BY MARK B. SOLOMON, SENIOR EDITOR
THE DC VELOCITY Q&A
thoughtleaders
THE STARS SEEM ALIGNED FOR TERRY L. ESPER.
Only 40, he has already completed the career trifecta of
industry, government, and academia. As such, he understands the value each brings to the profession as unique
entities, and as one powerful force.
Esper holds the prestigious Oren Harris Chair in Logistics at
the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business.
Commanding, articulate, and extremely passionate about the field,
Esper is poised to become one of the most visible members of an
increasingly visible profession.
Senior Editor Mark B. Solomon interviewed Esper about his career, the
interplay of the three disciplines, his outlook for the business and the people who will help it succeed, and his drive to empower more African-Americans to join the industry.
QYou have a background in all three major fields of endeavor. How do the attitudes toward logistics differ amongst academia, industry, and government?
A I would say they’re alike in many ways. All three sectors converge on a desire to support logistics activity in the global economy. In doing so, however, each maintains a commitment to its respective performance outcomes. Government has a strong
At the
intersection
INTERVIEW WITH
TERRY L. ESPER, PH.D.
Some see industry, academia,
and government as siloes.
Dr. Terry Esper, who has
touched all three, sees
convergence—and
benefits.
