Surface Force Projection Conference
Enabling Dynamic Force Employment through Global Port Readiness
"Ready Now- Contested Joint Force Deployments to and through Strategic Ports"
May 14-17, 2024
Co-hosted by Christopher Newport University's Center for American Studies and the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA)
About the Conference
Join us as CNU's Center for American Studies and NDTA for our Annual Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC). The SFPC brings together U.S. government and industry logistics and transportation experts, and members of the Joint Logistics Enterprise (JLE), to examine a wide range of challenges associated with deploying forces and moving sustainment to the point of need. Together we will build and strengthen our relationships, examine challenges, look for solutions, educate and collaborate and find ways to improve readiness and capacity.
Attendees will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions and meetings, engage with notable keynote speakers, moderators, and panelists, and network at receptions and the exhibit hall. The 2024 SFPC focuses on the readiness challenges associated with deploying forces in a contested environment through strategic seaports to destinations around the world.
The 2024 SFPC will feature:
- Meetings and Breakout Sessions – Meet, network and join the discussion with government and industry leaders covering topics on, intermodal security, port readiness, port security grants, strategic seaports, and the Joint Transportation Management System.
- Keynote Speakers – Listen and engage with our six, senior government, military and industry keynote speakers as they discuss the contested environment, deployment operations, global force projection, evolving technology and future logistics and transportation innovations.
- Panels – Learn from our three panels as their moderators guide the discussion on physical threats to ports, maximizing deployment flows and providing data redundancy for continuity of operations.
Please join NDTA and the CAS along with the NDTA Surface Transportation Committee and Ports Subcommittee as we team with USTRANSCOM’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Military Sealift Command (MSC), U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), the U.S. Coast Guard, the logistics and transportation industry and academia as we collaborate and work together to build logistics and transportation capability and capacity.
We will have a variety of Keynote Speakers, panel discussions, and networking breaks, along with a Welcome Reception on the 12th and a Continental Breakfast and Luncheon on the 13th. Same-day registration will occur on March 12 from 12 to 1 p.m. and March 13 from 8 to 9 a.m.
| Price | Early Bird rate (on or before April 5, 2024) | Regular rate (on or after April 6, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Member | $380 | $405 |
| Industry Non-Member | $405 | $430 |
| Active Military/Government | $180 | $205 |
An optional lunch is available for Wednesday, May 15 for additional price of $15. Lunch must be purchased by May 02. If you do not order lunch in advance, it cannot be ordered on-campus. If you are unsure at the time of your registration if you will be at the event for lunch on May 15, you can return to your account profile and order lunch at a later date, but not after midnight on May 02. Lunch is non-refundable.
Agenda
May 14, 2024| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 4:00 pm |
MARAD Gateways Summit (by invitation only) Moderator: Captain Jeffrey C. Flumignan, USN (Ret.), Director, Office of Maritime & Intermodal Outreach, Maritime Administration Description: The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) ten regional Gateway Office Directors meet annually. MARAD is pleased to hold this meeting in conjunction with the Surface Force Projection Conference. |
Washington Room, David Student Union (Second Floor) |
| 1:00 – 4:30 pm | Registration | Ferguson Center, Peebles Foyer |
| 1:00 – 4:00 pm | Exhibit Hall Set-Up | Ferguson Center |
| 3:15 – 8:00 pm | Port of Virginia Norfolk International Terminal Tour | Port of Virginia, Norfolk International Terminal |
May 15, 2024
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 am – 5:00 pm | Registration | Ferguson Center, Peebles Foyer |
| 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | Exhibit Hall Set-Up | Ferguson Center |
| 8:00 – 9:00 am |
Breakout Session #1: TSA Intermodal Security Training and Exercise Program (I-STEP) Description: This session will focus on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Intermodal Security Training and Exercise Program (I-STEP). I-STEP is a federal exercise program focused on security in the Nation’s transportation sector that provides training and security planning tools; its mission is to enhance security and reduce risk across the transportation network. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 8:00 am – 1:00 pm |
MARAD Gateways Summit (by invitation only) Moderator: Captain Jeffrey C. Flumignan, USN (Ret.), Director, Office of Maritime & Intermodal Outreach, Maritime Administration Description: The Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) ten regional Gateway Office Directors meet annually. MARAD is pleased to hold this meeting in conjunction with the Surface Force Projection Conference. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 9:00 – 11:00 am |
Meeting: U.S. Coast Guard COTP and Port Readiness Committees (PRC)
|
Peebles Theatre |
| 11:00 – 11:15 am | Break | Ferguson Center |
| 11:15 am – 12:15 pm |
Breakout Session #2: Port Study and Port Look Study Reports Moderator: Mr. Philip Krueger, Chief of Ports for National Defense, Transportation Engineering Agency, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) Description: An examination of the process to write reports for National Defense Port Study and Port Look Study. |
|
| 12:15 – 1:15 pm | Networking / Grab & Go Lunch (advance purchase required) | Ferguson Center |
| 1:15 – 3:00 pm |
NDTA Ports Subcommittee and Strategic Ports Meeting: Mr. Ernest Bezdek, Chair, NDTA Ports Subcommittee and Director, Trade Development at Port of Beaumont (Open to all participants) Description: NDTA Ports Subcommittee meeting focused on identifying and resolving government and industry issues associated with ports and national defense. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 3:00 – 3:15 pm | Break | Ferguson Center |
| 3:15 – 4:00 pm |
Breakout Session #3: Port Security Grants Program (Open to all participants) Moderator: Mr. Duane Davis, Port Security Grant Program Section Chief, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Description: A look at the grant program controlled by Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It has major stakeholders from USCG using military allocations. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 3:15 – 5:15 pm |
National Port Readiness Network (NPRN) Steering Group, Mr. Douglas Harrington, SES, Director, Acting Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, MARAD, and Chair, National Port Readiness Steering Group, supported by Mr. Matthew Butram, Program Analyst, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD (Government Meeting – by invitation only) |
David Student Union, Washington Room |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm |
Breakout Session #4: Joint Transportation Management System (JTMS) (Open to all participants) Moderator: Mr. Aloysius (Al) Albers, Chief, JTMS JPO Division, U.S. Transportation Command Description: The JTMS program office at USTRANSCOM provides an update on JTMS and answers your questions about the acqusiition process and potential capabilities. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 5:00 – 5:15 pm | Break | Ferguson Center |
| 5:15 – 7:00 pm |
Chairman’s Reception Hosted by CNU’s Center for American Studies and NDTA, with remarks by: Dr. Nathan Busch, Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Co-Director, Center for American Studies, Christopher Newport University and VADM William “Andy” Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA |
David Student Union Boardroom |
May 16, 2024
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 am – 5:00 pm | Registration | Ferguson Center |
| 7:00 – 8:15 am | Continental Breakfast & Networking | Ferguson Center |
| 8:15 – 8:25 am |
Opening Ceremony: VADM William “Andy” Brown, USN (Ret.), President and CEO, NDTA Color Guard: TABB High School NJROTC |
Peebles Theatre |
| 8:25 – 9:00 am |
Opening Remarks:
|
Peebles Theatre |
| 9:45 – 10:15 am |
Keynote Speaker #1: Lieutenant General Heidi J. Hoyle, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, United States Army Topic: Fighting Through the Contested Environment to Deliver Logistics Description: Thoughts about the contested environment and how the Army is working with the Joint Staff J4 to deliver on time and on target. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 9:45 – 10:15 am | Networking Break/Expo | Ferguson Center |
|
10:15 – 11:30 am |
Panel #1: Physical Threats to Ports and What to do About it Moderator: Captain Jennifer Stockwell, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia Participants: • Mr. William Burket, Director, Maritime Incident Response Team and Emergency Operations, Port of Virginia Description: Understanding potential threats to deployment readiness focused on port infrastructure and operations. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | Break and Transition to David Student Union | |
| 12:00 – 1:15 pm |
Luncheon Keynote Speaker #2: Major General Constance L. Jenkins, USAF, Director of Logistics and Engineering, J4, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Topic: Supporting Deployment Operations from the United States Description: This discussion focuses on understanding USNORTHCOM’s role in supporting mobilization and deployment operations in the United States. |
David Student Union Ballroom |
| 1:15 – 1:30 pm | Transition to Ferguson Center | |
| 1:30 – 2:15 pm |
Keynote Speaker #3: MG Gavin Lawrence, USA, Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Topic: Power Projection By, With, and Through Strategic Seaports Description: A discussion of SDDC’s mission to support power project to and through the Strategic Seaports. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 2:15 – 3:30 pm | Panel #2: TBD | Peebles Theatre |
| 3:30 – 4:00 pm | Networking Break/Expo Hall | Ferguson Center |
| 4:00 – 4:45 pm |
Keynote #4: Mr. William Woodhour, President & Chief Executive Officer Maersk Line, Limited Topic: Challenges Sailing through the Gulf of Aden Description: A discussion about operating in today’s contested environment, challenges and successes. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 4:45 – 6:30 pm | President’s Reception Hosted by CNU and NDTA |
Ferguson Center |
May 17, 2024
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 – 9:00 am | Registration | Ferguson Center |
| 7:00 – 8:00 am | Continental Breakfast & Networking | Ferguson Center |
| 8:00 – 8:15 am |
Opening Comments and Conference Take-Away Review
|
Peebles Theatre |
| 8:15 – 9:00 am |
Keynote Speaker #5: Major General Lance G. Curtis, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, United States Army Forces Command (USFORSCOM) Topic: Deploying the Force: A View of Logistics and Transportation Force Deployment Challenges and Innovations Description: An update on Army logistics and transportation force deployment challenges and innovations. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 9:00 – 10:15 am |
Panel #3: Decision Advantage Information to Enable Surface Force Projection and Sustainment Participants:
Description: The utility of information flows that align and synchronize the flow of materiel under contingency conditions that are cross-cutting, i.e., require multiple elements) to see, anticipate and act of force projectio operations that eventually converge on a seaport. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 10:15 – 10:45 am | Networking Break/Expo Hall | Ferguson Center |
| 10:45 – 11:30 am |
Keynote Speaker #6: RDML Philip Sobeck, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command Topic: Partnering Together for Effective Operations Description: This discussion focuses on how MSC and SDDC as the single port manager work together to ensure the smooth upload/offload and on-time departure of deploying forces. Ensuring the port environment is safe, the upload is efficient, and equipment is properly secured for transit and ready for smooth discharge takes preparation and practice. |
Peebles Theatre |
| 11:30 am – 12:00 pm |
Wrap-up/Closing Thoughts & Action Item Review
|
Peebles Theatre |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Exhibit Hall Breakdown | Ferguson Center |
| 1:15 – 3:00 pm |
National Port Readiness Network (NPRN) Working Group, Mr. David Hatcher, SES, Director, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD, supported by Mr. Matthew Butram, Program Analyst, Office of Sealift Support, MARAD (Government Meeting – by invitation only) |
David Student Union, Washington Room |