Defense Transportation Journal

The Official Publication of the National Defense Transportation Association

April 2022

www.ndtahq.com

The Travel Issue

U.S.-flag shipping & logistics solutions from America’s leading Ro-Ro Carrier

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THE LANDSTAR ADVANTAGE A recognized industry leader, Landstar provides safe, secure, reliable transportation services delivered by our unique network of independent agents and capacity providers.

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• Unit moves with onsite carrier representative

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| Defense Transportation Journal | APRIL 2022

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FEATURES April 2022 • Vol 78, No. 2 PUBLISHER

A TRAVELING EMPLOYEE EXPECTS DUTY OF CARE. HERE’S WHY.

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TSA PRECHECK BENEFIT LETS YOU TRAVEL WITH EASE

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MOTORCOACH DRIVER SHORTAGE DELAYS DOD TRAINING & MISSIONS

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By Michael Coleman

VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.) MANAGING EDITOR

Sharon Lo | slo@cjp.com CIRCULATION MANAGER

Leah Ashe | leah@ndtahq.com PUBLISHING OFFICE

NDTA 50 South Pickett Street, Suite 220 Alexandria, VA 22304-7296 703-751-5011 • F 703-823-8761

GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGER

Debbie Bretches

By TSA Strategic Communications and Public Affairs

By the Defense Travel Management Office

THE NDTA-DTMO GOVTRAVELS LITE WRAP-UP

18-27

ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR

Bob Schotta bschotta@cjp.com

ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION Carden Jennings Publishing Co., Ltd. Custom Publishing Division 375 Greenbrier Drive, Suite 100 Charlottesville, VA 22901 434-817-2000 x330 • F 434-817-2020

Defense Transportation Journal (ISSN 0011-7625) is published bimonthly by the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), a non-profit research and educational organization; 50 South Pickett Street, Suite 220, Alexandria, VA 22304-7296, 703-751-5011. Copyright by NDTA. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices.

DEPARTMENTS CYBERSECURITY LESSONS FROM THE FIELD | Ted Rybeck........................................ 8 PRESIDENT’S CORNER | VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.)....................................... 9 CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE.......................................................................................28 HONOR ROLL..................................................................................................29 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS.................................................................................... 30

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One year (six issues) $40. Two years, $60. Three years, $75. To foreign post offices, $45. Single copies, $6 plus postage. The DTJ is free to members. For details on membership, visit www.ndtahq.com.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Defense Transportation Journal 50 South Pickett Street, Suite 220 Alexandria, VA 22304-7296

We encourage contributions to the DTJ and our website.

To submit an article or story idea, please see our guidelines at www.ndtahq.com/media-and-publications/submitting-articles/.

NDTA Headquarters Staff VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.) President & CEO COL Craig Hymes, USA (Ret.) Senior VP Operations Claudia Ernst Director, Finance and Accounting Lee Matthews VP Marketing and Corporate Development Jennifer Reed Operations Manager Leah Ashe Membership Manager Rebecca Jones Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Denny Jeong Project Coordinator For a listing of current Committee Chairpersons, Government Liaisons, and Chapter & Regional Presidents, please visit the Association website at www.ndtahq.com.

EDITORIAL OBJECTIVES The editorial objectives of the Defense Transportation Journal are to advance knowledge and science in defense logistics and transportation and the partnership between the commercial transportation industry and the government transporter. DTJ stimulates thought and effort in the areas of defense transportation, logistics, and distribution by providing readers with: • News and information about defense logistics and transportation issues • New theories or techniques • Information on research programs • Creative views and syntheses of new concepts • Articles in subject areas that have significant current impact on thought and practice in defense logistics and transportation • Reports on NDTA Chapters EDITORIAL POLICY The Defense Transportation Journal is designed as a forum for current research, opinion, and identification of trends in defense transportation and logistics. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Editors, the Editorial Review Board, or NDTA. EDITORIAL CONTENT Archives are available to members on www.ndtahq.com.

Sharon Lo, Managing Editor, DTJ NDTA 50 South Pickett Street, Suite 220 Alexandria, VA 22304-7296 703-751-5011 • F 703-823-8761 slo@cjp.com

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CYBERSECURITY LESSONS FROM THE FIELD Coast Guard Cybersecurity Lessons from the Field

By Ted Rybeck Chair, Benchmarking Partners, & Chair, NDTA Cybersecurity Best Practices Committee

This series of articles will draw on real cases of companies as an amalgam under the name DIB-Co. Each edition will include micro-case installments of how the company transformed itself. On this journey, DIB-Co will go from being unaware that they were part of the Defense Industrial Base to recognizing that dozens of their customers were suppliers to the iconic giants of US defense logistics.

TAKEAWAYS

• Unifying a view of public-private mobilization on cyber readiness will be a focus during the NDTA Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC).

• US Coast Guard (USCG) lessons learned provide insights on pushing the envelope on community by community cyber readiness.

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he NDTA Cybersecurity Committee will be holding sessions with technology providers to accelerate the continued cyber progress of US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) suppliers. Likewise, the Committee supports the united DOD message that will be shared on May 19, 2022, at the NDTA Surface Force Projection Conference.

The session will be led by the leadership of both the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 and the Defense Industrial Base Collaborative Information Sharing Environment/Defense Cyber Crime Center (DCISE/D3), and will be moderated by Norfolk’s Captain of the Port, CAPT Sam Stevens, USCG. As CAPT Stevens accurately said in preparation for this upcoming session, “Cyberreadiness can no longer be left to the techni-

cal leaders. It’s the job of the mission leaders with those technical leaders as members of our overall team.”

The Cybersecurity Committee puts special attention on drawing best practices from the Coast Guard based on the USCG’s unique role with private sector critical infrastructure owners outside of the DOD’s scope. ADM Jim Loy, USCG, former Commandant of the Coast Guard and founding Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), focused directly on critical infrastructure protection when he guided NDTA’s formation of what became the Cybersecurity Best Practices Committee after 9/11.

As a component within DHS, the Coast Guard is a part of the Sector Risk Management Agency for ten of the sixteen designated Critical Infrastructures.1 Consequently, the Cybersecurity Committee will seek insights from each Coast Guard District.

For example, Captain of the Port in New York City, CAPT Zeita Merchant, USCG, met with the Committee to prepare an upcoming session and she immediately prioritized cyber readiness. “On the first day of my change of command to Sector New See Cybersecurity pg. 30

PRESIDENT’S CORNER Proactive and Prepared VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.) NDTA President & CEO

G

reetings NDTA team. I hope this finds you, your family and friends safe and well. This year started out challenging and uncertain with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Unfortunately, we could not conduct our in-person GovTravels 2022 Symposium with the Defense Travel Management Office and the General Services Agency. Instead, we held GovTravels Lite, a virtual event featuring a mix of speakers, panels, classes and meetings. NDTA and our government partners were able to put together a valuable combination of sessions, with two more Travel Academy sessions scheduled

for later this summer. I want to thank our skilled and dedicated NDTA staff for their great work in orchestrating these virtual sessions on short notice. GovTravels 2023 promises to be a great event! Thankfully, things seem to be getting back to normal and we are hoping for in-person meetings from here on out.

We greatly appreciated USTRANSCOM’s engagement with industry throughout the Fall of 2021 and into 2022. The first challenge centered around COVID and Executive Order (EO) 14042 Requirements for COVID-19 Vaccination of Federal Contractors. US-

WELCOME NEW CORPORATE MEMBERS as of April 30, 2021

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

• Air Charter Service • Coleman Worldwide Moving (upgrade) • Ernst & Young (upgrade)

SUSTAINING • Able Freight • The Flight Lab Aviation Consulting LLC

TRANSCOM immediately engaged Department of Defense leadership and worked with industry to determine the impacts that the mandate would have on transportation and logistics readiness.

Many in industry were ready and working to comply with the EO, but some found See Pres. Corner pg. 30

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A Traveling Employee Expects Duty of Care. Here’s Why.

By Michael Coleman, SVP, Strategic Partnerships, Government and Corporate Solutions, Global Guardian

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uty of Care providers set their clients up for success by preparing them for their travels, providing situational awareness, and offering support if a crisis strikes.

On the morning of September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria slammed into

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Puerto Rico with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. The powerful storm killed nearly 3,000 people and caused close to $100 billion in damage. Homes and businesses were destroyed, and power and telecommunication infrastructure knocked out. Global Guardian swiftly dispatched a team to help our clients caught in the

worst natural disaster to hit Puerto Rico in 80 years.

Collins English Dictionary describes duty of care as “the legal obligation to safeguard others from harm while they are in your care, using your services, or exposed to your activities.” The way I see it, however, employers have a duty to care for their employees, especially when they are traveling for work and facing unfamiliar, unusual, and, as was the case in Puerto Rico, dangerous circumstances.

Duty of care begins even before a traveler hits the road. It involves providing pre-trip briefings and intelligence alerts. But while intelligence alerts, location sharing, and in-

alerts and notifies their employer about their situation, they also respond to the needs of the client. At Global Guardian, the safety of our clients is of utmost priority.

In response to Hurricane Maria, our team provided clients with satellite phones, distributed food and water, and conducted damage assessments of hundreds of sites.

Amid the chaos, we were able to pinpoint the location of our clients, notify their employers about their whereabouts and well-being, provide travelers with intelligence updates and guidance on the situation as it was unfolding, and attend to medical emergencies. Using a combination of boats, helicopters, and fixedwing assets, we evacuated more than 1,500 people to safety by mission end.

The Benefits of Using a Provider for Duty of Care

surance plans are all critical components of duty of care, duty of care is more than just that. It is about going the last mile. Do you as an employer have the ability to address medical and security incidents that your employee may face while traveling? Can you, for example, provide medical care to that employee—whether that is treating broken bones or a concussion or conducting a medical evacuation to a location with proper medical facilities? Are you able to safely move them out of harm’s way during a security incident, like a terrorist attack, for example?

When a crisis does occur, an effective duty of care provider not only offers the client on the ground real-time intelligence

The real benefit of having a service provider manage duty of care is that we act as the connective tissue between the traveler and their organization. We provide the reachback capability, real-time direction to the traveler, and accurate information to decision-makers sitting in the head office who can then make decisions that are founded in fact rather than as a response to a frantic phone call. Taking this responsibility off the employee, as well as the employer, makes a world of difference to them.

In the absence of proper duty of care, it often becomes incumbent on the traveler to let their employer know where they are and what’s going on. If the supervisor does not have a way to track a traveling employee, or even the luxury of a local network, then the kind of advice they can offer or proactive steps they can take when that employee’s life is in danger is severely restricted. If a company is unable to respond in an agile manner it falls on the traveler to extricate themselves from the crisis that they find themselves facing.

The insights provided by the tools of duty of care, location sharing in particular, help ensure a precise, tailored, and educated response in a crisis, rather than a haphazard one. You’re not just responding for the sake of responding when you know where exactly your employee is located and the nature of the danger they are in.

Key Components of Duty of Care Pre-trip planning and preparation: This includes providing clients with intelligence reports and alerts about crime, conflict, health emergencies, or even an impending natural disaster at the traveler’s destination. It includes creating awareness of local customs, health and hygiene issues, and providing a checklist of things a traveler may need when away from home.

Traveler location sharing: A location sharing platform should include a management control center where managers can see where in the world their employees are traveling.

This eyes-on capability is critical, and even lifesaving, in a crisis. Managers can quickly locate their employees and make informed decisions about bringing their employees to safety.

Communications: The ability to communicate is critical in an emergency. A person needs to be able to communicate with a trusted partner, one that is professional, well-networked, well-informed, and is able to get them out of a crisis. Global Guardian provides its clients real-time situational awareness, whether that is to the employee in the middle of a crisis or their employer in an office halfway around the world.

Emergency response: When a traveler finds themselves in a crisis, emergency response will be activated by the duty of care provider.

Highly trained security professionals ensure a safe environment that is conducive to recovery and evacuation efforts, if needed. Medical professionals provide emergency care and medical consultations. And emergency care teams provide relief supplies, including food and water.

www.ndtahq.com |

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PREPARING TRAVELERS

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on travel. In an attempt to contain the spread of the virus, governments closed borders, often on short notice; rules about quarantines are constantly changing; and vaccinations, while readily available in some parts of the world, are less so in others. Further, as regional conflicts flare up, as is currently the case with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it adds to the anxiety of a traveler who is already preoccupied with trying to understand how to navigate a foreign country, a different culture, and an unfamiliar language.

In a crisis, the onus should not be on the traveler to keep their employers informed of their whereabouts. In fact, it would be bizarre to expect an employee caught in the middle of a hurricane, standing kneedeep in floodwaters, to call their boss to

In a crisis, the onus should not be on the traveler to keep their employers informed of their whereabouts. In fact, it would be bizarre to expect an employee caught in the middle of a hurricane, standing knee-deep in floodwaters, to call their boss to let them know where they are; that is if the storm has not already knocked out cell phone service.

let them know where they are; that is if the storm has not already knocked out cell phone service.

At the same time, it is unrealistic to expect an employer, sitting halfway across the world, to be well informed about the risks and threats at their traveling employee’s destination, or even whom to contact if that employee gets caught up in a crisis.

A business traveler’s primary focus should be their work, not worrying about travel. It is critical, therefore, that employers provide their traveling employee with peace of mind. The answer is proper duty of care.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST

While serving with the US Army in Honduras as garrison commander at the Soto Cano Air Base from 2018 to 2019, I of12

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ten came across tourists stranded by the side of the road, unable to communicate in Spanish. They would be so relieved to see someone who spoke their language. In that moment if you don’t have somebody whom you can trust and call on then you really are on your own. Trust is a critical ingredient of duty of care. Global Guardian has built networks of trust in more than 130 countries, with partners on the ground whom we can call on to help in a crisis, whether that is a medical emergency or a security incident.

The reality is global disruptions are increasing in frequency and magnitude. It is critical, therefore, that employers rethink how they provide duty of care and adapt to this new reality to keep their employees safe no matter where in the world they may be. At the end of the day, it is your people who are your most valuable asset and it is to them that you owe a duty of care. DTJ

Michael Coleman serves as senior vice president, strategic partnerships, government and corporate solutions at Global Guardian.

WHAT TO ASK WHEN VETTING A DUTY OF CARE PROVIDER The following can be used as a checklist of questions for leaders to ask when requesting information from providers: • How do you prepare my employees for travel and are there additional precautions for high-risk destinations? ●• Through your platform, will I have the capability to see employee travel itineraries, locations, and corresponding security alerts?

• What channels of communications are available to my travelers? What if communication systems are down?

• What resources are available to provide security and medical support when an incident occurs?

• Where are your assets—aircraft, agents, vehicles—located?

• Can you respond in real-time or do you need to bring in assets from outside? And if that is the case, do those people have relationships on the ground, speak the local language, and understand the local culture?

• Using [insert example of a past incident] that my agency has encountered, how would your firm have provided support and altered the outcome?

www.ndtahq.com |

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TSA PreCheck Benefit Lets You Travel with Ease

By TSA Strategic Communications and Public Affairs

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or many, this summer marks a return to travel. The weather is warming up, and people are making plans. As summer approaches, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects travel volumes to continue to match and slightly exceed pre-pandemic levels. The TSA recommends passengers arrive in plenty of time to check in, check luggage, and complete security screening.

To help you travel with ease, the TSA offers free TSA PreCheck benefits to US Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees and all members of the US Armed Forces, including those serving in the US Coast Guard, Reserve, and National Guard, as well as cadets and midshipmen of the US Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Air Force Academy.

With TSA PreCheck there is no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets. For those traveling with families, children 12 and under can join a parent/guardian in any of the dedicated lanes.

Members of the US Armed Forces and DOD Federal civilians can use TSA PreCheck benefits for both official and personal travel. Be sure to update all travel reservations with your DOD ID number listed as the Known Traveler Number (KTN) to enjoy benefits. Civilian employees wanting to participate in TSA PreCheck must opt-in at milConnect (milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil) to activate the benefit.

For both military service members and DOD civilians, to add your KTN to DTS airline reservations open your DTS profile and enter your DOD ID number from the back of your Common Access Card (CAC) in the Known Traveler Number field in DTS or MyTravel.

In addition, TSA PreCheck has several helpful resources, including @AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger. You may also reach the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673 or email TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov.

Download the MyTSA app for 24/7 access to important info like ‘what can I bring?’, wait times, packing for security dos and don’ts, live assistance via AskTSA, airport delays and current weather conditions, plus discover which airports and airlines participate in TSA PreCheck. www.ndtahq.com |

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10 Tips for a Fast & Efficient TSA Checkpoint Experience TIP 1

While masks are no longer required by TSA, the situation can be fluid—so please bring a mask just in case. Many travelers are opting to continue

wearing masks.

Follow the rule that limits liquids. Gels and aerosols are limited to 3.4 ounces or less in carry-on baggage. There is an exception for hand sanitizer, which has a temporary 12-ounce limit. The general definition for this rule is that if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, then the carry-on quantity is limited.

TIP 2

Pack food in a clear plastic bag. If you plan to travel with food, it is a best practice to pack your food items in a clear plastic bag and place that clear plastic bag into your carry-on bag. When you get to the security checkpoint, remove and place the clear bag containing your food into the bin to reduce the opportunity for crosscontamination between the food and bins.

TIP 3

Leave prohibited items at home. To reduce the likelihood of physical contact with TSA officers at the checkpoint, be familiar with the TSA prohibited items list for carry-on bags. Travelers can check for prohibited items by using the “What Can I Bring?” page on TSA.gov and by downloading the free MyTSA app, which has a helpful “What Can I Bring?” feature.

TIP 4

Do not bring your firearm to a security checkpoint. Airline passengers can fly with firearms only in checked baggage. All firearms must be properly packed and declared with your airline at check-in. Contact your airline for additional guidance. Firearms at TSA checkpoints represent an unnecessary risk and an expensive mistake, as you may be subject to a civil penalty.

TIP 5

Give yourself plenty of time. Travel volumes are expected to be higher than they have been and some passengers may be traveling for the first time in quite a while. Extra time may be needed for parking, rental car and airline check-in counters, and at the checkpoint.

TIP 6

TIP 7

Empty your pockets when you get to the checkpoint. Place items inside your carry-on bag instead of into a bin to reduce touchpoints and not leave

anything behind.

Listen for guidance from TSA officers. They may be providing information on new technologies that help reduce touchpoints and make for a more streamlined and convenient passenger experience.

TIP 8

Contact TSA with your questions. Tweet your questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger, weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm EST. You can also call the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673 from 8 am to 11 pm EST or 9 am to 8 pm on weekends and holidays.

TIP 9

Enroll now in TSA PreCheck®. “Travel with Ease” by enrolling in TSA PreCheck and avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, laptops and light jackets. Most new enrollees receive a Known Traveler Number within five days, and membership lasts for five years.

TIP 10

It’s important to know that TSA PreCheck benefits only apply to service members and current DOD civilian employees. Those departing service, as well as traveling spouses or companions (ex16

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cept children 12 and under), must enroll directly. Many credit cards and loyalty programs cover the costs of enrollment, so check out TSA’s website to see if yours participates.

TSA INCORPORATES TECHNOLOGY TRENDS TO IMPROVE THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Identity management is mission critical to the TSA. To support the agency’s focus on a more contactless and seamless travel ex TSA has several initiatives in place at various airports to automate the identity verification process through the use of biometric and digital identity technologies.

TSA’s collaboration with industry and federal partners has been instrumental throughout this pandemic, and now we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel as demonstrated by the rapid recovery of the travel industry,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We are prepared and ready for a busy summer and are doing our part to ensure the traveling public is safe and secure by continuing to deploy new technologies within the checkpoint that enhance security, reduce physical contact, and improve the traveling experience. We just ask travelers to do their part by being respectful to each other and those who work in the transportation sector–from our officers to airport workers and flight crew.

In coordination with US Customs and Border Protection and industry partners, TSA is launching several initiatives that allow travelers to verify their identities using only their faces, or with the tap of their mobile device.

These efforts enable TSA to better meet the challenges of evolving security threats, rising air travel volumes, resource constraints, and limits on operational footprints.

Wherever you’re going, TSA can help make the journey a little smoother. enjoy free. Learn more about TSA PreCheck benefits for members of the US Armed Forces and DOD Civilians at: www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/news. cfm?ID=18 DTJ

Devil Raiders from the 821st Contingency Response Group load onto a bus June 19, 2021, after arriving to Travis Air Force Base, California. The team supported retrograde operations in the Central Command area of responsibility as part of Task Force 74, where they assisted Resolute Support Mission Airmen with the safe and orderly withdrawal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David W. Carbajal)

Motorcoach Driver Shortage Delays DOD Training & Missions By the Defense Travel Management Office

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he COVID-19 pandemic’s reduction in travel continues to disrupt the passenger travel industry in ways not always readily apparent. According to the American Bus Association, the US motorcoach industry suffered $12 billion in losses in 2020 and $7 billion in losses in 2021 as a result of the pandemic.

The motorcoach industry provides much-needed support to the US military, which frequently utilizes motorcoaches to transport troops domestically. Federal departments and agencies also use motorcoaches and buses to evacuate victims of natural disasters or national emergencies.

But recovery for this industry is being threatened by rising gas prices. Also threatening the bus industry’s recovery is a driver shortage that is being exacerbated by driver retirements and losses to other industries like trucking, delivery services, public

transportation, etc. In fact, the bus driver shortage has already begun to impact military surface moves used for training and shuttle transportation.

The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) recommends that Transportation Officers (TOs) submit their movement request through the Group Operational Passenger System (GOPAX) as far in advance as possible, and to be flexible with move dates and times. This gives bus carriers ample time to find drivers and work around already tight schedules.

TOs can use the new “Travel Information” section in GOPAX to add detailed, special requirements about the move including flexibility in move dates and times.

The Travel Information section works similarly to the public comments section, and allows for useful/customization which can be a great tool for facilitating communication between the unit and the carrier.

The motorcoach industry provides much-needed support to the US military, which frequently utilizes motorcoaches to transport troops domestically. Federal departments and agencies also use motorcoaches and buses to evacuate victims of natural disasters or national emergencies.

To help prevent last-minute cancellations and allow time to make alternative arrangements, TOs should confirm the move with the carrier 48 hours before the start of the move. For assistance in contacting approved carriers, please go to the Department of Defense (DOD) Approved Carrier List, contact the DOD Bus Team for assistance at: dodhra.mc-alex.dtmo. mbx.military-bus-program@mail.mil In addition, a TO Checklist is available to help TOs gather the details necessary prior to requesting a move in GOPAX at: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/ Checklist_for_TOs.pdf DTJ www.ndtahq.com |

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The Symposium on Government Travel & Passenger Services Rebound. Reconnect. Reimagine.

February 28-March 3, 2022 Text by Sharon Lo, Managing Editor, DTJ and The Source

GovTravels summary material, produced by NDTA, is intended to provide an overview of presentations and should not be considered verbatim. This information does not necessarily represent the official position of the US government or any of its entities, NDTA, or any of its corporate members. We regret any errors or omissions. For more information regarding the meeting, please visit NDTA’s website at www.ndtahq.com.

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GovTravels LITE Brings the Travel Community Together

By Sharon Lo, Managing Editor, DTJ & The Source

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hen COVID-omicron infections increased and federal guidance to minimize workforce exposure and protect the force was issued, the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), together with its partners at the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and the General Services Administration (GSA), made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person 2022 GovTravels Symposium.

The symposium, which is co-sponsored by NDTA and DTMO, is an annual gathering of US Government and industry travel experts focused on government-wide travel programs and travel policy. It is an important annual engagement event for the Association, the passenger travel industry, and their government partners that provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, outline strategic direction, collaboratively develop solutions, and build relationships.

Realizing the importance of this conference, NDTA, DTMO, and GSA created “GovTravels LITE,” a series of

“Year after year we experienced firsthand the value that this event brings—from the relationships we build and strengthen to the ideas that are exchanged and integrated.

And DTMO always walks away with a better understanding of what is happening across the travel landscape.” virtual events held between February 28 – March 3, 2022, at no cost to participants. GovTravels Lite successfully fostered travel industry and government engagement.

“The pandemic threw us another curveball at the last minute this year and we countered with the light version of the in-person symposium,” said NDTA President and CEO VADM William A. Brown, USN (Ret.). “I want you to know that we’ll continue to fight through this pandemic and NDTA will continue to

partner with DTMO and GSA, and do our best to continue to bring the passenger travel community together to work issues and improve readiness.”

This year marks the Defense Travel Management Office’s sixth year as a cosponsor of this great event,” said DTMO Acting Director Jennifer McPherson.

“Year after year we experienced firsthand the value that this event brings—from the relationships we build and strengthen to the ideas that are exchanged and integrated. And DTMO always walks away with a better understanding of what is happening across the travel landscape.”

McPherson described allowing participation from people who may not otherwise be able to attend as being one benefit of holding the conference virtually.

“It’s hard to believe we’re entering our third year of a global pandemic.

The passenger travel landscape on both the government side, as well as the travel industry side, has seen a lot of change since the pandemic started.

When it started, we couldn’t predict what was to come, and I don’t think any of us would have thought we’d be in much the same place today as we were last year,” said McPherson.

“Today, I can tell you that travel volume across the department increased in 2021 over what it was in 2020, but it’s still down about 40 percent of what it was prior to the pandemic. While none of us has a crystal ball to predict exactly what will come, when travel will resume at pre-pandemic levels, or when business will be back to normal, we can offer some insights and predictions into the future of government travel,” she added.

GovTravels LITE included several government and industry invitationonly meetings, professional sessions, and travel academy courses. Recordings of many of these discussions are available on NDTA’s website under the Education tab. GovTravels LITE will continue with a Hotel Council Meeting on May 18, and two Travel Academy classes on June 22 and August 24 respectively.

More information and links to these sessions can also be found on the NDTA website on the GovTravels agenda page. www.ndtahq.com |

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Passenger Travel Hot Topics: Let’s Get Serious About Rebounding, Reconnecting, and Reimagining

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he 2022 GovTravels LITE featured a panel discussion on passenger travel hot topics.

Moderated by Tony D’Astolfo, Chief Operating Officer at Serko, Ltd., the panel has become a staple of the GovTravels Conference. Panelists included Dale Buckner, CEO, Global Guardian; Tim Burke, SES, Executive Director, Office of Travel, Employee Relocation, and Transportation, Federal Acquisition Service, Government-Wise Category Management Executive for Travel; William Mansell, Director, Defense Support Services Center at Defense Human Resources Activity; and Bryan Scott, NDTA Government Passenger Travel Advisory Council (GPTAC) Chair, and Assistant Vice President Government Business, Enterprise Holdings. This year five topics were covered in-depth by the panel. Below is a summary of the panel members’ responses. Comments have been edited for length and clarity: What impact will virtual meetings technologies like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have on government travel in the years ahead? Can they be a viable ongoing replacement?

Burke: GSA has consolidated its operations in the Metropolitan Washington DC area over the last five to seven years. The agency had also begun to make strides in incorporating the virtual work environment in its daily operations well before the start of the pandemic, though the endeavor proved expensive.

GSA through its Public Building Service has a foundational responsibility to create facilities and operating conditions, but offsetting operating expenses 20

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is not the priority when it comes to reimaging the future of work as it relates to promoting a virtual work environment or prioritizing travel. Technology is unlikely to be capable of replacing the human interaction necessary to create teamwork and collaboration.

Mansell: In 2019, the Department of Defense (DOD) had approximately 4.3 million vouchers or trips taken.

In 2020, that number dropped to around 1.8 million vouchers. In 2021, the number increased to 2.6 million vouchers, indicating a gradual return to travel. The pandemic is the major cause of the reduction in trips, but as the pandemic abates that will increase.

Looking at the 230 installations that DOD tracks, 199 or 87 percent of installations are currently “green” meaning travel restrictions have been lifted.

Travel from one “green” installation to another is fine. However, travel from a “green” installation to a “red” installa-

tion where travel restrictions are still in place requires a waiver. Travel will come back, however, the ability to meet and work virtually has had a lasting impact.

Leaders recognize there are alternative ways to work, so while travel will return it is unlikely to get back to 4.3 million vouchers again.

Buckner: Travel will return in situations where trust must be built or that require leadership between leaders, such as large transactions, multi-million-dollar contracts, mergers or acquisitions, the integration of two companies on a contract, etc. There are certain things that cannot be accomplished through video conference and building trust—building relationships—is one of them. As more people have become vaccinated, firms are creating policies to prioritize who can travel and under what conditions. Travel for transactions that require trust is one condition that has increased exponentially.

In a similar vein, administrative tasks and training can often be accomplished using webinars, testing, and other technology. But technology cannot be substituted for physical engagement. You cannot teach someone to fire a weapon, to run an intelligence platform, or drive a vehicle a certain way virtually.

Instances that require physical interaction are a second criterion pushing a return to travel.

Scott: Technology can be a viable re-

placement, but not necessarily an ongoing one. The pandemic forced people to become comfortable with using technology and it will always be an option, but nothing will replace human interaction.

A recent Global Business Travel Association poll revealed that 72 percent of travelers are willing to go on a trip.

This number is drastically higher than where it was at this time last year and a good indication that travel will return.

Technology will be a support, but not a replacement to travel in the future.

What changes do you anticipate in government travel in a post-pandemic world? Will there be new “justification” of travel required? Will traveler health, safety, and wellness become a primary consideration in government travel going forward?

Mansell: DOD has a rigid process. The Joint Travel Regulations identify how to travel and what to do, there are business rules in the legacy Defense Travel System, and there are business rules to come from the MyTravel system.

In terms of a new justification, there’s nothing on the horizon yet from the Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance Committee (PDTATAC), the governing body that determines what travel policy will be for DOD. However, as we look at the return on investment in travel and factor in available technology there could be policy changes in the future that continue a trend toward accomplishing work virtually when and where possible. But changes in the near term will more

likely be driven by individual travel managers and by budget constraints.

With respect to health, safety, and wellness, the government will likely follow industry and society. These are important factors that should be taken into consideration. And, the safety best practices adopted by industry during the pandemic should be continued.

Burke: The full-time remote worker has become a reality within the Federal Government. At GSA, significantly more than 50 percent of the workforce is now categorized as full-time remote workers. This means they can work from anywhere and subsequently points to the need to establish an environment post-pandemic that is different than what we did going into the pandemic.

Full-time remote work is a reality impacting the Federal Government’s rebound to what will be the new normal.

There were three primary justifications implemented as a result of the Safer Federal Workforce initiative. In simplified terms they were: 1) travel should not take place if it can be replaced virtually; 2) a minimum number of travelers should be on the road to achieve the mission; and 3) personal protective equipment must be accessible so the travel can be done safely.

Following the attacks of September 11, the US went through a similar constraining, constricting, and contracting impact around the world that affected the entire world. But the ability of humankind to adjust prevailed and we are going through this same thing now.

Business travel is ultimately justified by business drivers such as customer relationships, new market development, product creation, partnerships, investment creation, etc. But duty of care, safety, and health should have always been important to any corporation or government, and going forward justifications will be more clearly embedded with these.

Scott: The ground transportation sector is seeing a greater emphasis on travel sustainability on the commer-

cial side. However, this is not, as one may expect, sustainability as it relates to fuel. This is where an employee is being encouraged to bundle trips together, so they are going on fewer, longer trips. From a car rental perspective, larger vehicles are being booked so that

At GSA, significantly more than 50 percent of the workforce is now categorized as full-time remote workers. This means they can work from anywhere and subsequently points to the need to establish an environment post-pandemic that is different than what we did going into the pandemic. passengers have greater distance within the confines of the vehicle. In addition, in some instances where two people booked one car, those two people are now booking separate vehicles to allow for social distancing.

Industry would like for travelers’ health, safety, and wellness to be a primary consideration in government travel going forward. Prior to the pandemic, the idea of safety centered on physical safety (i.e. crime prevention).

It’s now at the forefront of industry providers’ thinking to make sure travelers feel safe and that everything possible has been done to ensure that their hotel room, airplane cabin, or rental car has been sanitized for them. This is a change in the post-pandemic world that has been for the better.

Buckner: To frame this historically, look at the past few years—in 2015 the Paris terrorist attacks, in 2017 the coup in Turkey, COVID in 2020, and in 2021 there was the coup in Myanmar, the failure of the Indian medical system, and the evacuation of Afghanistan, followed this year by the situation in Ukraine. As we justify travel, what we’ve seen fail at a large scale globally for travelers is that tracking and alerts are not enough. There is a failure of www.ndtahq.com |

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vendors to get you out of a hurricane zone, a combat zone, or a terrorist attack. There is a failure of insurance, which is purchased in case of a worstcase scenario, but if you read the fine print more often than not these worstcase scenarios are not covered.

Ultimately if we’re going to justify putting people on the road, we must acknowledge that these systems are failing and that the volume of these major global disruptions continues to increase. This is one more part of the calculus. If you’re going to justify travel, then you’ve got to understand the riskreward, and consider what happens if you have to get them out and it’s not as simple as getting on your return flight Will sustainability be a major consideration in government travel?

Will policies change to encourage and/or mandate more sustainable methods of travel? Will offsets or the purchasing of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) be something the government participates in?

Burke: Sustainability is a major pillar of this Administration and electrification of vehicles is a high priority. This will require large investments in infrastructure. Without a strong push from the Administration, which is happening, the move toward electric vehicles will not get a foothold.

With regard to SAF, we anticipate how the government travel side will be impacted, but the government follows the market, it does not make it. The policy that gets pushed will help drive the procurement side, the procurement side is what delivers the product in the hands of the day-to-day transaction, affects the individual end-user, and affects management decisions on operating efficiency and effectiveness. On a practical level, this will be integrated into the City Pair Program, but only when the time is right. The framework for policy implementation, agency, and traveler behavior will be built when the market is able to deliver this in a trusted, reliable way. The government will not be 22

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on the leading edge in actual government travel impacts but we will be a leading supporter as the market evolves.

Scott: You can rent electric vehicles

now, but the infrastructure has to be built and it has to support the growth

of electric cars. This will happen and the range of these vehicles is going to increase. Industry will drive this, and manufacturers that are converting from gas fleets to electric fleets as they become more prevalent will change the industry. But industry’s sustainability efforts go beyond this from building LEED-certified buildings to sustainable aviation fuel and purchasing carbon offsets in vehicle rentals that can make a program completely carbon neutral. These are all things that are available today. If you think of a commercial program that takes these impacts into account and takes into consideration if a company is a good corporate citizen when choosing partners, that becomes a buying factor. This is something industry needs to work with government to bring to their awareness so the government can make this a buying factor as well.

Mansell: There’s a significant investment involved in sustainability for travel and government will follow the marketplace. If you look at the over-

all return on investment, we may be spending a little more today to meet a certain sustainability criterion. But what’s the overall cost of travel? If you factor in all of the variables, there are ways that costs in one part of travel can be offset by other costs to make it

more cost-effective and have a higher return on investment. A recent article said 87 percent of people are supportive of sustainable travel and make more environmentally friendly choices until it becomes an inconvenience for them.

Buckner: The forcing function is the Request for Proposal (RFP) process now. If you want to do business with the Fortune 1000, you are now being measured on your environmental impact in the RFP. Anything that touches the ability to lessen environmental impacts is the direction of the marketplace. If the government will follow the marketplace, ultimately the RFP will be the tool as the forcing function that aligns both corporate and government.

What impact will a more technology-enabled traveler have on government travel programs? How have traveler expectations changed in a post-pandemic world?

Mansell: Those travelers that are more technology-enabled are generally travel

literate—they understand the policies because they’ve taken the time to understand technology. MyTravel is being implemented and features significant improvements. This is the latest and greatest technology with all the bells and whistles, and it will be intuitive. If you take a technology-enabled traveler that understands policy that now has a state-of-the-art system what do you get? You get a traveler that follows the rules, that engages, that will be able to leverage the technology in their best interest.

This will result in fewer improper payments, it allows the infrastructure that supports travel (DTAs, OTAs, etc.) to be reduced by giving the traveler the capability to initiate travel on his or her own behalf, and the use of the technology allows for less use of travel management companies (TMCs).

While TMCs play a key role, often travelers go to TMCs rather than try to find the answer or understand policy themselves. All of this together will result in lower cost per travel and this

If you take a technology-enabled traveler that understands policy that now has a state-of-the-art system what do you get? You get a traveler that follows the rules, that engages, that will be able to leverage the technology in their best interest. is what we need in the government to help deal with the constrained budgets that we have.

Scott: Arguably the largest and most

emerging department you see is the executive-level leadership for customer experience. Traveler expectations have evolved. At a hotel, for example, you can check-in by your phone, you can walk into the hotel and get into your room with your phone, you never need to see anybody. For a car rental when you arrive, it’s the same thing— you want to bypass the counter, you

walk out into the lot or the garage, and you have not just one but a selection of vehicles, you climb into a vehicle and you drive out of the garage, you never see anybody. You come through the gate when you return, you return the car, you don’t need to stand there, you walk to your bus and the receipt is in your email before that bus pulls away. These are the new travel expectations. It’s the ease of it all and knowing how these customers travel. And what customers expect from their providers is going to help us determine who’s the leader in the industry and who captures this business. Providers must keep pace with the expectation of the traveler.

Buckner: Every app and connection you create on your cell phone, computer, or laptop carries risk. This can be the wi-fi in the hotel that you think is secure, but it’s actually not the wi-fi in the hotel—it’s a hacker in the lobby.

Or, it’s your cell phone and you don’t have the proper settings. Or you’re not on a VPN [Virtual Private Network] and connections being created are not being monitored. Through all of these scenarios, you’ve now created a vulnerability.

The questions then become how to introduce technology, what are the countermeasures to ensure its security, and are your people trained? Often everyone loves technology, but they fail to ask the hard question of how to secure themselves and their enterprise with the introduction of each new technology being used.

The government moving to a singular platform like MyTravel is absolutely the right decision and going in the right direction. But as you enable a traveler and the organization can now see them and all of their travel information from a purely administrative standpoint, that is wonderful but it is only half the solution. The technology is great and absolutely the right direction, but when a crisis hits, what comes next? In a crisis, technology means almost nothing.

Burke: The government relies heavily

on the marketplace as the investment risk on taxpayer money is significant when reaching beyond current limits.

The government makes trade-offs in its pursuit of delivering service to businesses.

Has there been an increase in hybrid/remote work in the government sector and how will it impact travel programs?

Burke: GSA is on re-entry number 17 update from the administrator’s office.

There will not be a return to the full office until April 11, 2022, and at that time it will only be the senior executives and critical political appointees returning. Prior to 2019, 56 percent of the eligible employees teleworked. That increased to 90 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic-related shutdown. It is anticipated that 82 percent of GSA’s workforce will continue this way.

Mansell: DOD employees are working from home in greater numbers due to the pandemic, which will continue.

The Health Protection Condition (HPCON) status drives a lot of this, but when the HPCON status drops the question of how many people are really needed in the office remains.

Leaders are becoming much more liberal in terms of how they look at this.

Buckner: The increase in remote work will impact travel programs by requiring organizations to extend the infrastructure used to support travelers to now also support those employees who work from home permanently.

For example, tracking and providing support following a natural disaster, having a check-in if employees need medical or mental health support, etc.

Corporate America is already headed in this direction, pivoting existing platforms to support their remote employees.

Scott: Remote and hybrid work are

here to stay, but travel will return.

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Travel Compliance: Ethics Training for Industry and Government, Department of Human Resources Activity

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thics at heart are moralistic principles—the concepts of right and wrong—applied to a profession,” explained Thomas Serrano, Legal Counsel to the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA). His comment was made as part of his presentation, Ethics Training for Industry and Government, Department of Human Resources Activity, the first in a series of four Travel Academy sessions that are part of the 2022 GovTravels [LITE] virtual event.

The presentation provided the government perspective on ethics, what government employees must consider in their interactions with industry and ethics principles. In addition, Serrano addressed specific topics related to ethics and provided examples of ethical violations.

Serrano summarized and paraphrased the 14 principles of ethics in public service into a “Do and Don’t” list for the audience:

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1

DO place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain

2

DO act impartially to all groups, persons, and organizations

3

DO give an honest effort in the performance of your duties

4

DO protect and conserve Federal property

5

DO disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities

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DO fulfill in good faith your obligations as a citizen and pay your Federal, State, and local taxes

7

DO comply with all laws providing equal opportunity to all persons, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap

8

DON’T use public office for private gain

9

DON’T use nonpublic information to benefit yourself or anyone else DON’T solicit or accept gifts

10 from persons or parties that do business with or seek official action from DOD (unless permitted by an exception)

DON’T make unauthorized

11 commitments or promises that bind the government

DON’T use Federal property oth-

12 er than for authorized activities

DON’T take jobs or hold fi-

13 nancial interests that conflict with your government responsibilities

DON’T take actions that give

14 the appearance that they are illegal or unethical

The Department of Defense (DOD) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards for all of its employees. To do that, DOD has support systems in place to help government employees determine what is ethically appropriate or legally required of its workforce. Adhering to the rules outlined by Serrano can help to avoid the ethical landmines of government-industry relationships and ensure you are ready to do what is right when ethical dilemmas arise.

MyTravel Demonstration for Industry

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he phased deployment of the successful Defense Travel Modernization prototype continues across the Department of Defense (DOD). The new capability, branded MyTravel, uses SAP Concur’s commercial Software as a Service (SaaS) to book travel, manage travel related expenses, and initiate travel-related financial transactions.

This contract award was the culmination of a years’ long business reform effort that began in 2017 when the Deputy Secretary of Defense directed the establishment of a cross functional team to improve travel performance for the Department. The Cross Functional Team – Travel conducted a review of existing policy, evaluated technical solutions to deliver an enhanced/modernized travel capability, and developed an acquisition strategy for a technical solution.

In August 2018, the Department selected SAP Concur to develop a travel system prototype, referred to as the “Defense Travel Modernization prototype” or “DTM,” aimed at reducing process and workflow complexity, maintaining and enhancing audit readiness, improving customer satisfaction, reducing cost, and aligning to commercial/industry best practices. If the prototype proved successful, it would eventually replace the legacy Defense Travel System (DTS).

During the prototype phase, the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) deployed the capability to over 2,000 users in the Fourth Estate, processing over $1 million in travel reimbursements. Having met the prototype success criteria, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition granted Authority to Proceed to the acquisition, testing, and deployment phase in July 2021, paving the way for the contract award.

With DTS, DOD procures the travel system and Travel Management Company (TMC) Service separately.

With MyTravel, the focus is on procuring travel-as-a-service—travel system and TMC services together.

MyTravel will provide DOD with always up-to-date, modern, state of the art travel application that is aimed at reducing process and workflow complexity, maintaining and enhancing audit readiness, improving customer satisfaction, reducing cost, and aligning to commercial and industry best practices.

During GovTravels LITE, members of the travel industry were invited to see a demonstration of MyTravel, presented by DTMO’s Lance Jenkinson.

In the demo, Jenkinson booked a trip from Washington, DC, to El Paso, Texas, which included a flight, rental car, and hotel room.

Once the trip cities were input into the system, a pop up provided tax exemption forms for the destination state. It is helpful for travelers to input their frequent flyer and other travel loyalty details into their profile, as those numbers can easily be added to reservations as the various parts of the trip are booked.

Bookings began with the airfare first.

A quick matrix showed different carriers in the selected market. The carriers are automatically sorted by policies, then by duration, followed by prices.

However, travelers can change this to shop by schedule. Improvements to booking airfare include a better management of seat selections and built-in charge card information which also checks the card is not expired.

Once an airfare is selected, the system processes it and moves on to the rental car booking. Rental car options include integrated rental car agencies, which are all preferred vendors. The system lists

these vendors in order of performance response time, which can change. The lowest cost compact car serves as the booking the base line, but travelers can pick other classes of cars with justification.

Throughout MyTravel, series of alerts and icons help travelers know which vendors and options are preferred and which fall within their travel policies.

If a traveler makes a selection that falls outside of policy, they can fill out a justification in the system that will be visible to them and their approving official. This justification will also provide information on what they selected and what was the most compliant option.

MyTravel will provide DOD with always up-to-date, modern, state of the art travel application that is aimed at reducing process and workflow complexity, maintaining and enhancing audit readiness, improving customer satisfaction, reducing cost, and aligning to commercial and industry best practices.

Following the rental car booking being processed, MyTravel moves on to booking a hotel. The per diem rates are already in the system and travelers can search a map with the available properties. The properties include DOD lodging, preferred Integrated Lodging Program (ILP) properties, and other properties. Travelers can indicate they are on orders to a military installation, which will change the calculations on how lodging policies are applied.

In some instances, e-receipts can integrate directly into the traveler’s expense report. Using a sample “past trip”, Jenkinson showed what information was imported for the traveler.

The demo showcased the many ways the traveler is given optimum amount of choice, which being encouraged to book within travel policies. It also highlighted just how far the Department has come in its efforts to create a modern, easy-touse travel system for its workforce. www.ndtahq.com |

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City Pairs: Travel Policies & Procedures, General Services Administration

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he City Pair Program (CPP) was developed to provide discounted air passenger transportation services to federal government travelers.

The program has a two-tier coach fair set-up. “We utilize a YCA fare, which is our ceiling fare, and then we also have a _CA fare which is our deeply discounted fare,” explained Ebony White, City Pair Program Manager, Office of Travel, Employee Relocation and Transportation.

The YCA is the highest amount or ceiling amount that should be paid for government travel. This fare should be available in all the markets where the government has solicited an award all year round. The _CA fare is a discounted fare that the airlines control and it is based on supply and demand.

So while the _CA fares may not always

“Year after year we experienced firsthand the value that this event brings—from the relationships we build and strengthen to the ideas that are exchanged and integrated.

And DTMO always walks away with a better understanding of what is happening across the travel landscape.” be available at the time of booking, their availability can change. A third, international business class fare is also solicited and offered in select markets.

This fare has both a YCA, _CA and

business class or _CB fares.

Benefits of the City Pairs Program include: • Fares priced on one-way routes, permitting agencies to plan multiple destinations • No advance purchase required • No minimum or maximum length stay required • Fully refundable tickets • Last seat availability (YCA fare) • No blackout periods Business travel demands are expected to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, according to the Government Business Travel Association (GBTA). Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 is the benchmark being used for pre-pandemic figures. In 2019, the government spent $3.16 bil-

lion on travel. By comparison, it only spent $1.56 billion and $1.18 billion in FY 2020 and FY 2021 respectively.

For FY 2022, estimated savings at the time of award are expected to be $1.1 billion. The government was able to award 12,626 markets, including over 95 percent of the non-stop markets that it had solicited. For FY 2023, the government will solicit 14,630 markets in its solicitation.

Federal Travel Regulations do offer some exceptions to the use of a contract City Pair fare. However, according to White, “we want to encourage travelers to stay with the airline in which a City Pair fare is awarded, even if they find a lower fare, and so compliance is important both within the program and to the airlines themselves.” DTJ

We hope you will join us as GovTravels LITE continues with additional virtual Travel Academy classes in the coming months. For details, visit the GovTravels Agenda page on the NDTA website.

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NDTA CORPORATE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNERS This award is presented to corporate members that have provided outstanding service in support of NDTA’s goals and programs at the local and national levels.

Congratulations to the travel industry 2022 NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award winners: Amtrak, Avis Budget Group, Choice Hotels International, CWTSatoTravel, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, SAP Concur, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. This award is presented annually to corporate members that have provided outstanding service in support of the Association’s goals and programs at the local and national levels.

2022 NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award Recipients: top row (L-R) Amtrak accepted by Roger DeLucia, Avis Budget Group accepted by Stephen Wright, Choice Hotels International accepted by Mark Cronin, and CWTSatoTravel accepted by Greg Harkins; bottom row (L-R), Enterprise Rent-A-Car accepted by Rich Dampman, SAP Concur accepted by Marques Tibbs-Brewer, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. accepted by Jake Paine.

Thank you to everyone who helped make GovTravels LITE a success.

Next year’s symposium is scheduled for February/March 2023 in Alexandria, Virginia.

We hope you will make it a priority to join us! www.ndtahq.com |

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CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

These corporations are a distinctive group of NDTA Members who, through their generous support of the Association, have dedicated themselves to supporting an expansion of NDTA programs to benefit our members and defense transportation preparedness.

AAR CORP. + PLUS Agility Defense & Government Services + PLUS Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) + PLUS AIT Worldwide Logistics, Inc. + PLUS ALARA Logistics + PLUS Amazon Web Services + PLUS American President Lines, LLC + PLUS American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) + PLUS Amtrak + PLUS Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings + PLUS Bennett + PLUS Cervello Global Corporation + PLUS CGI Federal + PLUS Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, Inc. + PLUS Construction Helicopters, Inc. (d/b/a CHI Aviation) + PLUS Crane Worldwide Logistics, LLC + PLUS Crowley + PLUS Deloitte + PLUS DHL Express + PLUS Enterprise Holdings + PLUS FedEx + PLUS Freeman Holdings Group + PLUS Global Guardian + PLUS Goldratt Consulting North America LLC + PLUS Hapag-Lloyd USA, LLC + PLUS International Auto Logistics + PLUS Kalitta Air LLC + PLUS Landstar System, Inc. + PLUS Liberty Global Logistics-Liberty Maritime + PLUS Maersk Line, Limited + PLUS Matson + PLUS Microsoft Federal + PLUS National Air Cargo, Inc. + PLUS Omni Air International, LLC + PLUS Patriot Contract Services, LLC + PLUS Plateau GRP + PLUS Salesforce + PLUS SAP + PLUS Schuyler Line Navigation Company LLC + PLUS Sixt rent a car + PLUS Southwest Airlines + PLUS The Suddath Companies + PLUS TOTE, LLC + PLUS Tri-State + PLUS US Ocean, LLC + PLUS Waterman Logistics + PLUS AEG Fuels Air Charter Service Amerijet International, Inc. Berry Aviation, Inc. BNSF Railway Boeing Company Boyle Transportation Bristol Associates Choice Hotels International Coleman Worldwide Moving CSX Transportation 28

| Defense Transportation Journal | APRIL 2022

CWTSatoTravel Echo Global Logistics, Inc. Ernst & Young Global Logistics Providers LLC ICAT Logistics KGL Leidos McKinsey & Company National Air Carrier Association

Norfolk Southern Corporation SAP Concur Sealift, Inc. Telesto Group LLC The Pasha Group The Port of Virginia Transportation Institute U.S. Bank Freight Payment Union Pacific Railroad Western Global Airlines Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

HONOR ROLL

OF

SUSTAINING MEMBERS AND REGIONAL PATRONS

ALL OF THESE FIRMS SUPPORT THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF NDTA

SUSTAINING MEMBERS AAT Carriers, Inc. Able Freight Accenture Federal Services Admiral Merchants Motor Freight, Inc. Akua Inc. Alacran Al-Hamd International Container Terminal Alytic, Inc. American Bureau of Shipping American Maritime Officers American Trucking Associations Ameriflight, LLC Apex Logistics International Inc. ArcBest Army & Air Force Exchange Service Arven Services, LLC At Ease Rentals Corporations ATS Specialized, Inc. Avis Budget Group Baggett Transportation Company BCD Travel Beltway Transportation Service Benchmarking Partners, Inc. Bolloré Logistics BWH Hotel Group Circle Logistics, LLC Coachman Luxury Transport Cornerstone Systems, Inc. Council for Logistics Research Cypress International, Inc. Dash Point Distributing, LLC Delta Air Lines Drury Hotels LLC Duluth Travel, Inc. (DTI) EASE Logistics EMO Trans, Inc. Estes Forwarding Worldwide, LLC Eurpac Evanhoe & Associates, Inc. Excl Hospitality - Suburban Suites/ MainStay Suites Eyre Bus Service, Inc. FSI Defense, A FlightSafety International Company REGIONAL PATRONS ACME Truck Line, Inc. Amyx Atlas World Group International C5T Corporation CakeBoxx Containers CarrierDrive LLC Cartwright International Columbia Helicopters, Inc. Dalko Resources, Inc.

GeoDecisions Global Secure Shipping Green Valley Transportation Corp.

Guidehouse Hilton Worldwide Hyatt Hotels IHG Army Hotels Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) Intermodal Logistics Consulting Inc. International Association of Movers International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), AFL-CIO Interstate Moving | Relocation | Logistics K&L Trailer Sales and Leasing Keystone Shipping Co. Langham Logistics, Inc. LMI Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association Martin Logistics Incorporated Mayflower Transit McCollister’s Global Services, Inc. Mento LLC Mercer Transportation Company mLINQS National Charter Bus National Corporate Housing, Inc. National Industries for the Blind (NIB) National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. National Van Lines, Inc. Nika Corporate Housing Northern Air Cargo, LLC Northern Neck Transfer Inc. Omega World Travel Omnitracs, LLC One Network Enterprises, Inc. ORBCOMM PD Systems, Inc. Perfect Logistics, LLC Perimeter Global Logistics (PGL) Pilot Freight Services PODS Enterprises LLC Port of Beaumont Port of Corpus Christi Authority Ports America Portus Prestera Trucking, Inc.

Enterprise Management Systems HLI Government Services JAS Forwarding John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Kalitta Charters, LLC Lineage Logistics Lynden, Inc. Move One Logistics North Carolina State Ports Authority NovaVision Inc.

Prosponsive Logistics PTS Worldwide Radiant Global Logistics Radisson Hotel Group Ramar Transportation, Inc. RedStone Logistics RESIDE Worldwide, Inc. Ryzhka International LLC Sabre SAIC Savi SeaCube Containers Seafarers International Union of NA, AGLIW SecureSystem US, Inc. SEKO Logistics Solerity SSA Marine St. Louis Union Station Hotel a Curio Hotel Collection by Hilton StarForce National Corporation Stevens Global Logistics, Inc. Swan Transportation Services The Cheney Company The DeWitt Companies The Flight Lab Aviation Consulting LLC The Hertz Corporation The Roosevelt Group TMM, Inc. Toll Group Trailer Bridge Transport Investments, Inc. Transportation Intermediaries Assn. (TIA) Travelport Triman Industries Inc. TTX Company Tucker Company Worldwide, Inc. U.S. Premier Locations Uber Technologies, Inc. United Airlines United Van Lines, Inc. UPS US1 Logistics WhyHotel Women In Trucking Association, Inc. World Fuel Services – Defense Solutions Yellow Corporation

Overdrive Logistics, Inc. PITT OHIO Port Canaveral Port of Port Arthur Port of San Diego Priority Worldwide Seatac Marine Services TechGuard Security Trans Global Logistics Europe GmbH

UNIVERSITIES Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign McKendree University

www.ndtahq.com www.ndtahq.com| | 29

Cont’d from Pres. Corner pg. 9 it challenging with their workforce. In the end, the situation has changed and the EO is no longer required. Again, USTRANSCOM (and OSD) were there to help clarify any issues that arose. The im-

Diplomatic efforts with Russia may ultimately fail. Other potential adversaries may become emboldened as well. The United States and the United States Military is up to the task—and I know the industrial base— the fourth component—is up to the task as we move forward.

plications from COVID for our Nation’s industrial base and supply chains still stand and cannot be forgotten. Therefore, NDTA will remain focused on support-

Cont’d from Cybersecurity pg. 8 York, the first call I received was regarding a cybersecurity incident with the Colonial Pipeline…This is what I focus on with our port partners: how do we harden our systems and prepare for these threats?” 2 Over the past two years, RADM John Mauger, USCG, facilitated the Cybersecurity Committee’s best practices exchange as the Coast Guard Senior Government Liaison to NTDA’s Board of Directors. As RADM Mauger takes on his next assignment covering the Northeast as Commander of Coast Guard District 1, NDTA looks forward to welcoming RDML (sel.) Wayne Arguin, USCG, as the new Senior Government Liaison.

During RADM Mauger’s tenure with NDTA’s Board, the Cyber Committee benefited from his previous experience serving under GEN Paul Nakasone, USA, during the standup of the US Cyber Command as Director of Training and Exer30

| Defense Transportation Journal | APRIL 2022

ing programs that build resilience.

Aside from COVID, economic pressure from rising inflation started in 2021 and has grown in 2022 as the world recovers from the global pandemic and now faces a Russian government that is undeterred once again. The security of Europe, the Middle East—and potentially the Western Hemisphere is at risk as the democratic country of Ukraine is being destroyed by a dictator who uses the threat of nuclear weapons. Ukrainians are fighting back, but they need more help from world leadership. NATO appears constrained because Mr. Putin holds nuclear weapons and has a first use policy.

In the year 2000, Russian military doctrine stated that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons “in response to a large-scale conventional aggression.” Russia’s false pretexts and lack of respect for international law have allowed their rationalization for similar Russian military incursions in Moldova, Armenia, Syria, Georgia, and Belarus. This gradual encroachment is on full display to world leaders now in Ukraine. World leaders

must decide if the Ukrainian people are receiving the protection they deserve and if the risks are worth taking. Regardless of those decisions, we at NDTA must stay ready and prepared to do our part to support a strong national defense.

Diplomatic efforts with Russia may ultimately fail. Other potential adversaries may become emboldened as well. The United States and the United States Military is up to the task—and I know the industrial base—the fourth component—is up to the task as we move forward.

NDTA members are important to our nation’s security. I encourage everyone to stay engaged. We have the Surface Force Projection Conference in May 2022 and the Fall Meeting in October. Please call me or COL (Ret.) Craig Hymes at any time if we can be of any assistance, provide advice or vice versa. This year, 2022, is a year to proactively lead and prepare for what may well be increased engagement across the globe and in every domain. Thank you for your support to our nation’s defense—and support to our coalition partners. DTJ

cises (J7). In that role, RADM Mauger developed joint training and assessment standards and orchestrated over two dozen large-scale exercises for the Cyber Mission Forces, partner nations, interagencies, all Services, National Guard, Reserves, and private industry. In retrospect, RADM Mauger experienced the reality that, “we have to collaborate across agencies and the private sector because we’re defending the democracy against total unconstrained information warfare.”

In keeping with that threat, the Coast Guard developed the Cyber Protection Team (www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/CGCYBER/Maritime-Cyber-Readiness-Branch) to help organizations in the maritime transportation system assess network vulnerabilities among partners and harden systems. Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly highlighted the Coast Guard’s new Cyber Protection Teams along with other cyber-readiness resources on the CISA website (www.cisa.gov/shields-up) in her unprecedented 3-hour critical infrastructure alert call with 13,000 industry stakeholders.3

Heightened threats raise the need for these Shields Up resources. To quote DIBCo’s new CEO, “We have no internal IT staff, but my personal priority and my responsibility as CEO is to make sure we’ve recertified every node of our operations against vulnerabilities.” DTJ 1. https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors 2. https://waterfrontalliance.org/2022/03/24/ women-on-the-waterfront-captain-zeita-merchant/ 3. https://www.cisa.gov/news/2022/03/22/readoutcisa-call-critical-infrastructure-partners-potentialrussian-cyberattacks

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www.ndtahq.com |

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Thank you for your courage We thank the men and women in uniform who sacrifice for our country and display bravery daily. It’s an honor to serve them in any way we can — around the world.

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| Defense Transportation Journal | APRIL 2022