The era of permissive environments for military and intelligence logistics is ending, and a new era of complex, multi-modal supply chains demands improved risk management and better communication, a former CIA supply chain director told Defense Logistics Agency employees.
Clinton West, former CIA director of supply chain risk management, addressed the DLA workforce during a Warfighter Talk at the McNamara Headquarters Complex. West drew on his experiences navigating the onset of the war in Ukraine to illustrate the evolving challenges of logistics support.
West contrasted the established, managed supply chains used in Afghanistan and Iraq with the reality of current operations. In past conflicts, the U.S. could rely on direct flights, owned infrastructure and relative freedom of movement.
“Now, we're in a non-permissive environment, one that we can't operate all the time and when we want, one that's a first world environment, one where there's now drones, phones and tracking devices, and a near-peer adversary,” he said.
The new paradigm involves shifting logistics to an unmanaged network, relying heavily on foreign third-party logistics providers and commercial freight forwarders to bridge the gap from major hubs to the forward edge, he continued.
This reliance creates significant blind spots and security vulnerabilities, which West said is a critical area for improvement in supply chain risk management.
West stressed the ease with which adversaries can buy commercial data streams to track shipments. He highlighted the specific danger of commercial tracking devices, noting that warehouse workers and logistics professionals less experienced with technology are unaware of how these common devices can be exploited by adversaries to track critical cargo.
He advocated for continuous vendor vetting and suggested the need for mobile-based SCRM tools that operators can use securely in the field, moving beyond headquarters-based vetting processes.
To bridge the communication gap between defense organizations like DLA and the intelligence community, West pointed to the effectiveness of tabletop exercises. He said these exercises must be conducted in the field, not just at headquarters, to ensure solutions are grounded in operational reality.
He also emphasized the need to engage with commercial third-party logistics providers to ensure they understand the operational tempo and security requirements of their clients, warning that overly eager contractors might inadvertently compromise missions if not properly briefed.
Modern logistics require a deep integration of intelligence, stringent security protocols and adaptive partnerships, West said.