Paving the Way in New UNH Supply Chain Management Program

Liam Cody

When Liam Cody ’25 accepted a full-time position in the supply chain field shortly after graduation, it wasn’t just a personal milestone — it marked an early success for the supply chain management option at UNH.  

Supply chain management (SCM) was launched as an option within the business administration curriculum at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics during the 2024-2025 academic year. Cody was the first student to complete its requirements, graduating with a degree in supply chain management and finance.  

He now works as a subcontract buyer at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., home of the U.S. Navy’s submarine production hub.  

“As a subcontract buyer, I negotiate, evaluate, and develop sourcing options for parts used in nuclear submarines,” Cody says. “I work in the electric boat division, where maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and ensuring high-quality materials is critical.”  

Cody says he’s enjoying the job and that there is a lot of pride involved in working in such an important industry.

“My favorite thing about my job is our mission: ‘We deliver the advantage that protects our sailors, our families, and our freedom,’” Cody says. “Whether you are in procurement like me or down on the docks physically building the boats, everyone has a part to play. I have a job with a purpose, and it feels good to know that I am playing my part in our nation’s defense. It sets a fire under you to make sure you are doing your best work, day in and day out.”

Cody says the biggest lesson he learned early in his job is how complex supply chains are, and how important adaptability is in the field. He adds that UNH gave him a strong foundation to understand those nuances, teaching him tools like Excel and Power BI, that are essential for interpreting data across procurement, inventory management, and demand planning.

Cody’s interest in supply chain began in high school, when he witnessed the widespread shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and became curious about the underlying causes. Later, during his freshman year at UNH, he wrote a paper about West Coast dock shutdowns that disrupted global trade.

He then gained experience in the field through a 10-week internship at Amazon between his junior and senior years, during which he helped manage operations at a distribution center that processed more than 50,000 packages a day.  

“We got all the packages from fulfillment centers and made sure they were ready for delivery,” he says. “I also worked on a project to improve device monitoring software and employee performance metrics.”  

Cody says he never planned on being the first graduate of the SCM option; everything just came together at the right time. He had already taken the course, Global Supply Chain Management, and once the option launched, he realized he could complete it by taking some extra courses during his senior year.  

“When I asked if anyone else was pursuing the option, they told me I was the only one at the time,” Cody says. “I thought, OK, I’ll be the guinea pig going through the process. It’s been cool to see the program grow since then, there are a lot more students getting into it now, which is awesome.”  

Cody credits Russ Miles, option coordinator and principal lecturer in decision sciences, for his mentorship and guidance throughout the program and the job search.  

“It’s going to sound like a broken record, but networking is huge,” Cody says. “Build relationships with your professors and your classmates; you never know who might connect you with an opportunity.”

Miles says SCM is seeing growing interest from both students and its network of industry partners. Currently, 30 students have declared the SCM option, with multiple juniors already securing internships and seniors interviewing for full-time positions at leading companies.

“Liam’s story is a great example of what we envisioned when launching the SCM option,” Miles says. “Thanks to his hard work and motivation, he helped us pilot the program and then, upon graduation, stepped directly into an impactful role in industry. Our goal is to continue building a pipeline of SCM talent that’s well-prepared to meet the needs of industry.”