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Home > Open Access Journals > JSS > Vol. 19 > No. 2 (2026)

 

Author Biography

Dr. Gilles A. Paché is Professor of Marketing and Supply Chain Management at Aix-Marseille University, France, and a member of the CERGAM Lab (Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche en Gestion d’Aix-Marseille). His research focuses on logistics strategy, distribution channel management, and history. On these topics, he has authored over 750 scholarly publications, including articles, book chapters, and conference papers, as well as around twenty academic books, several of which are considered key references in the field of retail logistics. Professor Paché currently serves as editor of the Travail & Gouvernance book series published by the Presses Universitaires de Provence and contributes actively to the dissemination of scientific knowledge through his involvement on the editorial boards of several high-impact academic journals.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.19.2.2650

Subject Area Keywords

Cybersecurity, International security, National security, Security management, Transportation Security

Abstract

The rapid evolution of civilian-origin technologies repurposed for defense is reshaping the foundations of logistical advantage and altering the conditions under which armed forces operate. Modern missions rely on an extensive ecosystem of infrastructures—port terminals, cloud services, data platforms, and civilian contractors—whose reliability frequently lies beyond the authority of public institutions. This environment gives rise to shadow logistics, a network of civilian systems largely absent from conventional doctrine yet capable of producing significant operational disruptions when failures occur. Case studies show that some dark assets, whether physical or informational, can act as multipliers of effectiveness while simultaneously creating systemic vulnerabilities exploitable by state and non-state actors, including terrorist groups. Research on critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and supply chain governance reveals how civilian systems may become instruments of leverage or coercion, sometimes unintentionally. The analysis also exposes a persistent blind spot in planning processes, notably the limited consideration given to extraterritorial digital services, commercial data brokers, and globally distributed cloud architectures that underpin essential functions. Strengthening logistical resilience requires more precise mapping of interdependencies, more robust public-private partnerships, fuller integration of civilian systems into multi-domain operations, and sovereign capabilities capable of sustaining continuity during periods of geopolitical tension.

Disclaimer

The author affirms that he has no financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could have influenced the conception, execution, or presentation of this article.

Acknowledgements

The author sincerely thanks Professor Geoffrey F. Gresh, Editor-in-Chief, and the two anonymous reviewers of the Journal of Strategic Security for their insightful comments and constructive suggestions, which significantly improved the clarity, rigor, and overall quality of earlier versions of this article.

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