Dive into the hidden backbone of military power in this episode of The War Lab, where hosts unpack the critical—and increasingly contested—world of logistics. From the moment supplies depart Fort Cavazos, Texas, to the high-stakes gauntlet of multi-domain threats at home and abroad, we explore how modern adversaries target the very lifelines that keep forces moving. Drawing on insights from the Association of the United States Army, a U.S. Army Command and General Staff College monograph, and the joint doctrine at the heart of U.S. military planning, we trace the evolution of sustainment from Vietnam’s ambushed convoys to today’s cyber-enabled, drone-swarm threats on the high seas.

You’ll hear how Distribution-Based Logistics—once hailed as the key to agile, efficient resupply—now exposes new vulnerabilities when every truck, rail line, and data link is a potential target. We examine hard lessons learned in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan: improvised “gun trucks” of Vietnam reborn as MRAPs; the urgent need for force-protection gear and convoy tactics; and the persistent struggle to fuse legacy systems into a seamless, secure network. Along the way, we map out how the Joint Logistics Enterprise envisions a resilient, information-centric supply chain—and why bandwidth, visibility, and decentralized decision-making are as vital as fuel and ammunition.

Whether you’re a national security professional or an engaged citizen curious about the future of conflict, this conversation lays bare the intellectual and technical innovations needed to keep logistics alive in tomorrow’s battlefields. Join us as we challenge assumptions, spotlight battlefield innovations that turned the tide, and ask the billion-dollar question: What must change today to ensure our logistics networks can survive—and sustain—forces in the conflicts of tomorrow?

The United States Merchant Marine, once a global powerhouse, has fallen on hard times. A shrinking fleet, aging infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled mariners threaten America's economic competitiveness and national security. But a new piece of legislation, the "SHIPS for America Act," aims to chart a new course, revitalizing this critical industry and bolstering America's presence on the high seas.

In this episode, we dive deep into the "SHIPS for America Act," passed in 2023 exploring its ambitious goals, its comprehensive provisions, and the potential impact it could have on the U.S. maritime industry, the economy, and national defense.

Join us as we unpack:

• The Crisis in American Shipping: Understand the dire state of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the decline of U.S.-flagged vessels, and the strategic implications of relying on foreign ships for trade and military sealift.
• The SHIPS for America Act: A Blueprint for Revival?: Explore the key provisions of this sweeping legislation, designed to strengthen national security, boost economic competitiveness, and rebuild the U.S. maritime workforce.
• A New Maritime Security Advisor: Learn about the proposed creation of a Maritime Security Advisor within the Executive Office of the President and a Maritime Security Board to coordinate national maritime policy.
• The Maritime Security Trust Fund: Dedicated Funding for a Vital Industry: Discover how the act proposes to create a dedicated funding source for critical maritime programs, independent of the annual appropriations process.
• Building a Strategic Commercial Fleet: Examine the plan to create a fleet of 250 U.S.-flagged vessels for international commerce, supported by government incentives and a new Strategic Commercial Fleet Program.
• Boosting Cargo Preference: Analyze the controversial proposal to increase the percentage of U.S. government cargo and imports from China that must be carried on U.S.-flagged ships.
• Prioritizing American Ships: Understand how the Act plans to prioritize U.S.-flagged vessels at U.S. Ports.
• Revitalizing U.S. Shipyards: Explore the financial incentives and regulatory reforms aimed at boosting domestic shipbuilding and modernizing shipyard infrastructure.
• Training the Next Generation of Mariners: Learn about the workforce development initiatives included in the act, such as loan forgiveness for mariners, educational assistance, and recruiting campaigns.
• Modernizing Merchant Mariner Credentials: Find out how the act will ease the administrative burden for Merchant Mariners.
• Tax Breaks for Maritime Investment: Discover how the act proposes to use tax credits and exemptions to encourage investment in U.S. shipbuilding and maritime operations.
• Streamlining Environmental Review: Examine proposed measures to make the review process for Shipyards and Port facilities more efficient.

We'll also discuss:

• The potential economic benefits of a revitalized U.S. maritime industry.
• The national security implications of a stronger Merchant Marine and enhanced sealift capability.
• The geopolitical ramifications of reducing reliance on foreign-flagged vessels, particularly from countries like China.
• The potential challenges and criticisms of the act, including concerns about increased costs and regulatory burdens.
• The comparison of the US to other nations that provide trust funds for other modes of transportation.

This episode is a comprehensive look at a critical piece of legislation with far-reaching implications for the U.S. economy, national security, and global trade. Tune in to understand the "SHIPS for America Act" and whether it can truly revive American seapower.

Tags: SHIPS for America Act, U.S. Merchant Marine, Maritime Industry, Shipbuilding, National Security, Economic Competitiveness, Cargo Preference, Workforce Development, Tax Incentives, Maritime Security Trust Fund, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Maritime Commission, Geopolitics, China.

Admiral John Richardson, U.S. Navy (Retired)The traditional way of building warships – focusing on a massive, monolithic hull that takes years to construct and decades to upgrade – is becoming obsolete. In a world of rapidly evolving technology and increasingly sophisticated threats, the U.S. Navy needs warships that are adaptable, upgradable, and resilient.

In this episode, we dive into a revolutionary concept for future warship design, championed by retired Admiral John Richardson. We'll explore his "three-stream" approach, which treats software, systems (hardware), and structures (the hull) as distinct, yet interconnected, product streams that can evolve at their own pace. This approach promises to make warships more agile, responsive, and capable of keeping pace with the ever-changing demands of modern naval warfare.

Join us as we unpack:

• The Three-Stream Revolution: Understand Admiral Richardson's core argument: that warships should be designed and built with three separate, but harmonized, product streams – software, systems, and structures.
• Software as the Warship's Brain: Explore why software is considered the most dynamic element, requiring constant updates and adaptation through a "DevSecOps" (Development, Security, and Operations) approach.
• The Power of Rapid Systems Refresh: Learn how modularity and standardized interfaces can enable the Navy to quickly integrate new technologies, like advanced computing, sensors, and weapons, without overhauling the entire ship.
• Building for the Future: Discover how warship hulls and power plants can be designed for longevity while still accommodating future upgrades, including space, weight, and power margins for emerging technologies.
• The USS Pleiades: A Vision of the Future: Examine the fictional example of the USS Pleiades, a warship designed using the three-stream approach, and how it responds to a simulated combat scenario.
• From Drone Swarms to Jamming: Adapting in Real-Time: See how the Pleiades leverages software updates, upgraded processors, and directed-energy weapons to overcome emerging threats.
• Transforming Acquisition: Explore the radical changes needed in the defense acquisition process to support the three-stream approach, including adopting commercial best practices and fostering long-term industry partnerships.
• The Commercial Connection: Understand how the Navy can learn from the private sector in areas like software development, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure management.
• DevSecOps: The Key to Software Agility: Delve into the principles of DevSecOps and how it enables continuous software development, deployment, and feedback, keeping warships at the cutting edge.
• The Achilles' Heel: Harmonization: Acknowledge the risks of integrating three independent streams and how modularity can mitigate those risks.
• Modularity: Explore how modularity and open architecture is critical in the proposed three-stream approach.
• Recommendations for Action: Learn about the specific steps Admiral Richardson recommends for naval architects, shipbuilders, and the defense acquisition community to implement the three-stream approach.

We'll also discuss:

• The challenges of changing a deeply entrenched acquisition culture.
• The potential cost savings of a more modular and adaptable approach to warship design.
• The implications of this new approach for the future of naval warfare.
• The need for enhanced testing of new systems.

This episode is a look into the future of naval power, exploring how a revolutionary approach to warship design can help the U.S. Navy maintain its edge in an increasingly complex and competitive world. Tune in to understand how the "three-stream" approach could transform the fleet of the future.

Tags: U.S. Navy, Warship Design, Naval Warfare, Future Fleet, Software, Systems, Structures, Three-Stream Approach, DevSecOps, Modularity, Open Architecture, Defense Acquisition, Admiral John Richardson, Technology, Innovation, Military Strategy.