The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
January 26, 2021
GovTravels 2021 Targeted Meetings Facilitate Conversation Between Government & Industry
Along with General Session Keynote Speakers and Panels, Travel Academy Classes, and the Expo, the GovTravels 2021 Symposium meetings offer an opportunity to participate in a larger discussion with government and industry decision-makers and program managers. Here are a few examples of the many meetings for your consideration that you can find listed in the GovTravels Agenda at www.ndtahq.com/events/gov-travels/agenda-3/.
Government/Industry Meeting: GSA & DOD Meet with Hotel Industry
Moderators: Beth Carver, DTMO & Jennifer Miller, GSA
- Part 1 – DoD Preferred: DoD Meets with Hotel Industry
Description: The Defense Travel Management Office invites hotel representatives to join a conversation about DOD Preferred. We will review program successes and provide insight into what’s to come in 2021 and beyond. - Part 2 – FedRooms: GSA Meets with Hotel Industry
Description: Description: Representatives from FedRooms will review last year’s successes, provide an overview of the 2021 program, and insight into what’s to come for the FedRooms program.
Government Passenger Travel Advisory Council (GPTAC) – Committee Meetings
The GPTAC holds individual Committee meetings to review industry and government issues and actions. Meetings are open to all participants and a good way to learn more about how NDTA, industry, and the government work together. The committees represented are Airline, Rental Car, Lodging, Long Term Lodging, Travel Management Company, and Bus.
Government/Industry Meeting: DTMO & GSA Meet with Travel Management Companies
Moderators: Jerome Bristow, GSA & Howard Hicks, DTMO
Join the Defense Travel Management Office and the General Services Administration for a discussion on issues related to Travel Management Company contracts.
Innovative and Disruptive: Breaking Inertia – Outperforming Your Constraints
By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source
The NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting took place virtually October 5-8, 2020. The event brought together more than 1,500 attendees from the government, military, and industry to learn and collaborate. The theme for the meeting was Innovative and Disruptive…2020 Vision for the Future.
That theme fit perfectly with a keynote speech by Rami Goldratt, CEO, Goldratt Group. He spoke about breaking inertia, which can drive innovation by changing how people within an organization act. Inertia, in this instance, is the force drive that brings you to continue and behave in the same way, even when there is a need to change.
Many organizations recognize the need to change during a crisis—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—but fail to realize that breaking inertia when a company is doing well can lead to breakthroughs in performance. Breaking inertia is one of the prime responsibilities of a leader because they are the ones who set the rules that others in the organization follow. […READ MORE…]
Day One Message to the Force from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III
I am honored to have this chance to serve again and to do so alongside you and your families. My wife, Charlene, and I know all too well the sacrifices you make to keep this country safe. That safety is job one, and I promise to work as hard as you do at it.
The way I see it, my job as Secretary of Defense is to make you more effective at doing yours. That means ensuring you have the tools, technology, weapons, and training to deter and defeat our enemies. It means establishing sound policy and strategy and assigning you clear missions. It means putting a premium on cooperation with our allies and partners. And it means living up to our core values, the same ones our fellow citizens expect of us.
Right now, of course, doing my job also means helping our country get control of the pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 Americans. You have already come to the aid of our Nation’s health care professionals. You can expect that mission to continue. But we must help the Federal Government move further and faster to eradicate the devastating effects of the coronavirus. To that end, we will also do everything we can to vaccinate and care for our workforce and to look for meaningful ways to alleviate the pressure this pandemic has exerted on you and your families. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
Austin Confirmed as New Defense Secretary in Historic Vote
(Defense News) Former US Central Command leader Lloyd Austin was confirmed Friday as the next defense secretary, a historic vote that makes him the nation’s first Black chief of the Pentagon. Austin, a four-star Army general who spent more than 40 years in the ranks, was approved by an overwhelming 93-2 vote in the Senate.
WATCH: Pete Buttigieg Testifies in Senate Confirmation Hearing for Transportation Secretary
(PBS NewsHour) President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg, appeared on a smooth path to quick confirmation, pledging to senators to help carry out the administration’s ambitious agenda to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
To Rule the Invisible Battlefield: The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Chinese Military Power
(War on the Rocks) The fight for electromagnetic spectrum superiority has been ongoing for over a century. As US military’s domination of the spectrum steadily declined over the past two decades, China has been making moves to strengthen its capabilities, and has brought itself to near parity with the US.
FAA Approves First Fully-Automated Commercial Drone Flights
(The Hill) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week approved the first fully-automated commercial drone flights, giving a small firm the green light to operate drones without direct supervision by human controllers or manned piloting.
Trump Administration Updates GPS Policy
(C4ISRNet) The outgoing Trump administration issued a new policy memo outlining the need to continue providing a worldwide GPS signal while preventing adversaries from using it against the U.S.
Joe Biden Has a Europe Problem
(Defense One) The new president has a daunting list of foreign-policy challenges. Among the biggest will be managing a longtime ally.
Will COVID-19 Continue to Impact Transportation and Logistics in 2021?
(Toolbox) Freight operations have had to remain adaptable to keep up with the continuing implications of COVID-19. Hear from Chairman & CEO of Echo Global Logistics, Doug Waggoner, on what he thinks the industry can expect this year.
Cross-Border Collaborations Drive Business
(Landstar) Read how Collaboration within the Landstar network keeps freight moving, keeps customers happy, and helps make their network of independent business owners successful.
Amtrak: Delivering a New Standard of Travel
(Amtrak) Amtrak continues to evaluate current practices and launch new initiatives to support personal safety. The company is setting a new standard of travel with enhanced safety and cleaning measures.
15 More Boeing KC-46 Tankers to Fuel the Air Force into the Future
(Boeing) The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.1 billion contract for 15 KC-46A tankers, expanding its fleet of aircraft that will not only set the standard for aerial refueling but will also help enable the integrated digital battlespace. Like a cellular tower in the sky, the KC-46 connects air forces to data needed to maintain the decision advantage and win on the 21st century battlefield.
Crowley Awarded Fuel Distribution Contract for Arctic North Warning System
(Crowley) The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency-Energy (DLA-Energy) has awarded Crowley Solutions a five-year, $15 million contract for fuels transportation and distribution services for the Canada North Warning System locations supporting the nations’ joint security efforts.
The People of Honduras Needed Help
(Chapman Freeborn) Chapman Freeborn is often called on to help with relief efforts around the world, so when I client called to ask for help the company didn’t hesitate to provide support.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.