The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
October 30, 2023
We could not be more excited to be at the NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting this week in Orlando! This edition of The Source provides a look at some of the speakers, discussion topics, sponsors and exhibitors that you will find during this week’s event. Use #NDTA23 when you post or to follow the meeting on social media. If you are here and have not already done so, please make sure to download the NDTA Events app. This is your “must-have” tool to view the Fall Meeting agenda, engage in Q&A during general sessions, network with attendees, take surveys, post your photos, and more! Thank you to everyone who will be attending this week. We are looking forward to an insightful, productive event, and we are so glad you could join us. Now, on with the meeting!
Gaining Decision Advantage, Together
By Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, USAF Commander, US Transportation Command
The world came together after World War II to establish the greatest period of growth and prosperity in recorded history. The subsequent institutions we built have lasted nearly eight decades and continue to promote peace, education, trade, and support for the common good. Nevertheless, these institutions are aging, and the rules-based order they created is strained. Look no further than Russia’s continued, unprovoked aggression against Ukraine for an example of the changing strategic environment. We must recognize that our work to preserve peace will never be complete. […READ MORE…]
Defense Leader Discusses Progress of National Defense Strategy
By Jim Garamore, DOD News
Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brittany A. Chase
The National Defense Strategy is a living, breathing document that is the North Star to the Defense Department, and leaders in the department work every day to ensure it is implemented, Mara Karlin said during a recent Brookings Institution event […READ MORE…]
Capturing Knowledge: NDTA’s Video Archives
NDTA’s conferences feature some of the best and brightest speakers from the world of Defense transportation, logistics, and travel. The insights these speakers provide are truly invaluable and we want you to learn from them, whether you are able to attend our events in person or not. To that end, for the past five years, NDTA has been compiling a wealth of educational content in its video archive. Check it out today at www.ndtahq.com/multimedia-archive/videos/ and keep an eye on it as we add videos from this year’s Fall Meeting over the next few weeks.
Editor’s Picks
DOD Officials Detail Department’s Goals in Middle East
(DOD News) America’s efforts in the Middle East are in support of Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorism and to contain the violence, said one senior defense official. “As we’ve communicated previously, the U.S. remains committed to ensuring the security and well-being of its allies and partners, particularly in the face of escalating threats across the region.” Part of this commitment is the changes Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III ordered in U.S. defense posture in the region.
US Renews Warning It Will Defend Philippines After Chinese Ships Collided with Vessels
(The Hill) The United States on Monday renewed a warning that it will defend the Philippines against any armed attacks after the island nation accused Chinese coastguard ships of “intentionally” hitting its vessels in the South China Sea over the weekend. The Sunday incident took place while Philippines ships were headed to a small outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal on a resupply mission in a disputed part of the sea.
Understanding National Security Strategies Through Time
(Texas National Security Review) Since 1986, Congress has required each president to write a national security strategy. How has this security document changed over the years, and where are the continuities and breaks between administrations? A look at the content and structure of the national security strategies that have been released since 1986 can help answer these questions.
US Troops Overseas Thwart Multiple Drone Attacks in Just Days
(Military Times) Hours after news outlets first reported Thursday on two separate drone strikes on bases housing U.S. troops in Syria, the Defense Department confirmed that the destroyer Carney shot down multiple missiles fired by Houthi insurgents in the Red Sea the same day.
Space Force Finalizes Plan for Commercial Surge Capacity During Crisis
(C4ISRNet) The Space Force has finalized a plan for harnessing commercial satellite capabilities in times of crisis through a Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve. That strategy, approved in this month by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, outlines a framework for how the Space Force will scale up its use of commercial capabilities including satellite imagery and communications during a conflict to augment military systems.
Thunderdome Expansion, Implementation Plans Among Next Steps in DoD’s Zero Trust Journey
(Federal News Network) The Defense Department’s journey toward zero trust took an important step yesterday with the expected delivery of 43 plans of actions from the services and agencies. These roadmaps spell out the steps each of the services will take to achieve the target environment by 2027.
$1.3B in Army Vehicle Parts Were Stored Outside Or In Other Risky Ways, Report Finds
(Defense One) A Pentagon logistics program improperly stored $1.8 billion worth of repair parts for Army tanks and armored vehicles, including storing hundreds of thousands of parts outside, according to a report issued this week. Of these, 67 percent, or $1.3 billion worth of goods, were stored in ways that had “critical” deficiencies, according to storage guidelines under the Care of Supplies in Storage regulations.
China May Struggle in Electromagnetic Spectrum Fighting, Pentagon Says
(Defense News) The Chinese military is wrestling with shortcomings in fights where access to and control of the electromagnetic spectrum is hotly contested, according to a U.S. Department of Defense assessment. The spectrum is a critical resource in modern conflicts, as its manipulation enables navigation, communication, deception and even weapons guidance. A dizzying amount of electronic jamming and spoofing is expected in a fight between world powers.
Coast Guard Short 3,500 Personnel in FY 2023, Fagan Says
(USNI News) The Coast Guard is dealing with a shortfall of about 3,500 junior, non-rated members, said the top leader of the service. Due to the shortfall, the Coast Guard is starting to identify billets it cannot fill as it goes into its assignment season, commandant Adm. Linda Fagan told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS hosted Fagan as part of its Maritime Security Dialogue with the U.S. Naval Institute. The Coast Guard now has to look at how it mans the fleet and meets its missions with the workforce it has, not the workforce it wants, Fagan said.
FedEx Scaling Program that Reduces Air Fleet Downtime
(Supply Chain Dive) FedEx plans to expand its use of an inventory tracking platform to further reduce its aircraft fleet’s downtime and costs, according to a company executive. The logistics giant is using software provider Mojix’s platform in its U.S.-based warehouses to keep tabs on aircraft components at the item level, allowing FedEx to more quickly locate and deliver parts necessary for repairs.
(Hapag-Lloyd) Hapag-Lloyd is celebrating the installation of its 700,000th tracking device, an important moment on the company’s path to creating the world’s largest smart container fleet. On Monday, at the company’s headquarters in Hamburg, Germany’s Federal Minister of Digital and Transport, Dr Volker Wissing, personally installed the device on a container.
(CGI) CGI has announced the successful completion of a real-time pilot set in a planetary-scale Metaverse environment. The pilot involved integrating the Marine Corps Platform Integration Center (MCPIC) logistics and asset management systems with digital twins, or virtual replicas of physical assets in a simulated world environment. The integration demonstrated how the Marine Corps can achieve enhanced visualization, real-time monitoring, simulation capabilities, and predictive analytics that will augment training and education, as well as operational efficiency.
Accenture Federal Services and Google Public Sector Launch Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
(Accenture) Accenture Federal Services and Google Public Sector have announced the launch of a new Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to help U.S. federal agencies rapidly detect and respond to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. The Cybersecurity Center of Excellence will be powered by the front line threat intelligence of Mandiant, and Accenture Federal Services’ full spectrum cybersecurity services.
ARC Group Awarded Maritime Security Program Contract
[American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC)] ARC was awarded a new Maritime Security Program (MSP) Operating Agreement by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the operation of the soon-to- be-renamed M/V ARC Honor. Once reflagged to U.S. registry, the ship will be enrolled in MSP, the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program that maintains a modern, active fleet of U.S.-flagged, privately-owned ships in commercial trade that are available upon request by the Secretary of Defense to provide sealift capacity and support to the military and other federal agencies in times of need, such as war and national emergencies.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.