Navy App Streamlines Transport Logistics

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The U.S. Navy has a new tool to help with the logistics of moving people and equipment around the world.

The Transportation Exploitation Tool, or TET, is a cloud-based software program that lets transportation planners locate available space among thousands of military and commercial aircraft and ships, giving them the power to find the fastest, most efficient way to move personnel and materiel to their destinations.

The Office of Naval Research said in a media statement that the new system has already saved the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard more than $30 million in transportation costs, even though it is in just limited release. Potential savings estimates range up to more than $200 million over 10 years.

Bob Smith, program manager at ONR, called the system revolutionary.

"TET uses advances in technology to provide outstanding optimization of available flights and ship routes, saving our logisticians enormous amounts of time -- and that can literally mean saving lives," he said in the statement.

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Before the advent of TET, planners had to search multiple databases to find availabilities -- a task that could take hours, even days. With TET, users enter what cargo needs to be shipped and its destination. TET will provide listings of all available space on transports in both the military and private sector, and make recommendations about the most efficient routes.

Development of the tool was sponsored by ONR, and developed in coordination with several ONR groups, including Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) as the lead; the Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department; SwampWorks, in ONR's Office of Innovation; and the Technology Insertion Program for Savings.

TET usage will be expanding. The system recently became part of the Financial and Air Clearance Transportation System, and is now being supported by the U.S. Transportation Command for joint use throughout the military.

Greg Butler, the champion behind TET's development at NAVSUP, in July was presented with the 2012 Adm. Stan Arthur Award, which recognizes military and civilian personnel for excellence in logistics planning and execution.

"There has been a real need to get things to the fleet faster and more efficiently, and without breaking the bank in this austere fiscal environment," Butler said in the media statement. "The naval services continue to work on ways to save money and give our sailors and Marines every advantage we can."