The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
September 11, 2024
Fall Meeting 2024 – Fireside Chat #3 – Colonel Gabriel S. Arrington
The 2024 NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting is quickly approaching, scheduled for October 7-10 in the heart of St. Louis at the historic St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Experienced professionals from government and industry sectors will lead 4 fireside chats to explore this year’s theme: “Accelerating Decision Advantage Across Defense Transportation & Logistics.” These sessions will supercharge your personal and professional growth and include an interactive live audience Q&A with the facilitators and presenters. It’s time to ignite your learning journey! Register now! […READ MORE…]
Your Source
GSA Announces FY 25 Per Diem Rates
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced new federal per diem reimbursement rates for fiscal year (FY) 2025. Per diem rates consist of a maximum lodging allowance component and a meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) component. Non-standard areas (NSAs) are frequently traveled by the federal community and are reviewed by the GSA on an annual basis. Standard CONUS locations are less frequently traveled by the federal community. All changes take effect when the new fiscal year begins on October 1. […READ MORE…]
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced $1.9 billion for 519 grants in 48 states, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, in its fifth announcement under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). An additional $269 million was also announced in FY 2023 Supplemental Discretionary Grants to fund 62 projects at 56 US airports. […READ MORE…]
DHS Partners with Japanese Counterparts to Strengthen Maritime Cybersecurity Cooperation
WASHINGTON – From August 21-22, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Government of Japan conducted a successful tabletop exercise focused on enhancing maritime cybersecurity and incident response capabilities. This reflects the continued commitment by the United States and Japan to continue cybersecurity collaboration including on domestic cyber policies, such as those related to the protection maritime critical infrastructure. […READ MORE…]
Potential Port Strike Looms as US Container Ports Brace for Busy September
US container ports are anticipating a surge in volumes this month as retailers prepare for the holiday season amid concerns of a possible labor strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. The contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, covering East and Gulf Coast ports, is set to expire on September 30. With the ILA threatening to strike if a new agreement isn’t reached, the NRF has called for both parties to come to terms before the deadline. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
US Army Aiming for One More Hypersonic Weapon Test by Year’s End
(Military Times) The US Army is aiming for one more major test of its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon by the end of 2024 to decide whether to field it to the first unit next year. The Common Hypersonic Glide Body, which is the all-up round developed jointly with the US Navy, conducted a key successful test earlier this year. The Navy will integrate the round into a ship-launched capability, while the Army will integrate it into a ground launcher.
(Military.com) Soldiers will soon train on fewer systems and haul less gear downrange thanks to the Army’s adoption of an advanced new shoulder-launched munition. The service awarded a $494 million contract to Swedish defense contractor Saab in late August to furnish soldiers with the XM919 Individual Assault Munition, a single-shot multi-mission round that’s designed to combine the capabilities of the M72 Light Anti-Armor Weapon, M136 AT-4, and M141 Bunker Defeat Munition into a single weapon system.
Marines Testing Low-Profile Vessels, Oil Industry Support Ships to Resupply Distant Outposts
(USNI.org) The Marines are testing vessels inspired by narco-boats and support ships used to supply oil rigs to see how they could resupply Marines fighting across the Indo-Pacific, the commander of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory said. The Marines’ Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel is a semi-submersible capable of being operated remotely from thousands of miles away.
First Submarine Fully Integrated for Coed Crews to Join Navy Fleet Next Week
(Stripes.com) The first submarine fully integrated for mixed gender crews will join the Navy fleet next week during a commissioning ceremony in its namesake state of New Jersey. The future USS New Jersey, a fast-attack submarine, will become a deployable part of the Navy’s force during the ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey on Sept. 14, culminating five years of construction that represents a historic shift in how Navy submarines are designed.
Sidelining Civilian-crewed Navy Ships Could Harm Overseas Operations, Analysts Say
(Stripes.com) A Navy proposal to put more than a dozen support ships out of service to ease a crippling shortage of qualified civilian mariners could damage US efforts to counter its competitors in Africa and the Middle East. The plan calls for putting the expeditionary sea bases USS Hershel “Woody” Williams and USS Lewis B. Puller, along with 15 other Military Sealift Command support ships, on a lengthy hiatus so the civilian crews staffing them can be retasked.
Space Force Aims to Track Enemy Aircraft with Satellites by 2030s
(Defense One) The Space Force intends to deploy satellites that can track aerial and ground targets at the beginning of the next decade, according to a top service official. The US military has tracked targets in the air, a mission known as AMTI, with the Air Force’s E-3 Sentry, which will be replaced by the future E-7 Wedgetail.
China Claims Breakthroughs in Autonomous Vehicles
(Defense One) Autonomous vehicles represent an estimated $2 trillion global market and are expected to triple in value over the next decade. The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shanghai Institute of Microsystems and Information Technology (SIMIT) claims to have made two breakthroughs in autonomous vehicles’ ability to perceive their surrounding environment and track movements.
LMI Selected to Continue Partnership with Defense Standardization Program Office
The Department of Defense’s Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO) has selected LMI to continue enhancing the DSPO’s initiatives and activities through technical and functional services. This contract furthers LMI’s 26-year history of serving as the DSPO’s trusted partner in sustainment, product support, maintenance, lifecycle logistics, material readiness, and policy development activities.
Southwest Airlines Announces Tentative Agreement for Flight Simulator Technicians
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 19, which represents the airline’s Flight Simulator Technicians, have reached a Tentative Agreement for a new collective bargaining agreement.
“Our Flight Simulator Technicians help keep our flight training facility operating nearly 24 hours a day and play a pivotal role in Southwest’s mission to support a safe and reliable operation,” said Adam Carlisle, Vice President Labor Relations at Southwest Airlines®. “I am pleased they will have the opportunity to vote on a new contract.”
Travelport, a global technology company that powers bookings for travel suppliers worldwide, announced that agency customers can now access content from Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), Hong Kong’s newest carrier, through the Travelport+ platform. This collaboration will support GBA’s aggressive expansion plans as Travelport+ connects the Hong Kong-based carrier to Travelport’s global network of travel retailers.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.