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

Business Week described the Gulf War as the largest military logistics operation in history. It entailed an unprecedented deployment of troops and supplies halfway around the world–a management job that Norman Schwarzkopf hailed as an absolutely gigantic accomplishment. Here is a firsthand account of the supply effort that led to the dramatic Allied victory in the Gulf, written by the general who spearheaded the remarkable undertaking. General Pagonis recounts the Gulf War from the first fateful telephone call, to the mobilization of 550,000 troops and the shipment of 7,000,000 tons of supplies, to the enormously complex challenge of bringing home a half million soldiers and their equipment. His highly effective management techniques apply to information flow, time management, motivation, customer service, and organizational design. Using historical examples–from Alexander the Great to the Israeli Army–and current business practice, he makes a strong case for better leadership and better logistics, both in the military and in the private sector. In the Gulf War, leadership and logistics came together, and extraordinary goals were achieved. Also available in hardcover; ISBN 0875843603, $29.95.