When disaster strikes and lives hang in the balance, who are the first to establish lifelines and deliver hope? The unsung heroes of logistics. The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has officially launched nominations for its ninth annual Humanitarian Logistics Awards, inviting the public to recognize individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to disaster relief efforts.
Why Nominate? Because Their Efforts Deserve Recognition
ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton emphasized: "Humanitarian relief depends on the generous support of supply chain professionals. These awards exist to honor that generosity. While ALAN is aware of many contributions, countless heroes remain unrecognized. Only through public nominations can we properly honor their work."
Nomination Period Now Open Through June 30
The nomination portal is currently accepting submissions (including self-nominations) until June 30. Winners will be announced during ALAN's 20th anniversary celebration this fall, coinciding with the annual CSCMP EDGE conference.
Eligibility and Award Categories
The ALAN Humanitarian Logistics Awards are open to all supply chain professionals, academics, organizations, or departments. Four distinct categories will recognize multiple honorees:
- Outstanding Disaster Relief Contribution: Recognizes individuals or organizations that demonstrated exceptional performance in disaster response, whether through transportation, warehousing, information coordination, or other critical functions.
- Employee Engagement Award: Honors employee teams who actively participated in relief efforts, often sacrificing personal time and overcoming challenges to serve affected communities.
- Research/Academic Achievement Award: Celebrates scholars or institutions whose work in humanitarian logistics has advanced operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, or process optimization.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizes individuals with long-term dedication to humanitarian logistics, including career contributions to industry development and workforce training.
Past Honorees: Stories That Inspire
Since its establishment in 2017, the ALAN Humanitarian Logistics Awards have honored organizations and individuals whose supply chain expertise ensured rapid delivery of aid to disaster zones. Previous recipients include Niagara Cares, Southwest ToyotaLift, Hy-Vee Inc., Dr. Jarrod Goentzel, United States Cold Storage, ARPCO Transport Services, Scotlynn, and Dr. Diego Vega.
These honorees represent diverse sectors but share a common commitment to humanitarian service, demonstrating how supply chain professionals can make life-saving differences during crises.
Crafting an Effective Nomination
Successful nominations typically:
- Clearly detail specific contributions to disaster relief efforts
- Include quantitative metrics when possible (volumes transported, people served, costs saved)
- Present compelling narratives about the nominee's dedication
- Provide supporting documentation such as media coverage or project reports
ALAN's Humanitarian Mission
ALAN leverages logistics and supply chain expertise to support disaster response. Through resource coordination, information services, and training programs, the organization helps relief agencies deliver aid more efficiently to affected communities.
The awards program represents one component of ALAN's broader effort to recognize and strengthen humanitarian logistics capabilities worldwide.