The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
July 2, 2026
Register Today
October 26 – 29, 2026
Early Bird rates available until August 27, 2026
Register today and join us for the 14th Annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting, October 26-29, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas! The Fall Meeting offers general sessions, meetings, an exhibit hall, and over 60 Transportation Academy classes on vital logistics and transportation topics. Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and enjoy lots of networking opportunities with senior government and industry leaders to help boost your career.
NDTA and USTRANSCOM look forward to the Fall Meeting Roundtable discussion “National Transportation System Wartime Resilience,” moderated by Capt. Steve M. Carmel, Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
(www.faa.gov) U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that the FAA has awarded a contract to Air Space Intelligence (ASI) for two complementary, cutting-edge technologies that will improve how flights are scheduled and managed throughout the National Airspace System.
The Flow Management Data and Services (FMDS) will be the new technological backbone of the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center. It balances air traffic demand with capacity and provides the data that underpins traffic management. […READ MORE…]
TSA Expects to Screen Nearly 19M Air Travelers Over July 4 Weekend
By Ashley N. Soriano
(thehill.com) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared to screen 18.7 million air travelers between Tuesday, June 30, and Monday, July 6. The highest traffic is expected on Thursday, July 2, with an expected 3 million people traveling through airports that day.
“We’re thrilled so many passengers are planning travel to enjoy America’s milestone 250th birthday and celebrate the greatest nation on earth,” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, TSA senior official performing the duties of the administrator. “TSA security checkpoints are fully staffed and prepared to welcome these travelers and handle the large passenger volumes expected during the Fourth of July holiday period.” […READ MORE…]
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 – 2026
Get ready to celebrate America’s 250th birthday – the nation’s largest patriotic celebration in decades, with unforgettable events from coast to coast. America250 offers countless ways for Americans to experience the country’s remarkable journey in every state and territory through education, service, culture, and community events. […READ MORE…]
NDTA Europe & Africa Regional Committee Networking Dinner
8 July 2026, Luxembourg
The NDTA Europe & Africa Regional Committee is excited to announce and host a networking dinner on 8 July 2026, the evening before NATO Support & Procurement Agency’s (NSPA) Transportation Industry Day, in Luxembourg. Last year, this event was an enormous success with more than 90 people, including many of the attendees from across the commercial transportation industry and NATO member governments and militaries will also attend the NDTA event.
Location: 1 Rue Nicolas VA Werveke, L-2725 Hollerich, Luxembourg @1800 onwards
Registration and Sponsorship – Click Here
POWERING THE FUTURE OF MILITARY MOBILITY
August 26-27, 2026
Mission Training Complex (MTC)
Fort Hood, Texas
Military Community Engagement Event
Wednesday, August 26
Join us for a complimentary military networking event at the MTC before the NDTA Texas Regional Meeting starts on August 27. Here, you can connect with service members and military families with industry partners, educational institutions, veteran-focused organizations, and career transition services.
Registration is not required to participate.
2026 NDTA Texas Regional Meeting
Thursday, August 27
The 2026 NDTA Texas Regional Meeting, hosted collaboratively at the MTC by the NDTA Texas Chapters, will bring together military leaders, government agencies, transportation professionals, and industry partners to discuss military mobility, logistics, infrastructure, and innovation. The event will highlight modernization efforts, emerging technologies, transportation operations, and public-private partnerships that support mission readiness across Texas and beyond.
Registration is required to attend this meeting. For information regarding registration, speakers, sponsorship opportunities, and agenda topics, click here.
Editor’s Picks
Military Sealift Command Ships Make History with Rare Combat Award
(www.militarytimes.com) Since its creation during World War II, the Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded only about 100 times to recognize extraordinary unit combat valor. Next month, the Military Sealift Command’s USNS Kanawha, a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler, and USNS William McLean, a dry cargo and ammunition ship, will receive the honor for supporting the Ford Carrier Strike Group during Operation Epic Fury.
The U.S. Navy’s Subsea Rare Earth Vulnerability
(warontherocks.com) The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine will replace the aging Ohio-class fleet as the backbone of the U.S. nuclear deterrent during the 2030s and 2040s. Each submarine will carry 16 Trident II missiles and feature an ultra-quiet electric propulsion system designed for exceptional stealth. The advanced technologies enabling its propulsion, stealth, and strike capabilities rely heavily on rare earth elements refined in China, exposing a significant but often overlooked supply chain vulnerability.
U.S. Army Wants up to 100 Drone Boats to Fill Watercraft Gap in Pacific
(www.militarytimes.com) Facing a shortage of ships to move troops and supplies across the Pacific, the Army is relying on contracted vessels while planning for a future fleet of autonomous watercraft. The Army’s Pacific fleet shrank from 134 vessels in 2018 to about 70 in 2024. A Government Accountability Office report found mission-capable rates fell from more than 70% in 2020 to less than 40% in 2024.
Could the Army’s Light Squad Vehicle Power Battlefield Drones?
(www.defenseone.com) A mobile brigade in the 101st Airborne Division tested drones during a recent training rotation while using Infantry Squad Vehicles as mobile charging stations to keep unmanned systems operating. As the Army fields more battery-powered technology, reliable power generation is becoming increasingly critical. Col. Ryan Bell said drones, the Integrated Tactical Network, soldier-borne equipment, and enhanced night vision goggles all rely on rechargeable batteries, creating growing battlefield power demands.
U.S. Army Launches New Branch for Military Space Operations
(www.militarytimes.com) The Army announced the creation of the Space Operations Branch, a dedicated career field for soldiers specializing in military space operations. The branch formalizes space as a permanent warfighting specialty, with personnel focused on protecting U.S. assets and helping prevent adversaries from targeting joint forces from outside Earth’s atmosphere.
USAF Wants Air-to-Air Missile with a Whopping 1,000-Mile Radius
(www.twz.com) The U.S. Air Force plans a classified meeting with defense contractors to outline requirements for the Air Force Long Range Weapon (AFLRW), a next-generation missile with a range of at least 1,000 nautical miles — roughly 10 times that of the latest AIM-120 AMRAAM. Designed for extreme-range engagements, the missile would target high-value airborne assets, including airborne early warning aircraft and tankers.
Coast Guard Taps Commercial Supply Vessel to Keep Cutters on Station Longer
(gcaptain.com) The U.S. Coast Guard is expanding logistics support for its cutter fleet by contracting Louisiana-based Bordelon Marine to operate the Connor Bordelon as the Homeland Security Cutter–Ocean (HSC-Ocean). The commercial offshore support vessel will transport supplies, equipment, and personnel to cutters across the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and Western Hemisphere.
Please join NDTA in welcoming our newest Sustaining Member:
AAR Receives Collins Aerospace Supplier of the Year Award
(www.aar.corp.com) AAR CORP. received Collins Aerospace’s Supplier of the Year Award at its Component MRO facility in Wellington, Kansas. The award signifies AAR’s commitment to excellence in serving customers. It is the third time that AAR’s Component MRO organization has received a supplier award from Collins.
Delta Expands CES 2027 Service with New Asia Nonstop flights and More Connections to Las Vegas
(delta.com) Delta is ramping up service to Las Vegas for CES® 2027 with more than 120 peak-day flights connecting the city to key business hubs across the U.S. and around the world, including new nonstop service from Hong Kong and Taipei.
Leidos to Accelerate Hypersonic Weapons Production for U.S. Army and Navy
(www.leidos.com) Leidos has won a $2.7 billion U.S. Army contract to transition hypersonic weapons from prototyping to production by integrating the Thermal Protection Shield (TPS) and Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) programs. The effort aims to streamline development, shorten production timelines, and strengthen the supply chain in support of Army acquisition reform.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.