The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
February 18, 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!
Trump Administration Details ‘Make Shipbuilding Great Again’ Effort in New Action Plan
(USNI.org) The Trump administration announced its plans for expanding the nation’s commercial shipbuilding and maritime capabilities, a three-pronged approach that calls for bolstering U.S. shipbuilding, increasing the mariner workforce and regulating the industry to encourage use of U.S.-built and flagged vessels.
America’s Maritime Action Plan, published Feb. 13, provides a blueprint for the government, shipbuilders and the maritime industry to meet the requirements of an executive order signed last April by President Donald Trump. […READ MORE…]
U.S. Military Conducts First Nuclear Microreactor Air Transport
(thehill.com) The Pentagon, along with the Department of Energy, airlifted a small nuclear reactor, the first such transportation as the Trump administration looks to quickly deploy nuclear power across the U.S.
The agencies moved the reactor in partnership with Valar Atomics, flying parts of one of the firm’s unfueled Ward 250 microreactors on a C-17 aircraft from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. […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!
Recruits Will No Longer Need a REAL ID to Fly to Basic Training
(taskandpurpose.com) The Defense Department is teaming up with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to allow recruits headed to basic training — who do not have a REAL ID — to get through airport security without having to pay a fee.
Under the new process, recruits from all military branches are not required to have a REAL ID while enroute to basic training, and they will receive “white glove” treatment from the TSA at security checkpoints, similar to Honor Flights for veterans visiting memorial sites.
Please note that recruits need to bring another form of valid ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, birth certificate, and copies of recruitment docs. […READ MORE…]
USTRANSCOM CYBERSECURITY PULSE NEWSLETTER
This issue of USTRANSCOM Cybersecurity Pulse highlights:
* European Commission Investigating Cyberattack
* After North Carolina Cyberattacks, IT Officials Warn General Assembly of Poor Preparedness
* Russian Hackers Exploited a Critical Office Bug within Days of Disclosure
* Microsoft Develops a New Scanner to Detect Hidden Backdoors in LLMs
* USTRANSCOM DIB TSPs Community of Interest: Join Today for Access to
Non-Publicly Available Threat and Cybersecurity Reports
* Cargo Theft Remains Elevated Across U.S. and Mexico as Organized Crime
Adapts
* New APT Group Breached Gov and Critical Infrastructure Orgs in 37 Countries
* Researchers Expose Network of 150 Cloned Law Firm Websites in AI-Powered
Scam Campaign
* CISA Orders Agencies to Patch and Replace End-of-life Devices, Citing Active
Exploitation
* US Charges 31 More Defendants in Massive ATM Hacking Probe
* China Company Will Give Up Panama Canal Ports after Court Ruling
* BlackRock Could Bid for Largest New York Container Terminal
* Senator says AT&T and Verizon Blocked Release of Salt Typhoon Security
Reports
* OpenClaw Integrates VirusTotal Malware Scanning as Security Firms Flag
Enterprise Risks
Editor’s Picks
Crowded Field of Robot-boat Makers Vies for Navy’s Attention
(defenseone.com) Boston-based Blue Water Autonomy aims to take its 190-foot robot patrol craft from prototype to production this year, joining a newly crowded field of startups and established players trying to get their unmanned surface vessels in front of U.S. Navy buyers, commanders, and operators.
“Right now, the focus really should be on the suppliers” so the Navy can “see the performance of these vessels,” CEO Rylan Hamilton told Defense One ahead of the WEST 2026 conference here. The Navy needs to know industry’s offerings are reliable and “see these vessels in the water operating every single day with the fleet.”
Army Unveils New Tank Five Years Early
(defenseone.com) Car enthusiasts at the Detroit auto show this week will get the first public glimpse of the Army’s new main battle tank, as the service prepares to roll out its M1A1 Abrams replacement five years ahead of its original timeline.
Rather than wait to field the vehicles until every sensor and radio is determined, the Army cut the tank’s development time way down by getting the physical vehicle built and allowing the bells and whistles to be installed and upgraded as the technology evolves.
Marine Corps Says Ospreys Are Getting a Safety-focused Overhaul
(taskandpurpose.com) Marine Corps officials said they are implementing five major changes across its fleet of MV-22 Osprey aircraft, including major overhauls of its transmissions, after 20 accidents across the services in a two-year span. A federal watchdog that reviewed the aircraft said the service has yet to show a “systematic” way of addressing risks.
The “2026 Marine Aviation Plan” confirmed that the service is continuing to replace older gearbox components across the fleet with new ones made of harder steel. The service will also make major changes to the rotating engine compartments known as the nacelle, along with a new suite of computers and sensors for the plane.
Mini Missiles Used to Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed for USAF Tanker Fleet
(TWZ.com) The U.S. Air Force is exploring new ways to protect aerial refueling tankers and other high-value support aircraft by physically defeating incoming threats rather than trying to jam them or otherwise throw them off course. The service says a “kinetic” self-defense option could provide a valuable last line of defense against anti-air interceptors that might be resistant or even immune to certain kinds of electronic warfare attacks or decoys.
U.S. Army to Debut FPV Bumblebee V2 Drone Interceptor Next Month
(MilitaryTimes.com) The U.S. Army’s Global Response Force will begin assessing the Bumblebee V2 drone interceptor in March following a $5.2 million contract award inked on January 30 by the Pentagon. The Defense Department’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 announced the agreement with Perennial Autonomy on February 4, which will see deliveries of the Bumblebee V2 start next month.
AIT Worldwide Logistics Lands New Owner
(freightwaves.com) AIT Worldwide Logistics, a top 30 U.S. freight forwarder, has sold a majority stake to Greenbriar Equity Group to support its ambitious 2030 growth strategy. The plan focuses on accelerating expansion through both organic growth and acquisitions. The transaction allows The Jordan Company, L.P. — which acquired AIT in 2021 — to partially exit its investment.
Air Charter Service Opens Its Doors in Belgium
(aircharterserviceusea.com) Air Charter Service has opened its 41st global office and first in Belgium, launching in Brussels this week. Alexandre Busila, regional director for the Francophone market, said the move was long planned, citing Brussels’ central European location, two busy airports, and status as a global political hub hosting numerous regional and multinational headquarters.
Boeing SC Expects to Start Delivering Improved 787 Dreamliners in First Half
(postandcourier.com) Boeing Co. expects to begin delivering improved 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliners to customers in the first half of this year, enabling longer flights or greater cargo capability. Improvements to the maximum takeoff weight of the widebody planes will let airlines fly an additional 400 miles or with five to six tons of additional cargo.
GEODIS Achieves the Highest Level of Recognition for Its Climate Commitment with CDP ‘A’ Score
(geodis.com) GEODIS has reached a new milestone by joining the CDP 2025 Climate “A List” (A- in 2024), the highest level of recognition awarded by CDP. This distinction places GEODIS among the world’s leading companies in terms of climate transparency and action. In 2025, only 4% of the companies assessed worldwide by CDP achieved an equivalent or higher score.
(rockitcompany.com) The Rock-It Company announced that DIETL has acquired multiple fine art logistics specialists, strengthening its infrastructure and expanding access to specialized services across key U.S. art markets.
The acquired companies include Delaware Freeport, Delaware National Art Company, Techno Export, and Registrar Technologies. Together, these businesses add depth across fine art storage, handling, packing, crating, installation support, customs brokerage, and technology-enabled planning services, complementing DIETL’s existing operations.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.