Dr. Amanda Femano | Supply Chain Resilience | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor,Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management Department of Operational Sciences, United States

Dr. Amanda L. Femano is an accomplished researcher, educator, and logistics expert at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), specializing in supply chain resilience and logistics management. With a PhD in Logistics from AFIT and an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University, she combines a strong academic foundation with extensive military logistics experience. Dr. Femano’s research is focused on improving supply chain performance and resilience, especially in the face of disruptions. In addition to her research, she teaches courses like Supply Chain Management and Transportation Policies. A member of professional organizations like the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), she is deeply committed to advancing logistics practices. Dr. Femano’s work spans both academic and applied logistics, contributing valuable insights for military and civilian sectors alike. 🌍📚✈️

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Strengths for the Award

1. Advanced Academic Background:
   • Dr. Femano holds a PhD in Logistics from the Air Force Institute of Technology, with a dissertation focused on “Performance Improvement through Better Understanding of Supply Chain Resilience.“ This indicates a deep understanding of critical, contemporary issues in logistics, which are highly relevant in both military and civilian sectors.
   • She has also earned an MBA in Management and a BA in Biological Sciences, showcasing a broad academic background that allows her to apply interdisciplinary insights to her research.
2. Research Expertise and Innovation:
   • Dr. Femano’s dissertation and additional research publications, such as her work on the tradeoff between investments in inventory and production capability in supply chains prone to disruption, demonstrate her ability to engage with complex, practical problems in supply chain management. This research could have important applications in improving the resilience of supply chains, particularly in high-stakes contexts like the military or critical industries.
   • Her research also focuses on resilience in supply chains, an increasingly important area due to global disruptions, and addresses critical topics such as disruption management, risk mitigation, and operational performance improvement.
3. Teaching and Academic Leadership:
   • Dr. Femano has demonstrated a commitment to teaching, as reflected by her roles in courses such as Intro to Supply Chain Management and Transportation Policies & Strategic Mobility. This positions her as a thought leader, not just a researcher, as she plays an important role in educating the next generation of logisticians and supply chain professionals.
   • Her affiliation with prominent organizations like the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and the Logistics Officer Association (LOA) further indicates her integration within the logistics academic and professional community, expanding the influence and reach of her research.
4. Military and Professional Experience:
   • Dr. Femano’s experience in military logistics and professional training in various courses such as Contingency Wartime Planners Course and Air Force Installation Deployment Officer Course indicates a high level of practical experience, which enriches her research with real-world insights and challenges. The application of her research in a military context demonstrates a high degree of relevance and impact.
5. Recognition and Honors:
   • Dr. Femano has received prestigious honors such as Delta Mu Delta (an international honor society for business management) and Sigma Iota Epsilon, indicating her academic excellence and peer recognition.

Areas for Improvement

1. Publication Impact:
   • While Dr. Femano has publications in her field, they appear to be relatively sparse or unpublished, particularly given the high level of research output typically required for significant recognition in academia. Her future work could benefit from submitting more of her research to high-impact, peer-reviewed journals or making it more widely accessible to the academic community.
   • Further expansion of her research into areas like supply chain digitalization or artificial intelligence in logistics could increase her visibility in cutting-edge research fields, enhancing her candidacy for future awards.
2. Broader Research Network:
   • It appears that her research network is primarily centered around military and logistics sectors. Expanding her collaborations with scholars from other disciplines or industries could enrich her work and lead to broader interdisciplinary innovations that may result in more diverse and impactful research outputs.
3. Community Service and Outreach:
   • While Dr. Femano has notable professional service engagements, there is limited mention of community or broader outreach efforts. More involvement in non-academic initiatives (e.g., public policy, industry partnerships, or broader community engagement related to logistics resilience) could provide additional context for her research’s societal impact.

Education 

Dr. Amanda L. Femano holds a PhD in Logistics from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), awarded in September 2021. Her dissertation focused on “Performance Improvement through Better Understanding of Supply Chain Resilience“, exploring methods to enhance the resilience of supply chains in the face of disruptions. Dr. Femano also earned an MBA in Management from Our Lady of the Lake University in December 2012. She completed her undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware, graduating in May 2008. Her academic journey is marked by a multidisciplinary approach, integrating logistics, management, and scientific principles. This diverse education foundation enables Dr. Femano to address complex logistical challenges from a broad perspective, providing both strategic and practical solutions for various sectors, especially the military. 📘🎓🧳

Experience 

Dr. Amanda L. Femano brings a wealth of both academic and practical experience to her work in logistics. As a faculty member at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), she teaches courses on Supply Chain Management (LOGM568) and Transportation Policies & Strategic Mobility (LOGM619). Her expertise is rooted in her extensive military logistics training, including roles such as Squadron Commander’s Course, Logistic Readiness Officer Course, and Contingency Wartime Planners Course. She has applied her research in real-world settings, particularly in areas involving military logistics and strategic mobility. Dr. Femano’s practical experience also includes multiple years of service in logistics planning and operations within the United States Air Force, where she played pivotal roles in deployment and contingency planning. Her combined academic and military experience makes her a well-rounded expert in the field. 🚀🎖️🛫

wards and Honors

Dr. Amanda L. Femano has received several prestigious awards throughout her academic and professional career. In 2012, she was inducted into Delta Mu Delta, the International Honor Society of Business Management, recognizing her exceptional academic achievements during her MBA studies. In 2021, she was honored with Sigma Iota Epsilon membership, a national honorary and professional society in management. These accolades highlight her commitment to excellence in both research and professional practice. Additionally, her work in logistics and supply chain resilience has garnered recognition from various academic and professional organizations. Dr. Femano’s participation in military and logistics-related courses further underscores her commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. These honors and recognitions reflect her dedication to advancing the fields of logistics and supply chain management at both academic and operational levels. 🏅📜🎖️

Research Focus 

Dr. Amanda L. Femano’s research primarily focuses on supply chain resilience, exploring how to improve performance in the face of disruptions. Her PhD dissertation, titled “Performance Improvement through Better Understanding of Supply Chain Resilience”, investigates strategies for enhancing supply chain robustness, focusing on military and critical logistics systems. Dr. Femano has also co-authored research on the tradeoffs between inventory and production capabilities in disrupted supply chains, addressing the challenge of balancing cost-efficiency with resilience. Her work is crucial in today’s context, where global disruptions like pandemics, natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions are increasingly affecting supply chains. Dr. Femano’s research provides valuable insights into risk mitigation, operational efficiency, and logistics resilience across various sectors, particularly in military and defense environments. By integrating theoretical models with real-world applications, her work offers actionable solutions to ensure supply chains remain resilient and adaptable in a volatile global landscape. 📊⚙️🛡️

Publications

• “Tradeoff between Investments in Inventory and Production Capability in Supply Chains Prone to Disruption” (Unpublished Manuscript, 2019) 📦⚙️
• “Performance Improvement through Better Understanding of Supply Chain Resilience” (Dissertation, 2021) 🏆📚

Conclusion

Dr. Amanda L. Femano is an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly due to her pioneering work on supply chain resilience, her solid academic credentials, and her commitment to both teaching and professional service. She has demonstrated strong research potential and is poised to continue making significant contributions to the field of logistics and supply chain management.To further strengthen her candidacy, she could focus on expanding her publication record, increasing the visibility of her research in high-impact outlets, and exploring interdisciplinary collaborations to address emerging trends in logistics. Additionally, broadening her engagement with the academic community and increasing her involvement in applied industry projects could enhance the practical impact of her work.In summary, Dr. Femano’s research excellence, coupled with her practical experience and academic leadership, makes her a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.