5 Takeaways From Exiger & GovCon Wire’s Webinar on Contested Logistics in Ukraine

Brie Kelly and Clinton West/Exiger

As modern conflicts reshape the battlespace, logistics has emerged as both the backbone of mission success and a frontline vulnerability. In a recent GovCon Wire webinar, Exiger Senior Director of Advanced Systems Clinton West — former chief of supply chain risk at the CIA — and Exiger Customer Success Manager Brie Kelly — a former CIA logistics officer and Senate staffer — shared hard-earned lessons from Ukraine and beyond.

This discussion set the stage for the 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit on October 16, where West will moderate the panel Logistics Superiority in the Era of Strategic Competition. That session will dive into how the Department of Defense is reimagining logistics as a strategic advantage powered by secure data, resilient supply chains and coalition collaboration. Register for this government-industry networking event now!

Here are five takeaways from the Exiger webinar.

1. Logistics is no longer a back office function

West emphasized that logistics has moved from a support role to the center of mission survival. In Ukraine, the ability to sustain operations under fire revealed that every assumption is tested and every moment contested. As Kelly put it, “being uncomfortable is where I do my best work” — underscoring that logistics professionals are now on the front lines of resilience.

2. The battlefield has changed — and so must supply chains

In past conflicts, logisticians faced asymmetric threats and infrastructure gaps in permissive environments like Iraq and Afghanistan. Today’s near-peer conflicts involve cyberattacks, precision strikes and the deliberate targeting of supply lines. This means supply chains must be faster, more adaptive and deeply integrated across military and civilian domains. The panel warned against overreliance on simple fixes like commercial tracking tags, which adversaries can exploit.

3. Speed vs. safety requires constant recalibration

Kelly described the “constant calculus” of balancing delivery speed against the safety of teams in Ukraine. She explained that Exiger’s layered risk management framework helped prioritize essential material while avoiding unnecessary exposure. Sometimes, missions were greenlit despite risks because the cost of delay was higher; other times, deliveries were halted to protect lives.

4. Human resilience and local relationships are critical

Both speakers highlighted how informal networks often sustained operations. West described the “I know a guy” phenomenon, where local contacts provided crucial access, while Kelly recalled a warehouse manager whose cousin’s knowledge of unmarked routes kept supplies moving when official channels collapsed. Their takeaway: logistics systems must be designed with human resilience and flexibility baked in, not only rigid contracts.

5. Future conflicts demand disruptive, tech-enabled systems

Looking ahead, both experts stressed that logistics must be built for disruption, not efficiency alone. Kelly urged investment in redundancy, survivability and decision-making speed, calling speed of decision “a warfighting function.” West noted the need for stronger vendor vetting and more authority for field logisticians to act without waiting on distant approvals. Both agreed that private-sector tools — like Exiger’s real-time risk intelligence and supply chain visibility platforms — can give logisticians the shared situational awareness needed to win the next fight.

The Bottom Line

Ukraine demonstrated that contested logistics is not a theoretical challenge — it is the defining feature of modern conflict. By integrating adaptability, partnerships and advanced tools into logistics planning, government and industry can better anticipate and mitigate risks in the contested environments of tomorrow.

These issues will be front and center at the 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit on Oct. 16, where West and fellow leaders will explore how the Pentagon and its partners are harnessing emerging technologies, predictive analytics and innovative sustainment models to deliver agility, precision and endurance to the warfighter. Save your spot before it’s too late!