Vinayak Deshpande

Vinayak Deshpande is the Mann Family Distinguished Professor of Operations at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on supply chain collaboration, service parts management, and addressing security/privacy challenges in supply chains, particularly in aviation, defense, and healthcare sectors. He has received notable awards including the AGIFORS Best Contribution Award and Edelman Laureate status.

Education:

• PhD in Operations Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• MS in Operations Research, Columbia University
• MS in Industrial Engineering, University of Miami
• B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, IIT Mumbai

Research Interests: He explores airline flight delays, telemedicine logistics, machine learning applications in supply chains, and sustainable operations. His work bridges theoretical models with practical industry challenges, emphasizing real-world impact.

Awards & Recognition:

• AGIFORS Best Contribution Award (Airline Industry Research)
• Edelman Award Laureate (2011)
• Dantzig Dissertation Award (2000s)
• MSOM Society Student Paper Competition Recognition

Consulting & Projects: Collaborated with Motorola, MCA Solutions, and the U.S. Coast Guard. His Coast Guard projects optimized aircraft service parts supply chains, recognized as an Edelman finalist. He also advises on operational efficiency in healthcare and retail sectors.

Labs & Partnerships: Active in cross-disciplinary collaborations, including surgical efficiency studies with medical institutions and airline network optimization with industry partners.