Highlighting the importance of logistics in humanitarian emergencies, Save the Children Senior Operations Specialist and Josef Korbel School alum Jerry Montgomery spoke to students in the Humanitarian Assistance Certificate Program at the Josef Korbel School last week.

Taking a holistic approach to sector integration, Montgomery outlined some of the processes organizations use in emergency situations where timing and accuracy are both difficult and important.

“In an emergency, the right place, right time and right value are all important for logistics,” said Montgomery.

There needs to be more focus on the operations and logistics of NGOs, he said. Getting the person handing out food on the ground takes 10 steps prior to that most people never think about.

“If Coca Cola can send a bottle anywhere around the world, why can’t NGOs do it,” said Montgomery.

Montgomery also provided career advice. He told students that the most important start to job hunting was to figure out their priorities and where they want to work and then move there.

Montgomery will be teaching a field protocol class as part of the Humanitarian Assistance program during the 2013 winter quarter.

- Sarah Crozier, MA Candidate, International Development
Josef Korbel School of International Studies