Summary
U.S. Transportation Command (transcom) Commander Gen. Randall Reed and U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Commander Adm. Richard Correll told DefenseScoop that unauthorized drone incursions represent “a clear and present issue” affecting not just military installations but the entire national critical-infrastructure backbone that TRANSCOM depends upon — including airports, seaports, rail lines, and bridges. Reed’s comments came during a three-day visit to five Colorado and California sites, culminating in a roundtable at Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO), a vital California ammunition seaport. Progress on C-UAS authorities at the Port of San Diego — secured via an Army Transportation Battalion–Coast Guard–FEMA partnership — was highlighted as a model for civilian logistics nodes. Officials also tied counter-drone urgency to upcoming mega-events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Key Claims
- Gen. Reed describes drone incursions as “a clear and present issue” demanding rapid adaptation, mirroring the pace at which adversaries exploit drone technology.
- Adm. Correll (STRATCOM) frames drone incursions as a joint-force-wide threat addressable through technology and updated TTPs.
- TRANSCOM’s C-UAS mission extends beyond static military bases to civilian transportation nodes — ports, rail, highways, bridges — because “Transcom rides on the backbone of the national infrastructure.”
- Lt. Col. Lauren Cabral (834th Transportation Battalion) credited collaboration with the Port of San Diego and Coast Guard for amplifying C-UAS “authorities and leverage” at that terminal.
- Dave Foster (Port of San Diego Homeland Security Director) cited FEMA Port Security Grant funding for infrastructure improvements enabling drone tracking and mitigation at San Diego.
- A pending FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would restrict drone operations near fixed sites with facility security plans, directly affecting military logistics through commercial ports.
- Officials flagged the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a driver for pushing C-UAS mitigation authorities down to local levels.
- Reed reports an “uptick” in UAS incursions and accelerated deployments over the past five to six years.
Notable Quotes
“It is a clear and present issue that we have to pay attention to.” — Gen. Randall Reed, TRANSCOM Commander
“It is [a concern] across the entire joint force. So, it’s another threat that you have to account for — and you can account for it with technology, that’s part of the answer, but it’s also operational procedures and targets and TTPs.” — Adm. Richard Correll, STRATCOM Commander
“We still need the nation to be safe and secure. We still need the economy to function. And Transcom rides on the backbone of the national infrastructure, so the safer the national infrastructure, then the more options Transcom has.” — Gen. Reed