Contested Logistics in Wartime Environment

Jul 10, 2024

Lecture Notes: Contested Logistics in Wartime Environment

Introduction

  • Speakers: Josh Wilson (Executive VP, LMI) and Logan Jones (GM, President, and Board Director, Spark Cognition)
  • Host: Adam Genest
  • Topic: Contested logistics, moving military materiel in wartime

Speaker Introductions

Logan Jones

  • Leads Spark Cognition Government Systems
  • Focus: AI solutions for national defense, leveraging commercial AI tech
  • Areas: Oil and gas, financial, aerospace

Josh Wilson

  • Role: Service lines and technology at LMI
  • Focus: Differentiating points of view on logistics, public health, HR, financial management
  • Structure: Logistics, management advisory services, digital analytics solutions, R&D, academic partnerships

Contested Logistics Concept

Josh Wilson's View

  • Definition: No sanctuary; supply chains are targets
  • Current Issues: Observations from Ukraine, outdated logistics models
  • Technologies: AI, software, space tech, computer vision, data operations
  • Challenges: Delivering supply chains in contested environments
  • Future Focus: Programmatic adjustments, JADC2 and convergence exercises

Logan Jones' View

  • Framing: Contested logistics as a battlefield
  • Key Aspects: Supply chain status, asymmetric supply chain attacks (cyber domain)
  • Opportunities: AI/ML for distributed synchronization

Cyber Domain As Contested Environment

  • Logan Jones: Cyber domain crucial for delivering materiel (data), interoperable and connected, outdated OT systems
  • Josh Wilson: Focus on edge devices, protecting and detecting hacks

Decision Support and AI at the Edge

  • AI Opportunities: Synchronize distributed force, train models for edge use
  • Challenges: Comm denied or degraded environments, validation, and verification of models

Cultural and Operational Shifts

Training and Upskilling

  • Example: Space Force digital first approach
  • Future Focus: Digital tools in the tactical force, distributed decision-making

Specific Challenges and Considerations

Rare Earth Metals and Semiconductors

  • Risk Management: Identifying and prioritizing supply chain risks
  • Risk Mitigation: Insourcing, diversifying supply base
  • Decision Support Tools: Automating identification and quantifying impact

Partnership and Commercial Capabilities

  • Example: Collaboration between commercial and national security sectors for innovative solutions (e.g., Spark Cognition and Siemens)

Future Priorities and Predictions

Key Near-term Priorities

Logan Jones

  • Open Ecosystem: Data accessibility
  • Fund Ecosystem: Experiment with contested logistics
  • Operational Integration: Cross-domain and service collaboration

Josh Wilson

  • Data-Driven Tools: Dynamic, automated planning and optimization tools
  • Human-Machine Symbiosis: Automated tools with human oversight
  • Real-Time Adaptation: Incorporating climate data and other dynamic factors

Conclusion

Commendations

  • Recognition of current efforts and adjustments by the DoD and commercial partners in focusing on contested logistics

Final Thoughts

  • Importance of Commercial Integration: Viable leverage of commercial capabilities like space-based ISR
  • Future Collaboration: Continuous partnership between commercial and defense sectors for innovation and logistics effectiveness

Closing Remarks

  • Remark about the potential future discussion topics and ongoing collaboration between speakers