The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
September 24, 2025
Register Today
October 6-9, 2025
The 13th annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting will be held October 6-9, 2025, at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, MO. The Fall Meeting will include Transportation Academy educational sessions led by dynamic and experienced government and industry leaders, complementing this year’s theme: “Powering Global Deployment & Distribution — Ready, United, Decisive!” Transportation Academy sessions receive outstanding survey results every year, and we expect the trend to continue in 2025! […READ MORE…]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the National Railroad Partnership Program. The new NOFO allocates more than $5 billion in funding for projects that enhance safety on intercity passenger rail networks, including improvements to grade crossings, which result in more than 2,000 incidents and 200 fatalities each year. […READ MORE…]
Cyberattack on European Airports Caused by Ransomware, EU Finds
(Aljazeera.com) A cyberattack that has caused major airport disruptions in the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium was caused by ransomware, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) said. Law enforcement was involved in investigating the software that holds data until those targeted pay to have their access back. […READ MORE…]
U.S. eVTOL Start-ups Join White House Pilot Program
(Aviation International News) Several leading U.S. eVTOL aircraft manufacturers, including Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, and Archer Aviation, have declared their intentions to participate in the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which aims to accelerate the deployment of eVTOL operations in the United States. […READ MORE…]
Climate Change Puts Nearly All Major Ports at Risk, Report Finds
By Mike Schuler
(gCaptain.com) A report released today by TT Club and engineering consultancy Haskoning reveals that 90% of the world’s 3,700 major ports are exposed to damaging climate hazards, placing billions of dollars in infrastructure and global trade at immediate risk. The full report, “Climate-Ready Supply Chain: Urgent Guidance for Ports, Waterways and Logistics Operations,” is available on the TT Club website. […READ MORE…]
A SPECIAL INVITATION
You’re Invited to the Second Annual
SDDC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
On Behalf of Major General Lance Curtis, Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, we request the honor of your presence at the Surface Warrior Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Induction Ceremony.
Friday, October 3 at 10 a.m.
Seay Auditorium, Scott Air Force Base, IL
Reception immediately following in Command Conference Room 3062
Class of 2025 Inductees include:
Major General Susan Davidson, Retired
Major General Kurt Ryan, Retired
Mr. William Lucas, Jr., SES, Retired
Command Sergeant Major Thomas Mott, Retired (Posthumous)
Military Dress: AGSU’s/Service Equivalent
Civilian Dress: Business Casual
To view your invitation, please click the link below. If you are unable to click on the link, please copy and paste the address into your web browser.
https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/SgX78nRUF8
We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony!
NDTA YOUNG LEADERS LUNCH
Learn to Leverage Personal Branding
and Professional Development
at the NDTA Young Leaders Lunch
Where: St. Louis Union Station Hotel – The Pegram Room
When: October 6, 2025, 12:30 PM CDT
Are you a young military, government or industry leader attending the NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting, “Power Global Development & Distribution—Ready, United, Decisive!” October 6-9? If so, the Young Leaders Lunch is designed especially for early-career government and industry professionals to network and gain practical career advice.
This year’s NDTA Young Leaders Lunch will feature a discussion about building your personal brand and taking advantage of professional development opportunities to advance your career. Whether you’re serving in the military or government, building a career in industry, or thinking about making a transition, you’ll hear advice from experienced government and industry professionals about how to maximize your strengths, develop your skills and distinguish yourself in the workplace.
Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. Registration is not required. Arrive early to claim your seat!
Editor’s Picks
U.S. Marine Corps’ ALPV USV Sets Off on First Island Chain Transit
(Naval News) The 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion (LLB) is conducting its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) event, Resolute Dragon 2025, with the Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel (ALPV), an unmanned logistics and sensing USV developed by Leidos. The test is staged in Okinawa for a trip around Japan’s southwestern Ryukyu Islands.
Air Force Experiments with AI, Boosts Battle Management Speed, Accuracy
(War.gov) Last month, the Air Force wrapped up the second decision advantage sprint for human-machine teaming, known as DASH 2, a fast-paced experiment exploring how artificial intelligence can help operators make faster, smarter decisions in complex battlespaces. DASH 2 was led by the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team.
How Radia Hopes to Move DoD Cargo with the World’s Largest Airplane
(Breaking Defense) While designed primarily to move massive wind turbine blades, the WindRunner aircraft under development by Radia could serve military applications, with the Pentagon and US Congress taking an interest in the aircraft’s utility for the DoD. The WindRunner is set to measure 356 feet with a wingspan of 261 feet. The jet’s cargo length caps out at 344 feet.
New Quick Reaction Force Will Counter Military Base Drone Incursions
(TWZ) The U.S. military will soon have teams that can respond within 24 hours to drone incursions at homeland installations. The head of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Gen. Gregory Guillot, announced the new effort Thursday during the Falcon Peak 25.2 counter-drone evaluation taking place at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
New U.S. Army Watercraft Transports Marine NMESIS in Test
(Naval News) The U.S. Army’s next-generation landing craft transported a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in a cross-service test in Hawaii to enhance their interoperability and transport capabilities of the Marine Corps anti-ship launchers across the Indo-Pacific. Last week’s beach rehearsal at Marine Corps Base Hawaii involved the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and the 7th Transportation Brigade.
(uscg.mil) The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC 905) returned to their home port in Portsmouth last week, concluding an 83-day maritime border security patrol in the Caribbean Sea and Windward Passage. Spencer’s crew deployed in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry while underway in the Coast Guard Southeast District area of responsibility.
Crowley Achieves ISO Distinctions for Quality and Safety Best Practices
(Crowley.com) Crowley has been certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards by ABS Quality Evaluations, an accredited registrar for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification reinforces Crowley’s commitment to robust quality, safety and sustainability and recognizes the efficiency and consistency of its process and management systems.
Delta Partners with Maeve Aerospace to Advance Hybrid Regional Aircraft
(Delta.com) Delta Air Lines is partnering with Maeve Aerospace to advance the development of Maeve’s revolutionary hybrid electric aircraft for regional flights. Compared to today’s regional aircraft designs, the MAEVE Jet is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 40% using conventional jet fuel, with further lifecycle emissions reductions possible when using sustainable aviation fuel.
MANTECH Wins $910 Million U.S. SOUTHCOM Defense Contract
(Globe News Wire) MANTECH announced winning a $910 million contract to provide comprehensive enterprise-level cyber and data-informed IT services to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and mission partners.
“Always advancing the capabilities of our warfighters and delivering the all-important edge in combat, MANTECH advances our clients’ missions and national security,” said MANTECH CEO & President Matt Tait. “We are proud to support SOUTHCOM in meeting this essential objective.”
MITRE and FAA Introduce Novel Aerospace Large Language Model Evaluation Benchmark
(Mitre.org) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and MITRE are introducing a new benchmark to enable the evaluation and assessment of large language models (LLMs) for aerospace tasks. Given the safety-critical nature of aerospace, it is imperative that LLMs undergo thorough evaluation prior to their integration into systems.
The Aerospace Language Understanding Evaluation (ALUE) benchmark provides a crucial tool for guiding the assurance of LLMs tailored to the unique demands of the aerospace domain.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.