The U.S. military is mighty, formidable, and singular in influence, stationed in at least 128 overseas bases across 51 countries. Concealed beneath the United States' biggest investment is a surprise: The military was responsible for the birth of an industry. Today, that industry is essential for its operations. 'If you think about it, logistics started as a military function,' says Chris Caplice, executive director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL). 'The idea of getting supplies, ammunition, food, all the material you need to the front line was the core of logistics, and really supply chain came out of that over the last decades or centuries.' For Caplice and the leadership at MIT CTL, a collaboration with the U.S. military seemed inevitable. In 2006, MIT CTL launched the Military Fellows program, wherein three military logistics officers participate in the MIT Supply Chain Management master's program. 'The education goes two ways: One is that these people...
learn more
