Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Aman Gupta
In his role as Assistant Professor at Embry-Riddle Worldwide, Dr. Aman Gupta ensures that graduates of the Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management program leave with the skills they need to be successful in their career. In his role as Program Chair, Dr. Gupta also ensures that graduates keep a little extra money in their pocket, thanks to a waiver he helped the program obtain.
In January 2013, Embry-Riddle Worldwide became one of the 29 schools in the United States approved for a blanket waiver from the American Society of Transportation and Logistics (AST&L). This means that students who successfully complete the Certification in Transportation and Logistics (CTL) track are eligible for the CTL certification from AST&L without having to take six examinations that cost about $1,200.
I love it because the industry recognizes the certification highly. AST&L has been around since 1946. The certification carries a lot of weight if it’s on your resume with your master’s degree – more than just your master’s alone.
Dr. Gupta
Offering both a general and CTL track in logistics and supply chain management is just one example of how Dr. Gupta and his colleagues relate their coursework to the “real world.” Globalization has made traditional aspects of the work more complex, and courses in the master’s program reflect current trends like “green” supply chains.
Dr. Gupta is currently researching the “Green Supply Chain Assessment Model for Aviation and Aerospace Manufacturing Industry” as a university-sponsored project. His project involves evaluating how industry supply chain managers optimize their processes to lessen the effect on the environment. Some of these processes entail re-using waste materials from manufacturing, repurposing or recycling outdated products and reducing the number of vehicles used to transport items.
“We see what initiatives they are taking and what barriers exist,” he said. “We also look for new opportunities to make supply chains greener.”
Dr. Gupta, who has been with Embry-Riddle Worldwide since December 2011, has experience in both industry and academia.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in his home country of India, Dr. Gupta managed logistics and supply chains for manufacturing companies. He spent more than five years in the industry in both India and the United States, where he moved to in 2001.
“I’ve always loved teaching and research, but I wanted to get some experience in the industry to get on the other side of the fence to see how academic research is applied in the real world,” Dr. Gupta said. “I think that’s important for a teacher, especially in supply chains and industrial engineering.”
Dr. Gupta earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at the University of Louisville. He began teaching as an Adjunct Professor and then spent a year and a half as a Postdoctoral Associate before coming to Embry-Riddle.
“The best part of teaching at Embry-Riddle is the experience that Embry-Riddle students already have – which they share with the class and instructor,” he said. “We have a great mix of students. Integrating a range of student experiences in the same class and observing their contributions to discussion boards and blogs – that’s what makes the entire experience valuable for both students and instructors.”
Dr. Gupta lives in Louisville, Ky., with his wife and 4-year-old son. The couple is expecting another child in December.