The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
January 14, 2026
Register Today
February 23 – 26, 2026
Early Bird Registration ends January 22, 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!
NDTA Europe & Africa Regional Committee Meeting, January 20-21, 2026 Workforce Development Center, Sembach Kaserne, Germany
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!
(transportation.gov) U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced two new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test sites with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Indiana Development Corporation—the first new UAS test sites in a decade. The UAS Test Site program supports development, testing, and evaluation of public and civil unmanned aircraft and technologies, advancing drone integration into the National Airspace System. […READ MORE…]
(transportation.gov) U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the launch of the USDOT Freedom 250 website as part of the national celebration of America’s 250th anniversary led by President Donald J. Trump. The site tracks upcoming USDOT commemorative events, features the official Freedom 250 brand toolkit, and highlights travel opportunities to experience the nation’s history and beauty, underscoring transportation’s enduring role in connecting Americans for 250 years. […READ MORE…]
How a Quiet Regulatory Power Shift Could Supercharge U.S. Energy Exports
By Paul Morgan
(gCaptain) The Trump administration has shifted responsibility for deepwater port licensing from the U.S. Coast Guard to the U.S. Maritime Administration, a move that could reshape approval of strategically important maritime infrastructure. Announced Jan. 5 by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the change is the most significant since the Deepwater Port Act’s passage more than 50 years ago. Officials say it will streamline environmental reviews, cut delays, and speed development of offshore facilities, including LNG, oil, and offshore wind projects. […READ MORE…]
Hegseth Makes Shipbuilding Central to U.S. Power
(gCaptain) Shipyards have a way of telling the truth. Steel does not care about narratives, and submarines are unimpressed by talking points. You can feel almost immediately whether a place is alive or merely surviving, whether it is building toward something or simply managing decline. Inside the submarine construction building at Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, there was no ambiguity. This was not a museum to American sea power. It was a factory, and it was humming with purpose. […READ MORE…]
China’s Military Buildup Makes U.S. Increasingly Vulnerable, DOD Says
(armytimes.com) China’s military is capable of directly threatening the security of Americans, the Pentagon warned in a new assessment, as Beijing moves to accelerate the growth of its nuclear arsenal and aircraft carrier fleet.
The Department of Defense’s latest annual report on the People’s Liberation Army described China’s recent buildup as “historic.” It estimates that China will add six aircraft carriers by 2035, bringing its fleet to nine, just behind America’s 11. […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!
Editor’s Picks
Drones Are Changing How Wars Are Fought. The U.S. Is Trying to Catch Up.
(csmonitor.com) The U.S. Army is keeping a close eye on the battlefields of Ukraine and learning what many officers consider the war’s biggest lesson: how drones are changing the way American soldiers will fight.
So far, the military has been slow to acknowledge – and mobilize for – this revolution, top commanders say. Part of the delay is a result of the head-spinning pace at which drone technology has advanced, moving over the last decade from basic aerial devices to complex machines with AI-powered navigation, long flight times, and advanced cameras.
Navy F-35 Pilots Train to Wield Drones with Touchscreen Tablets
(marinecorpstimes.com) Navy pilots have successfully completed training to wield multiple drones from the cockpits of F-35 Lightning II fighter planes using touchscreen tablets.
The landmark tactical exercise took place at the Pentagon’s Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Maryland. The advanced modeling and simulation technology at the JSE enables pilots to effectively gain flying experience on a variety of missions and practice tactics in a secure environment.
U.S Navy Wants New Railroad Car to Transport Unarmed Ballistic missiles
(defensenews.com) The U.S. Navy wants a special railroad car to transport unarmed ballistic missiles, according to a recent request for information.
The problem is that existing railcars are almost 50 years old and will soon be retired. But the Navy still has a need to transport Active Inert Missiles, which are dummy rockets used to practice tasks such as loading missile tubes.
USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) Holds Ice Liberty in McMurdo Sound During Operation Deep Freeze
(dvidshub.net) The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) participated in ice liberty while the cutter sits hove-to in McMurdo Sound during Operation Deep Freeze, Jan. 7, 2025. Polar Star is conducting ice-breaking operations in Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, a joint service, inter-agency support operation for the National Science Foundation, which manages the United States Antarctic Program.
(www.trucking.org) The study is a comprehensive analysis of pay, benefits and bonuses for a broad spectrum of trucking businesses across U.S. regions.
“In this difficult and prolonged freight recession, the companies with the greatest edge are the ones that have the best data,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “As a one-of-a-kind benchmarking tool, the Driver Compensation Study provides the crucial, actionable intelligence motor carriers need to recruit and retain their most valuable resource: professional truck drivers.
Delta Named Cirium’s Most On-Time North America Airline in 2025
(delta.com) Delta Air Lines has been named the top on-time airline in North America by Cirium for the fifth consecutive year, reflecting an unwavering commitment to safety, reliability and service driven by the dedication of Delta people.
- Delta’s 2025 performance topped all North American carriers, with 9%of 1.8 million flights arriving within 15 minutes of schedule, per Cirium’s measurement.
- This surpassed the nearest competitor by 7 percentage points on more than four times the flight volume.
- Delta is also the only U.S. carrier in Cirium’s Top 10 Global Airlineson-time performance rankings.
CSX’s Willard Yard Upgrades Boost Efficiency
(csx.com) CSX has completed a series of major infrastructure improvements at its Willard Yard in Willard, Ohio, advancing the terminal’s role as a critical hub in the railroad’s network and doubling its daily car capacity.
The upgrades, finalized over the past two years, focused on restoring connectivity and optimizing operations at the Ohio facility. Following a conversion from a hump yard to flat switching several years ago, portions of the yard had remained underutilized. The recent projects targeted these dormant areas to improve flow and reliability.
(trailerbridge.com) Trailer Bridge announced that their Jones Act barge, Brooklyn Bridge, is back in the Port of Jacksonville and has been fully disembarked. The company thanked the US Coast Guard for supporting the barge’s return and the other US officials who responded quickly to ensure the safety of the tug crew and the cargo following looting in the Bahamas on November 13th.
U.S. Bank, DAT Launch Quarterly Truck Freight Rates Report
(freightwaves.com) U.S. Bank and DAT Freight & Analytics announced a collaboration to launch a new quarterly research report on U.S. truck freight rates. The report complements the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, published since 2017, which tracks shipment volumes and spending. The new Rates Edition focuses on contract and spot rates and fuel surcharges using DAT data. The inaugural Q1 2026 report identified subtle but meaningful late-2025 market shifts.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.