of rising drone incidents nationwide.
Methanol Gains Momentum as Marine Fuel, But Cost and Supply Challenges Persist
Methanol is emerging as a practical alternative fuel option. The maritime sector’s interest in methanol is reflected in concrete numbers: Over 450 methanol-capable vessels are currently in operation or on order, with technical solutions now available for all major ship types. Modern dual-fuel engine designs have accumulated more than 600,000 hours of operating on methanol, demonstrating the technology’s maturity.
The Road Never Sleeps: Aurora’s Trucks Go Driverless Day and Night
Today, Aurora is hauling freight autonomously via heavy-duty trucks for customers on public roads in the United States. The Aurora Driver has been validated for nighttime driverless operations between Dallas to Houston. Nighttime autonomous operations will unlock new levels of efficiency for customers running long-haul routes, especially those who frequently operate at night, at a time when demand for faster, more efficient delivery has never been higher.
Boeing Completes Acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems
Boeing announced it has completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.
“This is a pivotal moment in Boeing’s history and future success as we begin to integrate Spirit AeroSystems’ commercial and aftermarket operations and establish Spirit Defense,” said Kelly Ortberg, president and chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. The acquisition will include all of Spirit’s Boeing-related operations and parts of the supplier’s operations in Northern Ireland.
PayCargo and IBS Software Strengthen Long-Term Collaboration to Advance Air Cargo
PayCargo and IBS Software announced the deepening of their long-standing partnership to accelerate digital transformation across the global air cargo ecosystem.
At the center of this collaboration is iCargo, IBS Software’s cargo management platform, which now offers an even more seamless integration of PayCargo’s secure, real-time digital payment capabilities.
Southwest Airlines Teams Up with Condor Bringing Additional Travel Options Across the Atlantic
Southwest Airlines announced its new partnership with Condor, a German airline that offers nearly 70 destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas from its hub in Frankfurt. In the United States, Southwest® will serve Condor passengers with domestic flights, bridging the Atlantic with same-ticket journeys that connect both carriers’ schedules at Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle. New transatlantic travel options begin Jan. 19, 2026.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.