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The Logistics Lens

The Logistics Lens

Watch the Interviews Here: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Logistics-Lens

The Logistics Lens is a defense logistics podcast dedicated to improving military readiness, sustainment effectiveness, and supply chain resilience across the Department of Defense and the defense industrial base. The podcast provides a practical, mission-focused forum where real sustainment challenges are examined alongside proven, executable solutions.

Each episode features candid conversations with leaders from the DoD, industry, and academia who are responsible for keeping fleets ready and forces supplied. Discussions focus on lifecycle management, fleet readiness, maintenance, repair, and overhaul, and the systems and data required to support operational availability. Core topics include predictive maintenance, condition-based maintenance (CBM+), readiness analytics, performance-based logistics, and strategies for managing industrial base risk.

A central theme of The Logistics Lens is translating data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital logistics tools into actionable sustainment decisions. Rather than theory, the podcast emphasizes evidence-based methods that measurably increase availability and reduce cost per day of availability. Episodes highlight case studies, metrics, and frameworks that help leaders move beyond pilots and prototypes toward repeatable, scalable practices.

The podcast was created to close the gap between policy and practice and to unify stakeholders who rarely share lessons learned in one place. By fostering dialogue among logisticians, program managers, engineers, analysts, and original equipment manufacturers, The Logistics Lens strengthens collaboration across programs, Services, and enterprises.

Listeners gain executive-grade insights, practical tools, and a durable knowledge base designed to improve decision quality, accelerate adoption of proven sustainment approaches and strengthen the defense industrial base. The Logistics Lens serves commanders, program managers, and sustainment professionals seeking to advance readiness today while building resilient logistics systems for the future.

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  • 25 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 56 min
  • English

Episodes 25

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  • February 18 · 57 min

    Trust, Technology, and Transformation: Modernizing Military Logistics with Vice Admiral Andy Kyte

    Watch this episode on YouTube Summary In this conversation, Vice Admiral Andy Kyte discusses his extensive career in logistics within the UK Ministry of Defense, emphasizing the importance of relationship building, modernization, and the integration of AI in logistics. He shares insights on balancing work and personal life, his responsibilities as Chief of Defense Logistics and Support, and the necessity of collaboration with industry and academia to overcome challenges in logistics. The Admiral also highlights the barriers to innovation and the importance of sharing knowledge and lessons learned within the military and with partners. Takeaways The journey of a logistician is long and varied. Building relationships is crucial in logistics and defense. Work-life balance is essential for effective leadership. Modernization of logistics systems is a top priority. AI has significant potential in logistics but must be approached thoughtfully. Investment in modernization is necessary for warfighting readiness. Collaboration with industry is vital for successful logistics operations. Barriers to innovation still exist but are being addressed. Sharing knowledge and lessons learned enhances operational effectiveness. Trust and transparency are key in leadership and logistics.

  • February 11 · 56 min

    Leadership Beyond the Mission: What It Takes to Lead in Logistics with Lt Gen (Ret) Tom Miller

    Watch the Interviews Here: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Logistics-Lens Summary In this episode of Logistics Lens, Kevin Sampels interviews retired Lieutenant General Tom Miller, discussing his extensive career in the Air Force, insights on leadership, the importance of technology in logistics, and the misconceptions surrounding the logistics community. The conversation highlights the significance of relationships, agility, and weapon system health in military operations, as well as the need for senior leaders to embrace technological advancements to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. Takeaways Learn your discipline to gain credibility. Be intellectually curious about your field. Embrace challenges and bloom where you're planted. Relationships are key in logistics leadership. Agility is essential in large organizations. Weapon system health is critical for readiness. Logistics is integral to military operations. Don't view logistics as stagnant; it's dynamic. Senior leaders should not be impediments to innovation. Embrace technology to enhance decision-making.

  • February 3 · 57 min

    You Can’t Be Lethal Without Logistics: Inside DLA with Mark T. Simerly LTG, U.S. Army

    WATCH: www.youtube.com/@The-Logistics-Lens Summary In this episode, Lieutenant General Mark T. Simerly discusses the evolving mission of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) in the context of national security and modern warfare. He emphasizes the importance of logistics as a strategic priority, the impact of COVID-19 on public awareness of logistics, and the role of technology and data in enhancing logistics operations. Simerly also addresses the challenges faced by the defense industrial base and outlines DLA's vision for the future, focusing on agility, resilience, and partnerships with industry. Takeaways DLA's mission is foundational to national security. Logistics must be integrated into strategic planning. COVID-19 highlighted the importance of logistics. AI is revolutionizing military logistics. Data is the most decisive commodity in logistics. Interoperability challenges must be addressed. DLA is focusing on precision in demand forecasting. The defense industrial base is recovering but still fragile. Partnerships with industry are crucial for logistics success. DLA aims to be more agile and resilient in the future.

  • January 20 · 46 min

    Logistics Is Operations: Developing Leaders with Lt Gen (Ret) Mark Faulkner

    Logistics Is Operations: Developing Leaders for a Joint, Data-Driven Force with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Faulkner, President of the Institute for Defense and Business Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Logistics-Lens In this episode of Logistics Lens, Kevin Sampels sits down with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Faulkner to explore how leadership, education, and collaboration shape the future of military logistics. Drawing on more than three decades of service and his current role as President of the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB), Faulkner shares why developing people is the most critical investment the defense community can make. He explains how modern logistics is no longer a back-office function, but a core operational capability that must be integrated into planning, exercises, and decision-making at every level. Website: https://www.idb.org/ The conversation spans the growing importance of joint logistics, data acumen, and cross-sector collaboration between the military, industry, and academia. Faulkner also discusses how IDB’s programs are designed to be agile, practical, and closely aligned to today’s operational challenges, preparing leaders to operate in complex, fast-moving environments. This episode is a thoughtful look at what it takes to build resilient logistics leadership for the future, and why relationships, education, and collaboration must be built long before a crisis begins.

  • January 5 · 50 min

    Why Logistics Wins Wars: Digital Transformation on the Battlefield with Maj Gen (ret) Allan Day

    Watch the Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Logistics-Lens The conversation covers the transition from military to industry, the impact of COVID-19 on supply chain awareness, childhood experiences and their influence on leadership development, the role at Salesforce and industry specialist responsibilities, advancements in digital transformation and logistics challenges, and the importance of testing and wargaming capabilities in logistics. The conversation delves into the critical themes of data sharing and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of transparency and trust in sharing data between government and industry. It also explores the challenges and strategies for operating in a contested environment, highlighting the need for preparedness and resilience in logistics operations. Takeaways Logistics and supply chain challenges during COVID-19 The impact of childhood experiences on leadership development Importance of Data Sharing Operating in a Contested Environment Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 05:39 Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain Awareness 13:33 Role at Salesforce and Industry Specialist Responsibilities 22:23 Testing and Wargaming Capabilities in Logistics 29:18 Operating in a Contested Environment

Showing 21–25 of 25 episodes