Defense Transportation Chief McDew Faces Rising Challenges With Receding Resources (From Forbes)

When Air Force General Darren W. McDew was questioned by Senators about his nomination to lead U.S. Transportation Command in July, he made a point of lauding the “unheralded professionals” at the command engaged in carrying out its “often thankless work.”  That wasn’t just rhetoric: much of official Washington barely realizes Transcom exists, in part because it always delivers.  But now that he’s in command, General McDew really has his work cut out for him, because defense spending is capped for the rest of the decade while transportation needs are likely to grow.  He has already highlighted the need to improve the cybersecurity of networks the command uses and recapitalize aging fleets, but that will first require educating the political system to the crucial role Transcom plays in delivering victory.  I have written a commentary for Forbes here.