USTRANSCOM REFLECTIONS ON 2016 AND OUTLOOK FOR 2017 By Gen Darren W. McDew, USAF, Commander, United States Transportation Command
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Fortunately, we have already made great strides in raising our awareness and understanding of the cyber realm, and can now build on those successes. Next year, we will continue the hard work of identifying and reducing the attack surfaces in our transportation enterprise while bolstering the resiliencies of our key systems. understanding of the cyber realm, and can now build on those successes. Next year, we will continue the hard work of identifying and reducing the attack surfaces in our transportation enterprise while bolstering the resiliencies of our key systems. This important work requires great relationships with our partners in the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security. Over the past year, these relationships have allowed us to elevate the cyber
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| Defense Transportation Journal | DECEMBER 2016
Photo by TSgt Andy Kin/Released.
nited States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) continues to deliver on behalf of the Nation and I am so proud of all we have accomplished in concert with our commercial and government partners. From our support to ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to the evacuations from Turkey and Cuba, this last year has proven extremely successful but, as the end of the year approaches, we have a great opportunity to think about the future. When looking to the future we often think about the larger challenges over the horizon but, in the near-term, I’m enthusiastic about the time and opportunities we have to address those longer-term challenges. I look forward to the opportunities 2017 will provide. From day one, I identified cyber as the greatest challenge facing USTRANSCOM, and in turn, our larger logistics enterprise. Fortunately, we have already made great strides in raising our awareness and dialogue, especially as it concerns national transportation. We have also advanced the important understanding that the cyber systems and infrastructure of our commercial partners are a national security resource just like those within the military transportation system. These relationships have also helped us get after the challenges across the transportation workforce as we address the shortages and other difficulties among mariners, pilots, and truck drivers. We recognize there are no easy solutions to these challenges, but will continue to raise the dialogue on these critical issues, encourage thoughtful discourse, and advocate for innovative solutions. In the coming year, USTRANSCOM will continue to wrestle with these difficult issues and we will only be effective to the extent we maintain and grow the partnerships we enjoy across industry and government. With that in mind, it is important to be thoughtful and engaged during the coming political transition.
The unique capability our transportation enterprise provides often goes unnoticed and that can be especially true during transitions. With that in mind, we must help the new team fully understand the depth and breadth of our enterprise. I’ve been honored to have a voice in key venues over the last year and we will continue to use that access to advocate for the larger logistics enterprise at the highest levels. The challenges our Nation’s transportation enterprise faces are long term, but in the coming year, we will have key opportunities to keep moving the enterprise forward. I have said it before and I still believe it: our Nation simply has the best force the world has ever seen. Often overlooked is the extent to which that force critically depends upon our partners in industry. No matter what you may hear others say, know this: I will bet on the USTRANSCOM team and our partners in industry every time. Together, we deliver and together, we will prevail. DTJ
