Lecture on Contested Logistics in a Modern Warfare Environment

Introduction

Mark Faulkner

• President of the Institute for Defensive Business
• Welcomed attendees alongside Major General Jim Boozer.
• Emphasized the increasing visibility of the topic in national key documents.

Welcoming Remarks

• Notable Attendees:
  • Chris Holman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment
  • Steven Hyde, President of Executive Development for UNC and partner in Logitech program
  • Brad Hunt, Vice Director of Defense Logistics Agency
• Thanks to sponsors: NDIA, Business Institute, Lindquist

Introduction to Panel and Moderator

Lieutenant General Judy Feder (Ret.)

• Vice Chairman, Institute for Defense and Business
• Moderator of the panel on Contested Logistics

Distinguished Panelists

• Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security: Expertise in US national security, export controls, strategic technology.
• Logan Jones: President, Spark Cognition Government Services, AI applications in defense.
• Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka: Deputy Commander, Indo-Pacific Command
• General Stephen Lyons (Ret.): Former Commander, US Transcom and current port/supply chain envoy

Key Points Discussed

Secretary Estevez

Importance of Commerce in Contested Logistics

• Discussed recent export control actions on China’s semiconductor access.
• Highlighted Commerce's role in shaping conditions and strategies impacting national security.
• Advocated using AI to analyze logistic data for strategic agility.

Logan Jones

Role of Emerging Technology and Data

• Emphasized incremental development and robust data quality as keys to integrating AI in logistics.
• Discussed the importance of connecting data from battlefield to supply chain.

Lieutenant General Sklenka

Characteristics of Effective Joint Forces

• Essential Traits: See the enemy, Blind the enemy, Kill the enemy.
• Importance of being a resilient and dispersed force.
• Emphasized prepositioning of assets and having a robust logistics strategy.

General Lyons

Elaboration on Logistics as a Warfighting Function

• Project and sustain forces globally in strategic architectures.
• Risk management in identifying consequential vulnerabilities in logistics.
• Innovating logistics to meet futuristic demands while managing logistical risks.

Additional Points of Discussion

Secretary Estevez on Trade and Technology Controls

• Balancing trade with protection of strategic technologies.
• Collaboration with allies to maintain integrity in technology control.

Logan Jones on Predictive Analytics in Logistics

• Used example of an oil company to highlight predictive analytics managing logistics.
• Advocated for iterative, small-scale implementations leading to big changes.

Prepositioning and Mobility in Logistics

• Discussed historical and modern concepts of prepositioning material.
• Emphasis on agility and managing logistical risk.

Business and Government Collaboration

• Innovation and cybersecurity enhancements in the defense industrial base.

Wrap-up and Key Takeaways

• Importance of closing the education gap in logistics and thinking differently about interconnected problems.
• Whole-government approach is necessary to address the increasing complexity and interconnected nature of modern logistics challenges.

Final Remarks

• Recognition of the necessity to continue discussions on contested logistics for effective future strategies.
• Call to action for continued collaboration and innovative thinking in logistics.