William Pagonis
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General William Gus Pagonis was the director of Logistics
during the Gulf War
of 1991 and is widely recognized for his logistical achievements particularly during Desert Storm. After successfully masterminding logistics for the Gulf War and winning high praise from General Norman Schwarzkopf, Pagonis left the Army in 1993 and was elected Executive Vice President of Logistics for Sears Roebuck & Co. In 2000 he joined Railamerica, Inc.
for 29 years, retiring with the three-star rank of Lieutenant General. He earned both a Bachelor's degree in Transportation and Traffic Management and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University
. He is a brother of the Alpha Chi Rho
Fraternity. Called "the logistical wizard behind the Allied success in Operation Desert Storm", in the book Delivering the Goods by author Damon Schechter, who goes on to say that one of the greatest inspirations Pagonis credits is none other than his Greek
ancestor, Alexander the Great, who inspired one of Pagonis’ best-remembered logistical innovations during the Gulf War
, the mobile firebase.
Norman Schwarzkopf's supply expert was then Major General Pagonis, a short energetic Greek-American. Pagonis was actually the first American to arrive in Saudi Arabia
, hours after it was decided to send troops. Lacking a hotel room, he had slept two nights in the back of his rented Chevrolet
near the port of Dammam
. He would be promoted to Lieutenant General during the war, the only promotion given during the entire event.
As he confirmed in interviews, his personal hall of fame also includes such generals as Ulysses Grant and George Patton. Pagonis has shown that when it comes to expertise in logistics and overall leadership in management of very complex projects and organizations, few people are better qualified than the retired three-star U.S. Army General. Lieutenant General Pagonis, as head of the Sears Logistics Group, functioned as the single point of contact for all Sears’ logistics and was responsible for Vendor Relations, Distribution, Transportation, Home Deliveries, Outlet Stores, International Logistics and the integration of Information Systems to cement it all together. With Pagonis incorporating the logistics he learned in the military into the corporate world he has turned Sears - dismissed as a dinosaur only years ago - into a star of the retailing universe. Pagonis has been one of the key players in the turnaround of Sears. He explains, "The secret of logistics is never to lose sight of who the customer is." Since then he has left Sears and now is Chairman of the Board/Director for Railamerica, Inc. Mr. Pagonis is also Chairman of the Defense Business Board, having been appointed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
. He is also Vice-Chairman of GENCO ATC
and previously served as an advisor to CombineNet, Inc. He retired as President of Sears Logistics Services during 2004, where he also served as Senior Vice-President for Supply Chain for Sears, Roebuck and Company. He has since retired from Sears, he is currently the chairmen of GENCO, a logistics firm based out of Pittsburgh.
Pagonis is also an author, having written Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf War, published by Harvard Business School
Press.
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
of 1991 and is widely recognized for his logistical achievements particularly during Desert Storm. After successfully masterminding logistics for the Gulf War and winning high praise from General Norman Schwarzkopf, Pagonis left the Army in 1993 and was elected Executive Vice President of Logistics for Sears Roebuck & Co. In 2000 he joined Railamerica, Inc.
Career
Pagonis served in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for 29 years, retiring with the three-star rank of Lieutenant General. He earned both a Bachelor's degree in Transportation and Traffic Management and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He is a brother of the Alpha Chi Rho
Alpha Chi Rho
Alpha Chi Rho is a men's collegiate fraternity founded on June 4, 1895 at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut by the Reverend Paul Ziegler, his son Carl Ziegler, and Carl's friends William Rouse, Herbert T. Sherriff and William A.D. Eardeley. It is a charter member of the North-American...
Fraternity. Called "the logistical wizard behind the Allied success in Operation Desert Storm", in the book Delivering the Goods by author Damon Schechter, who goes on to say that one of the greatest inspirations Pagonis credits is none other than his Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
ancestor, Alexander the Great, who inspired one of Pagonis’ best-remembered logistical innovations during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, the mobile firebase.
Gulf War
In the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
Norman Schwarzkopf's supply expert was then Major General Pagonis, a short energetic Greek-American. Pagonis was actually the first American to arrive in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, hours after it was decided to send troops. Lacking a hotel room, he had slept two nights in the back of his rented Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
near the port of Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
. He would be promoted to Lieutenant General during the war, the only promotion given during the entire event.
As he confirmed in interviews, his personal hall of fame also includes such generals as Ulysses Grant and George Patton. Pagonis has shown that when it comes to expertise in logistics and overall leadership in management of very complex projects and organizations, few people are better qualified than the retired three-star U.S. Army General. Lieutenant General Pagonis, as head of the Sears Logistics Group, functioned as the single point of contact for all Sears’ logistics and was responsible for Vendor Relations, Distribution, Transportation, Home Deliveries, Outlet Stores, International Logistics and the integration of Information Systems to cement it all together. With Pagonis incorporating the logistics he learned in the military into the corporate world he has turned Sears - dismissed as a dinosaur only years ago - into a star of the retailing universe. Pagonis has been one of the key players in the turnaround of Sears. He explains, "The secret of logistics is never to lose sight of who the customer is." Since then he has left Sears and now is Chairman of the Board/Director for Railamerica, Inc. Mr. Pagonis is also Chairman of the Defense Business Board, having been appointed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
. He is also Vice-Chairman of GENCO ATC
GENCO ATC
GENCO ATC is North America's second largest third-party logistics provider for manufacturers, retailers and U.S. government agencies.- GENCO ATC at a glance :* 113-year, privately held, non-asset based company...
and previously served as an advisor to CombineNet, Inc. He retired as President of Sears Logistics Services during 2004, where he also served as Senior Vice-President for Supply Chain for Sears, Roebuck and Company. He has since retired from Sears, he is currently the chairmen of GENCO, a logistics firm based out of Pittsburgh.
Pagonis is also an author, having written Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf War, published by Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
Press.