The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
June 4, 2025
NDTA – CAS
Surface Force Projection Conference
Register Today!
Stay current with the most up-to-date SFPC information! For instructions on downloading and using the NDTA Events App, click here.
Education, Deployment, and Sustainment Readiness are the key reasons for our meeting at the SFPC! Don’t miss this great opportunity to join the Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC), June 10-12, 2025! […READ MORE…]
By Elida Moreno
(Reuters) Panama’s Maritime Authority has removed from its registry more than 650 vessels since 2019 as part of an effort to fulfill US sanctions and enforce stricter rules for the ships it flags. A total of 214 vessels have been withdrawn from Panama’s registry, among the world’s largest with more than 8,500 ships, since it began implementing measures last year allowing it to act faster to help enforce sanctions. […READ MORE…]
By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar)
(gCaptain) The demand spike on the transpacific has prompted concerns about congestion and cargo bottlenecks at key US ports. Many carriers have begun to reinstate previously blanked voyages and launch new services to capitalize on the sudden spike in demand following news of the 90-day tariff reprieve. […READ MORE…]
WASHINGTON, DC – The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced nearly $4.9 billion in available funding for major bridge projects through the Bridge Investment Program, and up to $500 million for repairing or replacing bridges in rural areas through the Competitive Highway Bridge Program. This announcement will help address the tens of thousands of bridges across the country – including approximately 42,000 bridges in poor condition – that are in dire need of repair. […READ MORE…]
By Jesse Humpal
(War on the Rocks) While serving on the National Security Council staff in the Biden administration, I was tasked with strengthening the resilience of US critical infrastructure, namely its reliance on GPS for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems. With little funding or congressional support, I proposed integrating China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system as a backup for civilian use to enhance redundancy and interoperability across the private sector, including in critical infrastructure. The proposal raised eyebrows. […READ MORE…]
By Tom Corben
(Breaking Defense) Trump administration officials speak of the responsibility of American allies and partners to do more for the common defense—and most of those countries agree. This is particularly true in Asia, where Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea are increasingly unsettled by Chinese maritime coercion. In response, they are building up their military capabilities and deepening their cooperation with the United States to preserve a favorable balance of power. […READ MORE…]
By Mike Schuler
(gCaptain) The global maritime industry has achieved its lowest-ever total of vessel losses, with only 27 large ships lost worldwide in 2024, marking a 20% decrease from the previous year, according to Allianz Commercial’s annual Safety and Shipping Review. This improvement stands in stark contrast to the 1990s when the industry was losing more than 200 vessels annually. […READ MORE…]
The NDTA Energy Subcommittee now consists of two subordinate working groups: The Bulk Fuel Working Group, led by Brig Gen Martin Chapin, USAF (Ret.), and the Installation/Port Operational Energy Working Group, led by COL Adrian Marsh, USA (Ret.).
Every other month, beginning in May, the working groups will schedule and execute their own working group-level meetings. These meetings will inform the following month’s full Energy Subcommittee meeting.
Chaired by Mr. Guy Beougher, the Energy Subcommittee is one of four subcommittees under the NDTA Logistics and Distribution Committee.
Learn more about NDTA’s functional committees at https://www.ndtahq.com/committees-councils/functional-committees/
Editor’s Picks
Army Medics Moved Blood to the Frontlines with Drones in a Major Recent Exercise
(Task and Purpose) When medics with the 173rd Airborne Brigade called for blood supplies to treat combat wounds in a major exercise last month, the flying machines slashed life-saving minutes in transport time and used fewer troops to do it.
“The difference is someone dying and someone not, because four minutes is substantially faster than 20 or 30,” said 1st Sgt. Cyril Clayton, a senior medic with the 173rd Brigade.
Marine Corps Wants $13M for Automated War Zone Air Delivery Drones
(Marine Corps Times) After years of experimenting with airborne delivery drones, the Marine Corps is asking to buy 41 tactical resupply unmanned aircraft systems, or TRUAS, for a total investment of more than $13 million. The service is set to take delivery of previous orders of the drones this spring and expects to declare initial operational capability on the system later this fall.
Air Mobility Command Enlists AI to Better Spot and Track Threats to Military Bases
(Defense Scoop) Air Mobility Command is set to deploy a commercial AI platform that supplies a “street-level threat intelligence view” and is custom designed to help military officials better assess real-time risks — like small drones — anywhere forces deploy.
The new tool will visualize physical security threats across the globe using public and proprietary source data and modeling assets.
Army Weaves Robo-boats, Drones, Balloons and C2 Tech into Multi-continent Arcane Thunder exercise
(Defense Scoop) The Army’s recently completed Arcane Thunder 25 exercise incorporated uncrewed surface vessels, unmanned aerial systems, high-altitude balloons, and data-sharing capabilities to test out deep sensing and multi-domain operations. The live-fire event, which took place in Poland, Germany and Arizona on May 11-27, was led by the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force under 56th Artillery Command and included international allies.
Pentagon Targets Fewer Moves for Troops to Cut PCS costs
(Marine Corps Times) Military members should be moving less frequently for greater stability and to save taxpayers’ dollars. Pentagon officials ordered the military service branches to cut in half the amount of money they spend on permanent change-of-station, or PCS, moves by fiscal 2030. DOD spends about $5 billion a year on these moves, which include the physical moves of household goods as well as allowances and other entitlements related to moving.
Sustaining Members:
Regional Patron:
Chris Heibel Appointed Chief Operating Officer for ARC Group
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL—American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group, Inc. (ARC Group) has announced the appointment of Chris Heibel as Chief Operating Officer, effective June 1, 2025. Mr. Heibel will assume leadership of the day-to-day execution of commercial and operations functions for ARC Group. His responsibilities will include leadership of sales, marketing, pricing, and operations for the company’s global services. www.ARCshipping.com
C5MI Appoints Brian Drzewiecki as President & Chief Operating Officer
Jacksonville Beach, FL – May 22, 2025: C5MI announces the appointment of Brian Drzewiecki as President & Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. Drzewiecki will oversee enterprise strategy, operational execution, and growth initiatives as the company advances its mission to deliver next-generation digital supply chain solutions.
BNSF Has 100 Extra Locomotives Ready to Handle a Container Surge
(Freight Waves) While US logistics providers wait out the post-trade war lull in import shipments, BNSF Railway is setting up its network to handle an expected surge following a pause in tariffs between China and the United States.
UP’s KC Terminal Will Change Approach on Ocean Cargo
(Journal of Commerce) Union Pacific Railroad (UP) is taking a different operational approach at its soon-to-open intermodal terminal in Kansas City. UP will place all international containers into stacks, rather than place them on chassis in parking spots, adopting lessons learned during the pandemic, when inland terminals became chokepoints in the global supply chain.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.