America's Supply Chain Challenges Bring Military, Industry and University Leaders to Bentonville

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Some of the nation’s most complex logistics challenges met some of its most sophisticated commercial supply chain expertise in Bentonville.

Military leaders, industry executives, government officials, entrepreneurs, investors and University of Arkansas researchers gathered at The Ledger in Bentonville on Sept. 10-11 for the inaugural Made in America Summit, beginning a deeper collaboration aimed at strengthening the supply chains that support both national readiness and economic competitiveness.

Co-hosted by STATION NWA, Capital Factory and the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the summit served as the inaugural flagship convening of the University of Arkansas’ Contested Logistics Consortium. Housed in Walton College within its Supply Chain Management Research Center, the CLC is spearheaded by Brian Fugate, chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management, and Jay Sego, director of strategic initiatives for the research center. It brings together expertise from Walton College, the College of Engineering and other areas across the university to connect national security logistics challenges across the government and military with commercial supply chain expertise in Northwest Arkansas and University of Arkansas research capabilities.

"As we expand the scale and impact of our research enterprise, contested logistics is an area where we are well positioned to make a meaningful difference for our state and nation," said Chancellor Charles Robinson. "The Made in America Summit is strengthening the partnerships and collaboration needed to advance that work.”

“We brought together venture capitalists, founders, military leaders, industry experts and researchers because this is really about bringing all of those talents to bear,” said Brent Williams, dean of the Walton College. “The opportunity is to help our supply chains better serve people and all of their constituencies, no matter what they face.”

The opportunity was evident throughout the two-day gathering. U.S. Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman, Army Chief Technology Officer Dr. Alex Miller, Commander U.S. Transportation Command General Randall Reed, Adjutant General of Arkansas Brigadier Chad Bridges, and senior leaders from Walmart, J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Tyson Foods were among those examining how commercial supply chain expertise can help organizations operate through disruption.

General Reed pointed to disruption as a challenge that cuts across military and commercial supply chains.

Arkansas Senators Tom Cotton (at podium) and John Boozman (seated) both spoke in support of the newly formed Contested Logistics Consortium.

“When I think about contested logistics, I think about disruption first,” he said. “We are all facing disruption every day. It's part of our terrain, and it shapes how we go about things.”

Addressing those challenges also depends on exchanging information and expertise across sectors.

“Our ability to continue to work together, share information and have exchanges allows us to provide the security needed to protect our economic strength,” Reed said. “America's commercial transportation industry is an essential component of our strategic mobility.”

Many of the challenges confronting military logistics have parallels in the commercial supply chains companies manage every day, including resilience, visibility, speed and the ability to adapt as conditions change.

Dr. Miller made that connection tangible, pointing to the ability of consumers to track a Walmart order from purchase to delivery as an example of the kind of real-time visibility the Army needs, within systems that also meet its security and resilience requirements.

“We simply cannot have the best, most exquisite weapons systems in the world tied to one set of production capabilities,” Miller said.

Those challenges created common ground with industry leaders who routinely manage disruption across some of the world’s largest supply chain networks.

“Before, it was problem-solving when a disruption happened,” said Josh Hankins, senior vice president of operations at J.B. Hunt Transport Services. “Today, it’s about being able to predict that disruption and being able to have a game plan in place to move forward.”

For Senator Cotton, the stakes extend directly to national readiness.

“The ability to quickly transport munitions, weapons and technology can be the difference between success and failure on the battlefield,” Cotton said. “I was honored to speak [at the summit], which brought together military members, professionals, and college students committed to building a safer and more prosperous America.”

The summit represents the beginning of that work rather than its conclusion. The CLC grew from roughly 18 months of conversations between University of Arkansas faculty and military leaders and is focused on three areas: convening leaders around specific challenges, applied research and talent development. Early efforts include research and collaboration with the Army Applications Lab and Combined Arms Support Command, U.S. Transportation Command and The Joint Staff J4; a memorandum of understanding with the Defense Logistics Agency focused on research and talent development; and Supply Chains Under Fire, a new University of Arkansas course co-taught by University of Arkansas System President Jay Silveria.

“It was an honor to join military officials, industry leaders, researchers, educators and experts at the inaugural Made in America Contested Logistics Summit and share our belief that Arkansas is poised to serve as the backbone of the U.S. military supply chain,” Senator Boozman said. “From sourcing critical materials to maintaining our industrial base and ensuring our men and women in uniform have what they need, when they need it, a resilient supply chain is essential to our national security. As home to world-class supply chain operations, talent and expertise, we look forward to continuing to build partnerships and develop solutions that strengthen these critical networks, enhance national security and bolster America’s global leadership.”

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is one of the nation's leading public business schools, serving more than 10,300 students across undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs. Through applied learning, impactful research and deep industry partnerships, Walton prepares leaders to compete and innovate in a global economy.

About STATION NWA: STATION NWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation in the supply chain, manufacturing and logistics sectors in Northwest Arkansas. In partnership with Capital Factory, STATION NWA brings a critical mass of national-level resources, mentorship, and investor networks to Northwest Arkansas — providing a launchpad for founders and companies with ambitions in dual-use manufacturing, advanced logistics and frontier technologies.

About Capital Factory: Capital Factory is the most active early-stage investor in Texas and a nationally recognized engine for entrepreneurial growth. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Bentonville and Washington DC, Capital Factory brings together founders, talent, investors, government, and industry leaders to make the introductions that matter most. Capital Factory’s long history of backing first-time founders, delivering top-tier returns, and connecting innovation hubs enables world-changing entrepreneurs to turn early ideas into scalable companies and jobs.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.