Chris Gopal has an extensive background in global supply chain and operations, international trade, and technology and over 40 years of experience in executive management, consulting, and education. He has held prominent positions at leading global organizations, including as Partner and Director of Global Supply Chain and Operations Services at Ernst & Young Consulting and Executive Vice President roles at Dell Computer, Unisys, and SAIC. Chris is a member of the Defense Business Board (DBB), offering independent, private sector-based consulting to senior defense leaders. He is also part of the Private Sector Advisory Group of the Global Fund in Geneva, contributing to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and COVID. Previously, he served on the White House sub-committee on Manufacturing Technologies. A renowned speaker, Chris has participated in notable assemblies like the Milken Institute Global Forum, IATA World Conferences, Harvard Business Review Forum, and the National Press Club. He has also testified before the US Congressional US-China Committee on trade and supply chain matters.

Chris earned a BSc from Bangalore University, India; an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom; and a PhD in business from the University of Southern California. He is co-author of influential supply chain books, including Supercharging Supply Chains: New Ways to Increase Value Through Global Operational Excellence (1998) and Breakthrough Supply Chains: How Companies and Nations Can Thrive and Prosper in an Uncertain World (2023) which is endorsed by the Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and included in the Pentagon Library.