Aaron Hughes
Chandler,AZ
Summary
Dynamic Logistics Professional with 30 years of experience and leadership in military, civilian, and various overseas positions and environments. Proven skills in procurement, supplier relationships, and inventory management saving employers time and money. Subject matter expert in multi-disciplinary logistics operations and quickly adapts to new and changing regulations. Strong collaboration and change management skills. Thrives in fast-paced environments with aptitude for cost-effective decision making and regulatory compliance.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Purchasing Agent
Pilgrim Aerospace Fasteners
11.2024 - Current
- Negotiated and managed RFQs, RFIs, and the tendering process of over 1,600 purchase orders, totaling $4.5 million, across more than 200 vendors.
- Collaborated with cross functional engineering and quality assurance teams to evaluate supplier performance; identified $54K in overcharges within first 90 days.
- Led supplier qualification and regional sourcing, ensured timely delivery of high-quality aerospace fasteners, and supported production with cost-effective procurement strategies.
- Built and maintained strategic relationships with suppliers, ensuring compliance with industry standards, on-time delivery, and competitive pricing.
Inventory & Purchasing Specialist
American Medical Associates
12.2022 - 09.2024
- Drove sourcing, purchasing, inventory management, and internal distribution of supplies across 2 sites and 6 medical offices.
- Established positive relationships and negotiated prices and terms with vendors. Sourced four new vendors, cutting costs by $3,000 per month on consumables.
- Built a comprehensive digital inventory and asset tracking/reporting system from scratch, affording leaders real-time visibility of all assets and resources.
- Evaluated the entire inventory upon arrival, eliminated redundancies, established PAR levels, initiated FIFO protocols, and focused replenishment based on usage and lead time, which reduced FY22 expenses by $8K.
Supply Chain Manager
Palmetto Health Richland
11.2016 - 04.2019
- Led day-to-day operations of receiving, inventory control, and distribution departments; 51 direct reports, 1,723 product lines, including 212 Pharma lines, averaging 13 turns per month.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline procurement processes and improve supplier relationships, resulting in increased efficiency by 17%, and allocated additional space for high-use, high-footprint products.
Logistics Readiness Officer
United States Air Force, USAF
12.1994 - 08.2014
- Commanded daily operations of receiving, storage, and distribution of 2,345 part lines for B-52 bomber aircraft, valued at $2B, and maintained inventory accuracy of 98%.
- Conducted a 10-year data analysis of resupply air drops to 56 austere Afghan bases, streamlined reporting, and delivery mechanisms, which cut food and fuel shortages by 50%.
- Negotiated 236 service contracts in Europe and the Middle East, employed 2.6K people, and generated over $38M.
- Drove the first nuclear deployment inspection in 10 years, moved 8K personnel and 112 tons of cargo on 32 aircraft in 72 hours – passed with the highest possible rating: “Excellent.”
Education
MBA -
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, ALBachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
American Military University
Charles Town, WVCertificate - Advance Logistics Readiness Officer Course (ALROC)
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJSkills
- Collaborative supplier negotiation
- RFQ process oversight
- Proficient in procurement processes
- Vendor management expertise
- Development of procurement strategies
- Asset management systems
- Inventory control
Timeline
Purchasing Agent
Pilgrim Aerospace Fasteners
11.2024 - Current
Inventory & Purchasing Specialist
American Medical Associates
12.2022 - 09.2024
Supply Chain Manager
Palmetto Health Richland
11.2016 - 04.2019
Logistics Readiness Officer
United States Air Force, USAF
12.1994 - 08.2014
MBA -
Columbia Southern University
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
American Military University
Certificate - Advance Logistics Readiness Officer Course (ALROC)
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)