Nicholas Weiss

Nicholas Weiss serves as Chief of the Specialized Sealift Branch within U.S. Transportation Command (USTransCom), where he leads the planning, acquisition, and execution of sealift capabilities critical to global military mobility. His role encompasses the procurement of specialized maritime transportation services that enable the strategic deployment and sustainment of DoD forces across contested and austere environments. He oversees contracts for deep-sea and inland water freight movement, port terminal support, and expeditionary logistics infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration with air, land, and rail mobility networks. His acquisitions are mission-critical, supporting theater access, force projection, and operational endurance in high-priority global theaters. Weiss maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized maritime and logistics contractors, including UNCOMN LLC, PHOENIX AIR GROUP, INC., RAMPART AVIATION, LLC, FANCIULLI EGISTO S.R.L., and MOUNTAIN AVIATION, LLC. These partnerships reflect a focus on niche providers with proven expertise in heavy-lift vessel operations, roll-on/roll-off capabilities, and expeditionary port support. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based service delivery, technical reliability, and operational readiness, favoring vendors with demonstrated experience in military sealift environments and international port interoperability. Weiss’s procurement portfolio reflects a 100% preference for open competition, with no set-asides designated for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This reflects the specialized nature of sealift requirements, where technical capability, vessel availability, and global operational experience are paramount. While small business participation is not formally prioritized, the structure of the market allows qualified small firms to compete on equal footing when they meet stringent operational criteria. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 483211 (Inland Water Freight Transportation) and 483111 (Deep Sea Freight Transportation), complemented by 493110 (General Warehousing and Storage). He procures chartered vessels, port handling services, and expeditionary cargo storage solutions tailored to military requirements, demonstrating deep expertise in maritime logistics, cargo securement standards, and joint operational deployment frameworks.