The Chairman's Corner

By Jeanette Homan

September 2025

Recently I had the honor of attending the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Joint Task Force meeting held on August 12 near Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. This was a particularly meaningful experience because the last time industry was invited to participate in a forum like this was back in 2019.

This year ’s session left me encouraged and hopeful, largely due to the leadership and openness of General Curtis, who not only attended but stayed for the entire meeting. He actively listened, asked questions, and made it clear that he values industry input as he prepares his recommendations for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. His willingness to truly engage with us was a positive sign that collaboration is being taken seriously at the highest levels.

The Joint Task Force team was also highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions that showed a genuine effort to better understand the challenges we face with “boots on the ground.” Alongside them were familiar faces from USTRANSCOM and the acquisitions team, waiting to see the outcome of this meeting. One of the options for the task force is to recommend that the program be managed by SDDC again, which previously administered  the DP3 program when it was implemented.

As I shared during the session, my personal recommendation was clear: if the household goods program is handed over to a single GHC contractor in a FAR-based environment, USTRANSCOM risks losing the very control that is essential to serving our service members effectively. We ’ve seen what happens when too much is outsourced — housing and the POV program are examples where oversight and accountability suffered. By contrast, a tender-based program, with ongoing industry input, allows for refinements, shared responsibility, and ultimately better outcomes for the men and women who serve our country.

I was also honored to be invited once again to serve on the NDTA (National Defense Transportation Association) Household Goods Subcommittee, alongside other industry leaders. Our role will be to report directly to the Joint Task Force. About ten years ago, I served on this same committee, where we presented at JPPSO (Joint Personal Property Shipping Office) and delivered a PowerPoint to bridge the gap between government and industry. The reception at that time was very positive, and I am hopeful that this renewed collaboration will once again give the government a deeper understanding of what our industry experiences daily.

This is an evolving discussion, and I look forward to sharing updates with you as the committee continues its work. For now, I am grateful that our voice is being heard and that there is a real opportunity to shape a stronger, more effective process for military relocations.

September - CMSA Communicator