The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association

February 4, 2020

Member Perspective: The Future of Defense Supply Chains and NDTA

In my role as Chair of the Cybersecurity Best Practices Committee, NDTA asked for my best shot at predicting the role of defense supply chains and our association’s role 25 years from now on our 100th anniversary. I turned to my younger generation colleagues, Chiderah Okoye and Tom Fellows who actively support the committee. Together, we’re dedicated to NDTA’s mission and care about the organization’s future, but none of us are forecasters. We also know that anyone’s predictions will be off the mark given the broad time frame and topic. Despite those caveats, we would bet on four points looking back from 2044. Right or wrong, we hope the four points will provoke useful discussions along the way. […READ MORE…]

A Call to Arms – Evolving Law and Culture to Protect Our Merchant Maritime Fleet

By LTC Stacy Flippin, USA (Ret.) and Maj Meghan Smorol, USAFR

In a 2018 Defense News article, The Honorable Mark Buzby, retired Rear Admiral and head of the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration, reflected on the Navy’s inability to escort the massive sealift operation that would be required in the event of a long-term major conflict.¹ This deficiency presents great strategic risk for the United States, as each merchant vessel represents an invaluable […READ MORE…]

Coronavirus’ Effects on Trade, Supply Chains, Shipping, and Travel

By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source

There has been a steady flow of headlines about the [novel] coronavirus since the respiratory illness was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. According to recent figures, at least 427 people have died from the illness and more than 20,600 are infected. While the vast majority of cases are in China, 23 countries—including the United States—have confirmed cases.

But the impact of this outbreak has already gone beyond the human toll that most headlines address. Effects of the coronavirus are also being felt in global trade, supply chains, shipping, and travel. […READ MORE…]

Editor’s Picks

Freight All Kinds: Making Military Logistics Work in the 2020s and Beyond
(FreightWaves) In the private sector, problems with supply chain agility and resilience might lead to a poor quarter or two. For the military, a lack of supply chain resilience can complicate the armed services’ capability to meet dynamic threats, diluting the nation’s global power and perhaps undermining its security.

Pentagon Should Explore Renting Refuelers Amid KC-46 Delays, General Says
(Military.com) The head of U.S. Transportation Command says the Pentagon should seriously explore an air refueling leasing program with the defense industry while the Air Force works with Boeing Co. to fix its newest tanker, the KC-46 Pegasus.

Qualcomm Antitrust Case Raises Far-Reaching National Security Concerns
(Forbes) On February 13, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will begin hearing oral arguments in a case that could potentially enable China to surpass the U.S. in cutting-edge communications technology.

Britain is Leaving the European Union Today. The Hard Part Comes Next
(CNN) After three-and-a-half years, three prime ministers and seemingly endless votes in Parliament since the 2016 Brexit referendum, Britain finally becomes the first ever country to leave the European Union.

DoD Plans April Contract Award to Fix ‘Fundamentally Flawed’ Moving System
(Federal News Network) Officials at U.S. Transportation Command say they’re getting close to awarding a multibillion-dollar contract to overhaul the system for moving service members’ household goods across the country and around the world.

IT Program Manager Sharpens Skills at FedEx
(Defense Logistics Agency [DLA]) Anthony Buto, an Information Technology Project Manager with DLA, recently completed an assignment with FedEx through the Defense Department’s Training with Industry Program. The professional development program helps Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act-certified military and civilian employees learn from private industry and improve their leadership skills.

Port of Va. to Lease Land to Danish Wind Company for East Coast Hub
(The Virginia Mercury) With an eye to becoming the East Coast hub for the fledgling U.S. offshore wind industry, Virginia on Tuesday morning signed a deal with Danish wind energy giant Ørsted to lease land at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal for a staging and equipment site.

Thomas Cook Airbus A330 Finds a Home at National Airlines
(Simple Flying) A Thomas Cook Airbus A330 has found a new life as a passenger charter for National Airlines, who will be operating the aircraft on a charter basis. The carrier normally focuses on cargo and military services but has since discovered a huge demand for passenger charter services as well.

DHL Invests $3.8 million to Expand Cleveland Facility, Due to Growth
(DHL) DHL Express, the world’s leading provider of international express shipping services, has invested $3.8 million to expand its service center in Cleveland, Ohio. The move will accommodate further anticipated international trade growth resulting from a surge in e-commerce and a strong manufacturing presence in the region.

Echo Global Logistics Adds Preferred Lanes and Suggested Loads to EchoDrive®
(Echo Global Logistics, Inc.) Echo has announced it added Preferred Lanes and Suggested Loads functionality to EchoDrive® to better optimize the way their carrier network finds and books available freight.

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