The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
February 11, 2026
Register Today
February 23 – 26, 2026
The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), in association with the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), 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 and 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
Registration opens January 29, 2026. Check website for details.
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!
Labor Department Eases Insurance Rules for U.S. Shipbuilders
By Mike Schuler
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new guidance easing insurance requirements for shipbuilding and other strategically important industries, a regulatory shift aimed at lowering costs across America’s maritime industrial base.
The guidance lays out a clearer, more structured framework for how insurers calculate security deposit requirements under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). By formalizing how risk is assessed, the department says it is reducing unnecessary financial burdens while preserving protections for injured workers. […READ MORE…]
Apply for 2026 NDTA Foundation Scholarships,
now through Wednesday, April 15, 2026
As we recognize the New Year and wish you all the best in 2026, NDTA wants to remind you that we are accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applications are being accepted 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 www.ndtahq.com/foundation/, call us at 703-751-5011 or send us an email at ndtahq@ndtahq.com. Read student testimonials from previous scholarship recipients to learn about the impact it has had on their studies and their career paths.
We look forward to hearing from you!
PARTNERS
USTRANSCOM CYBERSECURITY PULSE NEWSLETTER
Moving forward, The Source will feature articles of interest from the USTRANSCOM Cybersecurity Pulse Newsletter. Today’s issue highlights:
- DHS Launches Office for Drone and Counter-drone Technologies
- Chinese Hackers Targeted Email Systems of US Congressional Staff, People Familiar say
- FBI: North Korean Spear-Phishing Attacks Use Malicious QR Codes
- Quantum Cameras could Remake Space-based Intelligence
- USTRANSCOM DIB TSPs Community of Interest: Join Today for Access to Non-Publicly Available Threat and Cybersecurity Reports
- Russian Hackers Target European Hospitality Industry with ‘Blue Screen of Death’ Malware
- Pentagon Mobilizes Industrial Base for “Golden Dome” Missile Shield with $151B SHIELD Award
- Cisco Identifies Vulnerability in ISE Network Access Control Devices
- House Explores Grid Cybersecurity Boosts Amid Growing Threats
- Microsoft Warns of a Surge in Phishing Attacks Exploiting Email Routing Gaps
- Dozens of Major Data Breaches Linked to Single Threat Actor
- Bill to Improve Government’s Anti-Fraud Checks Heads to Trump’s Desk
- Experts Press for Large-scale US Offensive Cyber Operations at House Hearing
- EEOC Experienced Security Incident Involving Contractor’s ‘Unauthorized’ Access, Email Says
Editor’s Picks
Hunt for Container Launchers Packed with Drones Kicked Off by Pentagon
The entire U.S. military is now pushing to acquire hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new drones, especially smaller types, in the coming years, spurred on by new direction from the Pentagon. In turn, a demand for new containerized launchers capable of rapidly deploying and recovering those uncrewed aerial systems has now emerged.
These Planes Are Mimicking Enemy Shahed-136 Drones in U.S. Military War Games
For the past week, two small experimental aircraft operated off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, replicating long-range kamikaze drones such as Iran’s Shahed-136. Once overlooked, these weapons emerged as a major threat during the Russia–Ukraine war. The U.S. military is now testing and training against such capabilities, including sharpening fighter squadrons’ ability to detect and destroy them, during the large-scale Sentry South 26.1 exercise.
Navy’s T-45 Replacement Will Not Be Capable of Making Carrier Landing Touch and Goes
The U.S. Navy’s latest draft requirements for replacing the T-45 Goshawk show no reversal of major changes to naval aviator training. Carrier qualifications have been removed from the syllabus for future tactical jet pilots, with additional shore-based training changes planned. While critics have raised concerns, the Navy argues advances in virtual training and automated carrier landing systems have fundamentally reshaped the training ecosystem.
Ahead of scheduled delivery to the U.S. Navy in March 2027, which will come with its own sea trials, these initial tests will certify the 100,000-tonne behemoth’s major systems and components under close watch from specialist Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) personnel. The Kennedy was laid down at the HII facility in Newport News, in 2015. The subsequent 11-year gap until commencing sea trials is longer than the USS Gerald R. Ford experienced, the first-of-class having been laid down in 2009 and began sea trials in 2017.
U.S. Coast Guard Riddled with Staff & Ship Shortages Despite $25 Billion Funding
The U.S. Coast Guard received nearly $25 billion in supplemental funding for fiscal year 2025, the largest single investment in its history. However, a new Government Accountability Office report warns the Service still faces significant staffing shortages and equipment challenges that could hinder operations. Testimony released Feb. 3 ahead of a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing highlighted gaps in staffing, maintenance, and acquisition management.
Electric Hydrofoils May Be Set to Transform Waterborne Transport
A shift in how electric ferries could operate in the future was demonstrated earlier in February, after the completion of the world’s longest electric sea journey by a passenger vessel. Sweden-based shipbuilder Candela says its electric hydrofoiling ferry, the P-12, has successfully traveled 160 nautical miles from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Oslo, Norway, proving that electric vessels are no longer limited to short, fixed routes or specialized charging infrastructure.
WELCOME CORPORATE MEMBERS
C5MI (upgrade)
AAR Corp. has substantially completed the expansion of its Airframe MRO facility in Oklahoma City. Driven by an increased demand for AAR’s MRO services, the 80,000+ square foot facility expansion includes three maintenance bays capable of accommodating all 737 variants. The Company will soon induct additional Alaska Airlines aircraft for service as part of a long-term customer commitment.
United to Take Delivery of First 787 with New Polaris Business Suites
United Airlines is set to receive its first upgraded Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring redesigned Polaris suites and the largest seatback screens of any U.S. carrier. The aircraft is expected to operate routes from San Francisco to Singapore and London, advancing United’s premium upgrades. Registered N21102, it recently completed pre-delivery flights at Boeing’s Charleston facility. A positioning flight to Washington Dulles appeared in tracking systems, though delivery has not yet occurred.
CACI to Strengthen U.S. Army Readiness and Spectrum Dominance with Next-Gen Electronic Warfare
CACI International Inc. has won a five-year task order worth up to $250 million to enhance spectrum dominance for the U.S. Army’s Capability Program Executive–Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors. CEO John Mengucci said CACI is investing in battle-proven, software-defined EW solutions to empower warfighters in contested environments. The company will provide integrated technology integration and sustainment to advance the Army’s multi-domain electronic warfare and spectrum dominance capabilities under the Army’s CPE IEW&S program effort.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.