Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf War

Abstract

Business Week described Gulf War as the largest military logistics operation in history, entailing an unprecedented deployment of troops and supplies halfway around world. Here is a firsthand account of supply effort that led to dramatic Allied victory in Gulf, written by general who spearheaded remarkable undertaking. General Pagonis recounts Gulf War from first fateful telephone call, to mobilization of 550,000 troops and shipment of 7,000,000 tons of supplies, to enormously complex challenge of bringing home a half million soldiers and their equipment. Numerous leadership and logistics lessons can be gleaned from his experience. Pagonis describes his battlefield innovations as well as his inspirational leadership style. Using historical examples and current business practice, he makes a strong case for better leadership and better logistics, both in military and in private sector. In Gulf War, leadership and logistics came together, and extraordinary goals were achieved. Pagonis demonstrated what senior managers of world-class companies now recognize: good logistics is an important source of competitive advantage. Moving Mountains offers lessons for all organizations facing major operational challenges.