Dare to Be Great: Lessons from Jeff Douville, Director of Logistics at General Dynamics Electric Boat

In this episode, Donna and Tom sit down with Jeff Douville, Director of Logistics at General Dynamics Electric Boat to discuss supply chain leadership, logistics strategy, and lessons from a 40-year career spanning the military and industry.

Jeff explains how focus, collaboration, and flow efficiency keep production lines moving, and he outlines strategies for managing disruption, from red-team risk planning to building agility, resilience, and decision-ready analytics. He also highlights technology opportunities such as AI, reshoring trends, and the importance of turning data into actionable decisions.

Listeners will gain practical advice for supply chain professionals and students on leadership, teamwork, and preparing for a dynamic future in logistics.

Takeaways: 

• Introduction to General Dynamics Electric Boat 

• Exploring commonalities between military, to automotive, and defense systems industries that all logisticians can apply 

• How the supply chain may evolve in the next 5-10 years 

• Advice for mid-career professionals and those starting out in the supply chain management field 

Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apply Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us! 

Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr 

Guest Biography: 

Jeff joined Electric Boat as Director of Logistics in May 2023. He is a career manufacturing & distribution supply chain leader having served in the U.S. Army, Defense Industry, Automotive Industry, and Consumer & Industrial Products Industry. Jeff takes great pride in inspiring shared success with a people-focused, performance-driven approach. His academic credentials include a Master’s in Business Logistics & Operations Research from Penn State University, a Master’s in Strategic Planning from the U.S. Army War College, and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jeff is an APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional and serves on the Advisory Board of Penn State’s Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility.