The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
October 19, 2021
It’s Fall Meeting Week!
It’s been two long years since the last in-person NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting and we are very excited to see everyone this week. Equally exciting is the amazing agenda of keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, educational classes, committee meetings, and more we have lined up. Inside this special issue of The Source we will take a look at some of what you can expect.
Senior Leaders Set to Take the Stage for Fall Meeting Plenary Sessions
The NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting always features a fantastic lineup of keynote speeches and roundtable sessions—and this year will be no exception. On Monday, October 18, following the opening ceremony, The Honorable Frank Kendall, the 26th Secretary of the Air Force, will provide a keynote speech Contested Military Logistics and Supply Chain Weaknesses: How to Strengthen the United States’ Capacity for Strategic Competition. The Department of the Air Force will continue to strengthen and harden its logistics nodes in order to prepare for peer competition. Secretary Kendall will discuss the threat the Department is facing and how it should strengthen its assets and partnerships at home and abroad to maintain air superiority. […READ MORE…]
By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source
The Logistics and Distribution Committee, formerly known as the Military Distribution Committee, is one of the six functional committees within NDTA. This past January, Mr. Shiju Zacharia, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Crowley Solutions, took over as Chair of the Committee. DTJ recently sat down with Shiju to hear more about the Committee and what he views as the top issues facing industry. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
Attend NDTA Committee and Subcommittee Meetings and Gain Valuable Insights
The NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting offers a unique opportunity for attendees to attend and observe an open NDTA Committee or Subcommittee meeting. You can test the waters of being an NDTA committee member by attending one of these meetings on Thursday, October 21, 2021, and see the value they offer. You will hear committee members and government/military representatives discuss critical issues relevant to the industry, and collaborate on issues, solutions, education, and industry best practices. […READ MORE…]
Thank you to the NDTA Washington DC chapter for providing volunteers for this year’s Fall Meeting. We appreciate your support!
Make the Most of the Fall Meeting Experience with Transportation Academy
In conjunction with the Fall Meeting, attendees can also attend the annual Transportation Academy. This year’s Transportation Academy schedule will consist of eight sessions and a total of 70+ individual classes/seminars. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
KC-46 Gets New Refueling Approvals for TRANSCOM Missions
(Defense News) The KC-46 Pegasus is now able to refuel the Air Force’s fourth-generation fighter jets during missions for U.S. Transportation Command, expanding the service’s air refueling capacity and the capability of its newest tanker.
White House: Walmart, FedEx, UPS to Go 24/7 to Address Supply Bottlenecks
(The Hill) Major goods carriers Walmart, FedEx and UPS will move to working 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to address the global supply chain bottlenecks, the White House announced last week.
How China Is Planning For a Tech Decoupling
(Defense One) Rising tensions between the U.S. and China and the recognition of a new kind of race for technological advantage has led Washington to tighten restrictions on Chinese companies’ access to critical technologies and to reevaluate the China-U.S. STEM talent pipeline. China is responding with preparations for a lengthy tech competition and decoupling.
How the Army Plans to Deal with ‘Tons’ of Stuff Brought Back From Afghanistan
(Federal News Network) The Army famously left behind physical assets when the Biden administration ordered the sudden pullout from Afghanistan. But the Army also airlifted tons and tons of vehicles, weapons, ordnance, and other gear.
Four-Star Spotlights Key Problem Areas for the Army in the Pacific
(ArmyTimes) When Gen. Charles Flynn scans about half the globe to keep his Army forces ready in the Pacific, there are three key areas that pull his attention. Those are the southeast, western and northern areas surrounding Singapore.
Can’t Sail Away From Cyber Attacks: ‘Sea-Hacking From Land
(War on the Rocks) The vast bulk of the world’s critical economic and military traffic passes through a handful of narrow strategic waterways known as “maritime chokepoints.” While these waterways have always been prey to pirates, weather, and maritime accidents, these perils are now joined by maritime cyber attacks — whether conducted for ransom, malicious disruption, piracy, or as part of larger geopolitical conflicts.
Joe Beacom Talks Capacity and Transportation Planning with Reuters
(Landstar) Landstar Vice President and Chief Safety & Operations Officer Joe Beacom recently spoke about capacity and transportation planning with Reuters’ Nick Stylianou during Reuters Events Supply Chain Execution 2021. Hear what Joe had to say.
September Marks Second Consecutive Month of Cargo Volume in Excess of 300,000 TEUs
(The Port of Virginia) Strong import loads at The Port of Virginia® in September have helped the port achieve consecutive months of cargo volume in excess of 300,000 TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units). According to the port’s CEO and Executive Director Stephen A. Edwards, there is no congestion at the Port of Virginia, and ocean carriers and cargo owners are taking notice of the port’s track record and consistent operations.
ArcBest to Acquire MoLo Solutions, Enhancing Scale and Accelerating Growth
(ArcBest) ArcBest® has that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MoLo Solutions, LLC, a Chicago-based truckload freight brokerage. With the acquisition, ArcBest will become a top 15 U.S. truckload broker with access to over 70,000 carrier partners.
Port of San Diego Adopts Most Ambitious Maritime Clean Air Strategy of its Kind in California
(Port of San Diego) The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has approved a policy document to help the Port identify future projects and initiatives to improve health through cleaner air for all who live, work, and play on and around San Diego Bay while also supporting efficient and modern maritime operations. The Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) and its vision, “Health Equity for All,” represent the Port’s commitment to environmental justice and is more ambitious than any other clean air policy document of its kind in the state.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.