The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
June 26, 2024
Fall Meeting Early Bird Rates available until August 22, 2024
Register today for the 12th annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting scheduled for October 7-10, 2024 at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, St. Louis, MO. Government, military and industry partners will gather to collaborate, share experiences, and discuss solutions and impacts related to the 2024 Fall Meeting theme. The theme, “Accelerating Decision Advantage Across Defense Transportation & Logistics,” aligns our discussions with a very important USTRANSCOM priority and focuses the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise on the need to orient, decide and act faster than the adversary. […READ MORE…]
2024 GovTravels Keynote Recap: Innovative Technology for Today and Tomorrow
By Barbara Parus, Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source
An average of 2.4 million flyers file through airport security checkpoints daily in the United States, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Frequent travelers have grown accustomed to standing in long lines, where TSA agents inspect their IDs, boarding passes, attire, and carry-ons. As inconvenient as it seems, it is all in the name of safety. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
REPORT: GAO Annual Assessment of Weapon Systems
While the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to invest more than $2 trillion to develop and acquire its costliest weapon programs, it continues to struggle with delivering innovative technologies quickly. Weapon systems are more complex and driven by software than ever before. Recent reforms were intended to lead to faster results, but slow, linear development approaches persist. In July 2023, GAO found that leading commercial companies deliver complex, innovative products with speed through iterative cycles of design, development, and production. […READ MORE…]
Discover the NEW DTMO Rental Car Agreement with the NDTA Virtual Chapter
You’re invited! The NDTA Virtual Chapter will host an exclusive webinar on the new DTMO Rental Car Agreement using the Microsoft Teams Webinar platform on Tuesday, August 20 from 12 PM to 1:30 PM EST. Register now to secure your spot and gain invaluable knowledge that will enhance your travel management strategies. Speakers Rob Johnson and Kim Shine from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) will delve into the creation and implementation of the new DTMO Rental Car Agreement #5. This session will provide valuable insights for both public and private sector employees involved in travel and transportation. […READ MORE…]
DOD Forges Clean Energy Pathway with Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity Contract
Officials announced an agreement between the Defense Department and an East Coast-based utility company to provide carbon pollution-free energy to installations throughout North and South Carolina. Under a first-of-its-kind contract, unveiled during a ceremony at Fort Liberty, N.C., Duke Energy Progress LLC will supply five of the region’s largest military installations with 4.8-million-megawatt hours of carbon pollution-free electricity through 2041.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced over $108 million in grant awards for 85 projects that will improve transportation and reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries on Federal and Tribal lands.
Editor’s Picks
U.S. Prepares to Open New Training Site for Foreign F-35 Pilots
(Military Times) A new F-35 training site under construction in northwest Arkansas is preparing to welcome fighter pilots from around the world this fall. Ebbing Air National Guard Base will become the latest U.S.-based site dedicated to training foreign pilots across the globe F-35 Joint Strike Fighter enterprise, which now encompasses more than 3,500 jets in 18 countries.
Valiant Shield Ends with Target Practice in North Pacific
(Stars and Stripes) A military exercise by the U.S. and Japan ended with the sinking of a decommissioned warship in the North Pacific Ocean. The forces involved in Valiant Shield, June 7-18, sank the former amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland more than 40 nautical miles from the nearest land. The exercise involved 10,000 U.S. and Japanese troops in Japan and on Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and all six branches of the American military, including more than 20 surface ships and 200 aircraft.
Pentagon Tech Hub to Launch Dozens of New Projects with FY24 Funding
The Defense Innovation Unit plans to spend most of its nearly $1 billion fiscal 2024 budget to accelerate existing projects and add new ones in technology areas like counter uncrewed aerial systems and space transport. The increase was approved for the Pentagon’s commercial technology hub to support its expanding mission to help the DoD quickly foster and field commercial capabilities in large numbers.
Airmen Flying B-52 Bombers Should Be More Comfortable, Lawmakers Say
(Air Force Times) Life aboard the military’s oldest bombers could become a little cozier under new legislation proposed on Capitol Hill. The House’s version of the 2025 defense policy bill wants to improve living accommodations aboard the B-52 Stratofortress, the Air Force’s long-range, nuclear-capable bomber in use since the 1960s.
Chinese Military’s Rifle-toting Robot Dogs Raise Concerns in Congress
(Federal Times) Congress is worried that robot dogs with machine guns will be bounding onto the battlefield. During a debate over the annual defense authorization bill, House lawmakers inserted language in the military policy to require a new DoD assessment on “the threat of rifle-toting robot dogs used by China” in future conflicts.
Marines Cut Time for Career Transition Program, Citing Readiness
(Marine Corps Times) The Marines are cutting the time jarheads can spend in a crucial military-to-civilian career transition program by as much as half the time the program previously allowed Manpower and Reserve Affairs is reducing the time Marines can spend in the SkillBridge program to three to four months, compared to six months in the previous program.
House Defense Bill Takes Aim at Telework for DoD Employees, Contractors
(Federal Times) House lawmakers are seeking to use their version of the fiscal 2025 defense spending bill as an opportunity to tighten restrictions on telework for federal workers. The $833 billion bill was approved in a 217-199 vote and included a provision that would bar the Defense Department from paying for the costs of telework or remote work for any employee or contractor on a recurring basis.
ARC Adds Starlink to Entire U.S.-flag Fleet
American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC), the leading provider of U.S.-flag roll-on roll-off shipping, has added Starlink satellite internet technology to its entire American-flagged fleet to help mariners stay connected to friends and family onshore while at sea.
J.B. Hunt Named to Fortune 500 List for 12th Consecutive Year
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, has been named to the Fortune 500 for the 12th consecutive year, earning the 316 spot on the publication’s annual list.
Radiant Logistics Acquires Operations of Seattle-based Cascade Transportation, Inc.
Radiant Logistics, Inc., has acquired the operations Cascade Transportation, Inc., a Seattle-based privately held company that provides a full range of customized time critical domestic and international transportation and logistics services. Cascade services a diversified account base, including retail, e-commerce, production furniture and tradeshow industries.
Sikich Earns Spot on 2024 MSP 501
Sikich, a leading global technology-enabled advisory firm, recently was named one of the world’s top-performing managed service providers in the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. The Channel Futures MSP 501 list, a technology industry benchmark, ranks companies based on their growth, profitability and innovation. It is a milestone achievement for any managed services organization to be included on this list.
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