By MAJ Matt McCulley
In August 2008, the University of Kansas and the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College (USACGSC) partnered in a new master’s degree program. This new program from the KU School of Business is a Master of Science Degree in Business, with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and Logistics. After recently graduating from this new program, I took a moment and reflected on the degree, and what I’ve learned over the last year. In addition to the tremendous amount of academic learning that occurred, it was also the additional benefits from the military-civilian academic university relationship that truly made it a winning program.
Fundamentally, this new program teaches Army Majors the best practices from the civilian supply chain management sector. These practices can then be applied to the military logistics arena. This degree is also valuable because of the growing importance of supply chain management in both the civilian business world and the military. As can be expected from a top-rated business school, the KU School of Business deliberately selected each course and instructor. By bringing in senior, tenured professors along with well-experienced instructors from the civilian business world, the program achieved immediate value and credibility. The deliberate and thoughtful collaboration between Mr. Greg Freix, the program’s director from the KU School of Business, and Mr. Willis Jackson, the Deputy Director of Logistics & Resource Management at USACGSC, created a top-notch academic program that integrated the academic demands of each institution. Overall, the course was challenging, as it should be, coming from the KU Business School, but not overwhelming. Each of the instructors was motivated to participate in this unique program, and adeptly instructed ten U.S. Army Majors and one Argentinean Major on the concepts of supply chain management.
Beyond the academic learning, and what also made this new program so valuable, was the interaction between the two institutions. As a smaller percentage of Americans serve in the U.S. military, it has become increasingly important to conduct engagements and interactions between military members and the civilian populace. The military, much like the civilian world or academic world, can become so insulated that we forget how to effectively interact with other sectors of society, let alone understand their points of view. With an established program between KU and USACGSC, military officers have an excellent opportunity to hear outside views from other college students and university professors. The atmosphere encourages robust dialogue because there is no better place to share, converse, and debate ideas than in the classroom. More academic programs, like the KU and USACGSC partnership, need to be developed. This program has not only prepared me for future positions in the Army, but it has also prepared me with a solid knowledge base to work and share ideas with the civilian sector.
- MAJ Matt McCulley is a May 2009 graduate of the KU School of Business with a Master of Science in Business, with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and Logistics. He is also currently attending the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, and will graduate in June 2009.
