The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
September 29, 2020
Online, But Just as Interactive
We are now less than a week away from the NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting. While this meeting has taken place for several years, 2020 marks the first virtual event. Despite that significant difference, the interactive nature of this event remains. Attendees will still be able to communicate with each other and ask questions of speakers and panels through chat boxes, explore the NDTA expo hall, and participate in a variety of committee meetings. Join us for all the Fall Meeting has to offer. […READ MORE…]
The Surface Force Projection Virtual Conference was held on July 29-30, 2020. The conference was presented by the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies (CNU CAS), in collaboration with the US Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), and the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). This year’s theme was Enabling Dynamic Force Employment Through Global Port Readiness.
On day one of the conference, VADM Dee L. Mewbourne, USN, Deputy Commander, US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) led a panel discussion on the command’s support to surface force projection, including associated challenges and initiatives. Panelist included senior members of the USTRANSCOM staff: Bruce Busler, Director, Joint Distribution Process Analysis Center; Brig Gen Michelle Hayworth, USAF, Director of Command, Control, Communication, and Cyber Systems (TCJ6); Andy Dawson, Senior Supply Chain Project Manager; and Robert Brisson, Deputy Director of Operations. […READ MORE…]
Partner News
By Michael P. Kleiman, USTRANSCOM Public Affairs
Echoing the event theme of “Innovative and Disruptive…20/20 Vision for the Future,” the three roundtables scheduled for the first-ever virtual National Defense Transportation Association-U.S. Transportation Command Fall Meeting 2020, October 5 to 8, features participation by senior U.S. military, government, industry, and academic leaders.
For example, the first of the three panel discussions, the Senior Enlisted Leader roundtable, “Innovations Achieved in Spite of Obstacles,” happens Monday, October 5, 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. CDT. Moderated by U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jason France, senior enlisted leader, USTRANSCOM, the panel will be comprised of U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Brian Kruzelnick, command chief master sergeant, Air Mobility Command; U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rocky Carr, command sergeant major, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command; U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Rick Dyksterhouse, command master chief, Military Sealift Command; and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Linda Thrasher, senior enlisted advisor, USTRANSCOM’s Joint Transportation Reserve Unit. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
A Cyber Cautionary Tale: Unnamed Agency Suffers Sophisticated, Possibly Nation State, Attack
(Federal News Network) A virtual private network vulnerability that has been known since December. Stolen credentials of a power user. A poorly configured firewall. It didn’t take long for the hacker to own this unnamed federal agency.
The Pentagon is Eyeing a 500-Ship Navy, Documents Reveal
(Defense News) The Pentagon’s upcoming recommendation for a future Navy is expected to call for a significant increase in the number of ships, with officials discussing a fleet as large as 530 hulls, according to documents obtained by Defense News.
The Next Generation Security and Privacy Controls—Protecting the Nation’s Critical Assets
(National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST]) This month, NIST unveiled a historic update to its security and privacy controls catalog that will provide a solid foundation for protecting organizations and systems—including the personal privacy of individuals—well into the 21st century.
Air Force Taps AT&T 5G to Boost Network Services at 3 Bases
(FedScoop) The Air Force has inked a deal with AT&T to bring 5G wireless technology to three new bases in support of the service’s enterprise IT-as-a-service and network-as-a-service models.
Global Shipping in Crisis: World Leaders Ignoring the S.O.S.
(Forbes) How many more signals do world leaders need to see to believe that global shipping is an industry in meltdown?
TOTE Maritime Alaska Celebrates 45 Years of Service
(TOTE) TOTE Maritime Alaska, an affiliate of TOTE, LLC, celebrates the 45th anniversary of its inaugural sailing between Washington and Alaska. This anniversary represents nearly half a century of dedicated service between the Lower 48 and the communities of the Last Frontier.
FedEx Teams Up With Reliable Robotics on Autonomous Cargo Planes
(Supply Chain Dive) FedEx is working with Reliable Robotics to pilot the use of an unmanned single-engine aircraft for cargo delivery, CEO Fred Smith said last week during the company’s annual stockholder meeting.
Telesto Group Achieves Select Consulting Partner Status in the AWS Partner Network
(Telesto Group) Telesto Group LLC, an ERP solutions provider focused on the U.S. public sector, is now a Select Consulting Partner in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN).
Norfolk Southern’s 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report Highlights Commitment to a More Sustainable Future
(Norfolk Southern) Customers who ship with Norfolk Southern helped avoid almost 15 million metric tons of carbon emissions in 2019 by choosing rail for their transportation needs instead of highway shipping, according to Norfolk Southern’s recently released Corporate Responsibility report. That equates to saving approximately 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel.
How Should We Future-Proof Our Supply Chains?
(Agility) Seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses of all kinds are devising ways to protect themselves from future shocks by making their supply chains more resilient. In doing so, they need to guard against the mistake of preparing for the last battle rather than the coming one.
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