GSA Daily Staff Report
Published Sept. 1, 2010

Scott Mason has been appointed the inaugural Fluor Endowed Chair in Supply Chain and Logistics in Clemson University's industrial engineering department.
An expert in modeling large-scale systems who has extensive industrial experience, Mason comes to Clemson from the industrial engineering department at the University of Arkansas, where he also was chairman of graduate studies and associate department head.

"The Fluor Chair is a model partnership in establishing state-of-the-art research and instruction in technical fields, and Scott Mason is an excellent choice to fill it," said Clemson President James Barker. "We are delighted to have him and are excited about how his work can strengthen our established supply chain programs at Clemson."

Fluor Corp. contributed $2 million to match $2 million from the South Carolina Centers of Economic Excellence program to fund the Fluor Endowed Chair of Supply Chain and Logistics. It is one of 15 such positions funded through the CoEE program.

"The appointment of the Fluor Endowed Chair represents another successful step in the continuing development of the Fluor Supply Chain Endowment to Clemson University," said Alan Boeckmann, Fluor chairman and CEO. "We are pleased with the progress achieved to date in developing this unique supply chain program and proud to be engaged in a partnership with Clemson University that brings the benefits of research and education to the entire engineering and construction industry."

The study of supply chain and logistics involves finding the most efficient, economical way to move goods or people to market in business and industry. The field affects all aspects of business, from the flow of raw materials and scheduling production to manufacturing and distributing finished goods.

"The Fluor Endowed Chair highlights a truly unique partnership that brings together Fluor, Clemson University and the State of South Carolina to solve complex supply chain education and research issues facing the construction of capital projects," said Jim Scotti, senior vice president and chief procurement officer at Fluor. "I remain extremely proud of the progress we have made to date in developing and delivering this unique program and look forward to the long-term impact it will have on elevating the importance of the supply chain profession in the global engineering and construction industry."

Mason began his career in the semiconductor industry then joined the University of Arkansas industrial engineering department. He twice was named Faculty Member of the Year.
Mason has been both the technical vice president of networking and general co-chairman of the Industrial Engineering Research Conference. He received his doctorate in industrial engineering from Arizona State University and his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Texas.

"Scott Mason's appointment will help drive Clemson's industrial engineering research and academic programs to the forefront," said Esin Gulari, dean of Clemson's College of Engineering and Science. "His research and expertise will have a real economic impact on the state and and on our mission as a land-grant university."