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We’re excited to announce the addition of alumnus, Chris Gaffney (BSIE ’85, MSIE ’86) to the Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (SCL), as his addition solidifies the new leadership team.

Chris Gaffney joins as the Managing Director of the SCL and will hold a dual appointment as Academic Program Director in Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE) - Edenfield Executive-in-Residence and a Professor of the Practice.

Gaffney joins the SCL team with Dr. Benoit Montreuil, Coca-Cola Material Handling & Distribution Chair and Professor and Director, Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, and Dr. Alejandro Toriello, Scientific Director for SCL and Professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE).

Dr. Alejandro Toriello was appointed Scientific Director of the Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (SCL), on December 1, 2023. As a professor in ISyE, Dr. Toriello brings expertise in the theory and applications of supply chain management, logistics, and transportation, as well as a deep understanding of optimization methodologies.

Dr. Toriello is a two-time ISyE alum (BS ‘03, Ph.D. ‘10), and was the 2023 President of the INFORMS Transportation Science and Logistics Society and is on the editorial boards of Transportation Science and Transportation Research Part B, two leading journals in the SCL space.

Dr. Benoit Montreuil joined Georgia Tech in 2015 and has played a leadership role in SCL since that time. He also serves as Director of the Physical Internet Center and Executive Director of SCL. Dr. Montreuil leads the International Physical Internet Initiative, engaging academic, industry, and government leaders worldwide in research and innovation projects on smart, hyperconnected sustainable logistics, supply chains, transportation, and more.

Gaffney will be managing the execution of the team, nurturing and developing the business ecosystem, and being accountable for SCL training, education curriculum, and delivery.

Toriello will lead in nurturing and developing faculty membership, interdisciplinary competency, and engagement in line with strategic orientation. He will also lead strategic planning, and action relative to scientific programming, and steering the development and realization of major scientific/academic research projects led by SCL.

Benoit will continue to drive the SCL strategic planning and action with Gaffney and Toriello. He will also guide the development and growth of research and innovation partnerships, as well as major projects and consortiums with industry partners.

As we tap into the new year, Chris Gaffney’s return to Georgia Tech welcomes fresh methods and inspiration to enhance the program's supply chain operations. Having earned both his degrees from the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE), Gaffney's journey intertwines deeply with the institution’s growth and impact.

Throughout the years, Gaffney was involved in the community serving on the ISyE Advisory Board, Supply Chain and Logistics Industry Advisory Board, and the MentIEs Program at Georgia Tech.

In his new role, Chris wants to continue driving cross-collaboration with SCL partnerships, “Georgia Tech is on the leading edge of the advancements in supply chain and logistics, so I'm hopeful that part of what we could do more of in SCL is help companies access more of that, faster.”

Additionally, Gaffney believes there’s an increasing urgency to advancing and “bringing people the type of learning in a way that they can grow their own professional capabilities [and become more multidisciplinary].”

Gaffney's professional journey began at Frito-Lay, where he navigated operational intricacies as a logistics analyst, later advancing to operations manager. Subsequently, he honed his expertise in international logistics and strategic supply chain management at AJC International and the Coca-Cola Company.

Gaffney's tenure at Coca-Cola, spanning over two decades as the Director of National Distribution, and then VP of Transportation for US Coke, epitomizes his commitment to collaboration and innovation. He also served in positions as President of Coca-Cola Supply, and as the President of the National Product Supplied Group, for the US Bottlers.

Chris met his wife Ellen while attending Georgia Tech and has been married for over 30 years; with four adult children, including one being a GT graduate in the field of Supply Chain.

Even in hardship, Gaffney’s family is passionate about doing all they can, including relentlessly supporting one of their own as a childhood cancer survivor. They’re heavily involved philanthropically, specifically in raising money for research on childhood cancer, “we believe that we have a responsibility to do what we can.”

As Gaffney shared his final thoughts, he leaves us with a hopeful view, channeling the moments where it all first started – on Georgia Tech campus.