51: Kathy Fulton: The Power of Logistics—Applying Supply Chain Principles to Disaster Relief

She Supply Chains Podcast
Nov 3
2 min read

What if the key to saving lives during disasters isn’t more supplies — but smarter logistics and stronger collaboration?

In this episode, we sit down with Kathy Fulton, Executive Director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), to explore the critical role supply chain plays in disaster relief. With more than 15 years at ALAN, Kathy has dedicated her career to ensuring that survivors receive the right aid at the right time — and that communities can rebuild long after the headlines fade.

Kathy shares her journey into humanitarian logistics, the everyday challenges responders face, and why collaboration between government, nonprofits, and private industry is essential in moments of crisis. She also opens up about leadership in high-pressure environments, the often-overlooked emotional toll on communities post-disaster, and the guiding principles that shape her work — including inspiration drawn from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of dignity and equality.

Through Kathy’s lens, logistics becomes more than moving goods. It becomes a pathway to impact, humanity, and resilience.

In this episode, we discuss:

(02:56) Kathy’s Journey in Supply Chain and Disaster Relief
(05:56) The Role of Logistics in Disaster Relief
(08:42) Mission and Impact of the American Logistics Aid Network
(11:49) Coordination During Disasters
(14:52) Challenges of Visibility and Collaboration
(17:51) The Importance of Donated Services
(20:38) Aligning Different Stakeholders in a Crisis

Listen in for an eye-opening conversation on what it really takes to support communities in crisis — and why logistics might just be the most powerful tool we have.