When Supply Chains Save Lives: Inside ALAN's Disaster Response with Kathy Fulton, Executive Director of the American Logistics Aid Network

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Kathy Fulton, Executive Director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), to explore how supply chain expertise saves lives during disasters. Kathy shares her journey from IT leadership at Saddle Creek Logistics Services to building ALAN's Supply Chain Intelligence Center, which predicts disaster impacts and coordinates relief efforts. She discusses the evolution from responding to three major events annually to managing constant mobilizations, her 2023 testimony before the U.S. Senate Budget Committee on climate change impacts, and strategies for building supply chain resilience. Listeners will gain insights on humanitarian logistics, disaster preparedness, and how private sector professionals can leverage their skills for meaningful impact beyond efficiency metrics.

Takeaways:

• The transition from commercial logistics to humanitarian supply chain leadership
• Building predictive systems for disaster response coordination
• Supply chain resilience strategies for climate-related disruptions
• How logistics professionals can contribute expertise to disaster relief efforts

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Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Bio:

Kathy Fulton is the Executive Director of American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), focusing on the critical role industry expertise can play in disaster relief. She leads the organization in delivering logistics and supply chain assessment, coordination, and education to support responsible disaster relief. Kathy has served on national workgroups focused on efficient coordination of logistics activities during disasters, including those hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Research Board, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and the National Emergency Management Association.

In 2023, Kathy was invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget on the impact of climate change on supply chains and in 2019 she was named a Supply Chain Rainmaker by DC Velocity Magazine.

Prior to joining ALAN, Kathy served as senior manager of information technology services at Saddle Creek Logistics Services, where she led IT infrastructure implementation and support, corporate systems, and business continuity planning. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and dual master's degrees in business administration and management information systems from the University of South Florida.