Logistics captains take on VCU supply chain management program
Photo By RYAN SHARP |
Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Skelton, Army Sustainment University senior enlisted advisor,......read moreread more
Photo By RYAN SHARP | Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Skelton, Army Sustainment University senior enlisted advisor, asking Capt. Martin Ramon and Capt. Lucas Segura a question during their Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM) capstone presentations, Aug. 5, on Fort Lee. This event represents the culminating academic requirement for the current VCU MSCM Fellows. Their presentation was evaluated by VCU faculty and attended by senior leaders from across the Sustainment Enterprise. (U.S. Army photo by Ryan Sharp) see less
| View Image Page
Logistics captains take on VCU supply chain management program
FORT LEE, Va. – Understanding the complexities of global supply chains was the goal of 15 logistics captains presenting their capstone projects August 5 at Dickerson Hall on the Army Sustainment University campus.
The captains all attended the one-year Advanced Civil Schooling program with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated with a Master of Supply Chain Management.
"The VCU Master of Supply Chain Management program is a vital modernization engine, converting academic excellence into immediate battlefield capability,” said Col. Daniel Horn, U.S. Army Logistics Corps and Army Sustainment University commandant. “By fusing predictive analytics with real-world capstones, we are delivering certified Logistics Functional Data Analysts directly to gaining commands—ready to secure and sustain our forces in contested Multi-Domain Operations from day one."
The intensive 30-hour program equips Army logistics officers with the advanced analytical capabilities required to manage complex supply chains and perform high-level predictive analysis to optimize the future fight.
The program offered coursework in data analytics, global logistics systems, international logistics, transportation management, enterprise resource planning, and innovation processes with heavy focus on quantitative analysis to teach the students to leverage data to predict supply chain bottlenecks, forecast operational demands, and mitigate logistical risks before they impact the mission.
“Over the past year, my cohort and I have been subject to rigorous academic focuses that cover data analytics and supply chain analytics through various case studies across various industries,” said Capt. Lucas Segura, who presented his capstone project with Capt. Martin Ramon on ‘SMDR (Structure Manning Decision Review) and current processes are too slow and inaccurate. Improving MOS (military occupational specialties) Health by Developing Agile Accessions Processes.’ “It has expanded a lot of our knowledge on how we want to incorporate certain systems or best business practices from the private sector.”
Toward the end of the spring semester, students were split into seven teams to execute their capstone projects. Each capstone project assigned is sponsored by a colonel, as well as a direct day-to-day sponsor. The assigned capstone projects address critical, real-world challenges.
"Sponsors are the critical bridge between academic rigor and operational readiness,” said Horn. “By submitting real-world challenges to our VCU MSCM cohorts, our sustainment leaders ensure that these elite logisticians are not just studying theory, but are actively solving the department's most complex, contested-logistics problems before they even arrive at their gaining commands."
Capt. Christopher Ramirez, who with Capt. Nikole Hairston, presented their capstone project ‘Longitudinal Analysis of Logistics Talent-Based Branching (TBB)’, explained “One of the things that we've learned is just the analytics space.
“We've gotten so good at just analyzing data, utilizing models, tools to predict outcomes and case studies which we can carry that skill forward to our next job doing predictive analytics helping commanders or anyone in charge to make data-driven decisions as opposed to emotional decisions or decisions that are missing information,” said Ramirez.
After the graduation, the officers are assigned to a U.S. Army Command Arms Support Command organization.
Annually, the Logistics School looks for post-command, active-duty captains seeking to further their knowledge of supply chain management through the ACS program with VCU.
Capt. Tanaysha Echols, CASCOM Commanders Planning Group, will attend the program in Academic Year 2027-2028 explains why she applied, “since commissioning, I’ve loved the dynamic world of Army Sustainment, but I find myself constantly wondering how logistics is executed on a massive, global scale outside the military.
“I want to learn about those global strategies and bring them back to the Army,” she said. “On top of that, I’m very interested in data analytics. I did a bit of coding earlier in my career, and I see huge potential for data to completely innovate how the Army handles logistics. When I researched opportunities after command, VCU stood out as a great school to help me connect curiosity of global supply chains and data analytics.”
Upon successful completion of this program, beginning with the 2027 graduating class, individuals attending this program will qualify for the skill identifier L9- Logistics Functional Analyst.
To find out more about the program go to [https://asu.army.mil/logpro/VCU.html](https://asu.army.mil/logpro/VCU.html).
