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Yesterday, Lt. Col. John Redinger, CO, 833rd Transportation Battalion, during a detailed briefing of the unit's purpose and capabilities, shared that the unit would be relocating to the Port of Tacoma - given several outstanding hurdles still to clear.

The unit, as part of the Transportation Command, is responsible for all military cargo movement, except air.  Most of their tasks are actually accomplished by their business partners.  The relatively small organization of 29 (7 military and 22 civilian), provides deployment/ redeployment, distribution and water terminal operations for the Pacific Northwest.  Their major customer is JBLM, the Army's Principal Power Projection Platform west of the Rockies.

LC Redinger's assessment is that no other Port in the Pacific Northwest has as much capability to support DoD requirements as the Port of Tacoma.

The Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC) is expanding into the Puget Sound region.

The PNDC, a coalition of companies in the defense and security industries, fosters steady economic growth for the region and sustainable long-term profits for its members. It is a member-based industry association dedicated to improving the defense industry climate across the Pacific Northwest. The PNDC provides educational programs, business-to-business networking, and outreach to government decision makers.

The PNDC is well established in Oregon and southwestern Washington. It is increasing its services in the Puget Sound area, where the opportunity for growth in the region’s defense and security industries is tremendous. To underscore its commitment to the area, the Coalition has created a new position focused on Puget Sound.

To find out more about the PNDC, contact our Puget Sound Regional Coordinator, Gary Hanson (phone: 206-369-8544 ) or visit their website.

Sean McCormack, Real American Tankers wrote:  On Monday, members of Boeing’s tanker team met with U.S. Air Force officials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio to discuss our interim evaluation. This was our last opportunity to receive feedback from the Air Force on our proposal before the end of the tanker competition.

Based on this feedback, we’re now making final adjustments to our bid, which we’ll submit to the Air Force no later than Feb. 11. Our best-and-final offer will combine decades of tanker experience, the best aerial refueling technology and a proven Boeing airframe to best fulfill the Air Force’s requirements.

As the competition comes down to the wire, our tanker team is focused on one thing – providing the Air Force with the most capable tanker at the lowest cost to taxpayers.

In related news, the World Trade Organization, or WTO, this week issued a confidential final decision regarding the European Union’s complaint against alleged U.S. government subsidies to Boeing. Based on news reports, the ruling confirmed what we’ve known all along – the support Boeing has received pales in comparison to Airbus’ $20 billion in illegal subsidies, enough money for Airbus to develop nearly its entire lineup of commercial airplanes. These illegal subsidies have distorted competition in the aerospace industry for decades and eliminated tens of thousands of good-paying U.S. jobs. Airbus should finance airplanes the same way Boeing does – with its own money.

These subsidies also are tipping the scales unfairly in the Air Force tanker contest as the competitor’s airplane – the A330 – has received more than $5 billion in illegal subsidies from European governments while Boeing paid 100 percent for the development of the 767 aircraft. In a blog posting earlier this week, defense analyst Loren Thompson wrote, “The A330 being offered in the tanker competition wouldn’t even exist had it not been for a 40-year pattern of receiving illegal launch aid.”

While we work toward submitting our final proposal, please visit TheRealAmericanTankers.com to tell your elected officials that the Boeing NewGen Tanker is the right plane for American warfighters, taxpayers and workers.

We’ll keep you updated as we enter the home stretch of the competition, and thanks again for your continued support!

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber members are offered a discounted rate of $150 for the day.

The Air Force Magazine Online reports the Air Force has awarded Boeing a $44 million contract to supply C-17 integrated training centers to three Globemaster bases, the company announced.

The Puget Sound Chapter, NDTA, coordinated a training event allowing members and guests an opportunity to see roll-on/roll-off ships in person and hear from her crew what they do to support the surge of military support when needed. When not in use the ships are part of the Ready Reserve Fleet managed by the Maritime Administration.

Below is a picture taken at the stern ramp of the CAPE ISLAND currently berthed with her sister ship the CAPE INTREPID at the Sperry Ocean Dock, off Ruston Way.

Pictured from right COL Jim Sagen (G3, JBLM), Stephanie O'Donnell (Global Outreach), Damir Sabanovic (DHL), Mary McGarry (Boeing), Lee Noble and Chris Smith (Global Trans), LTC John Redinger (833d), Christina Cyrus (Global Trans), Claudia Roberts (TOTE), Bob Casey (Independent Dispatch), Michael Dayton (TOTE), William Lynn, Gary Coy (Sperry Ocean Dock), MAJ Jim Anderson (833d), Gary Brackett (Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber) and SGM Rickey Patterson (833d).

Egils Milbergs, Executive Director, Washington Economic Development Commission, shared at the Chamber's Military Affairs Forum, an overview of the latest economic impact report:  Washington State's Defense Economy.

Milbergs' presentation was not one-dimensional, as he cast the defense/military industrial sector within the global challenges between nations and economies.  His drill down thesis was how Washington State was going to be an economic winner in the 21st Century.

In exploring these economic dynamics, Milbergs didn't leave us with a question, but posed the actions for an initiative by the State in pursuing and achieving our economic goals.

The next step, deciding among ourselves and convincing our State's leadership of our challenges, our in-hand assets and our opportunities.

The Air Force Magazine Online reports the Defense Department has notified Congress of the possible foreign military sale of one C-17 transport and associated equipment and support services to the Kuwaiti air force under a deal with a total potential value of $693 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East, reads the Defense Security Cooperation Agency's notice.

Kuwait would be the third Middle East C-17 customer. C-17 maker Boeing has already delivered two C-17s to Qatar and is under contract to provide six to the UAE. Other international customers include the UK Royal Air Force, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

Thank you for getting involved and taking action – with over 12,000 e-mails and letters to Congress, your efforts helped to make a difference! Last night Congress sent a resounding message of bipartisan support for American jobs and fairness by passing the Inslee-DeLauro-Tiahrt Amendment, 410-8.

This amendment is a strong first step toward the goal of making sure there will be a level playing field in the KC-X tanker competition, requiring the government to consider any unfair competitive advantage that European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) and its subsidiary Airbus have gained from decades of illegal subsidies. Read Boeing’s full statement on the Real American Tankers website.

Last night was important to making sure American workers have a level playing field as they compete for programs critical to our national defense. Thank you for taking the time to stand up for American jobs and a fair tanker competition, but we have more work to do. Stay tuned as the House and Senate continue to debate the critical issues at stake in this competition.

Yesterday, EADS/Airbus, the French-based aerospace company, declared they would enter the competition. We now have a clear contest between Boeing and EADS/Airbus as to who supplies America's next Tanker.

EADS North American Chairman Ralph Crosby also told reporters that "it doesn't matter what your readers think" about this competition. We believe what you think matters a lot. You have an opportunity to send a message to Congress that it DOES matter what you and your family and friends think.

In the last several days, nearly 8,000 people signed up on TheRealAmericanTankers. You can make a difference today by forwarding this blog and encouraging them to sign the online petition in support of a Boeing designed and built Tanker.

Can you help get to 20,000 supporters by the end of this week?

EADS, following Wednesday’s announcement that it will bid on America’s next tanker, the KC-X, today formed a strategic partnership with United Aircraft, Russia’s state-owned company.

Special Military Discount for the annual Washington Innovation Summit being held in Tacoma for the first time:

Click on image for larger view

Want to see today's press release from The Boeing Company regarding the NewGen Tanker offer to the US Air Force? You can stay up to date on news related to the NewGen Tanker by visiting here.  Feel free to share this information.

The recent announcement by the Governors of eight states about their coalition is a seeming politization of the federal defense procurement process - like politics haven't anything to do with this (or any) purchase of military equipment.  More?  Still more!

Looks something like a reaction to an effort by several Southern states governors to establish a multi-state coalition for Northrop/EADS bid.

You could think the Southern governors were reacting to disparaging remarks about the quality of aerospace workers down South as opposed to those in the PNW.  Their effort seems similar to the Aerospace Futures Alliance here.

It looks like all the musings about Cong. Norm Dicks' elevation as the Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee (after the passing of Rep. John Murtha), will depend on the vote of the next House Democratic Caucus. That caucus will not happen this week (no votes scheduled) nor next as Congress will recess during the intervening President's Day break.

The media is full of predictions that Cong. Dicks, is next in line having joined the committee the same day as Cong. Murtha.  Also, some quarters of the nation are concerned what that appointment may mean to the pending decision for a new tanker as the USAF prepares to issue the specs for the KC-X tanker as early as Feb. 23. 

Cong. Dicks has an illustrious history with the Defense industry and as a proponent for local advocacy on its behalf.  He initiated, along with the Chamber, the annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip, now in its 25th year.  His early leadership and advocacy for the C-17 resulted in McChord AFB (now JBLM McChord Field) receiving the first C-17 in active deployment.  Now, McChord Field hosts 48 "Moose" and is scheduled to accommodate 51 of these most accomplished airlifters.