UCO Students Present on OKC Airports Collaboration at National Conference
Oct. 8, 2025
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Two recent graduates of the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Business presented a cargo expansion project with an emphasis on artificial intelligence for Will Rogers World Airport at the Western Decision Sciences Institute’s (WDSI) 53rd Annual Conference in Honolulu.
Chris Sanchez, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Austin Sweet, of Edmond, Oklahoma, both supply chain management graduates, collaborated with Jeff Mulder, director of Oklahoma City Airports, on the project.
"Working with Austin and Chris helped me gain insight into the world of logistics and supply chain management. Their efforts have helped chart a path for cargo growth at Will Rogers World Airport," Mulder said.
"Helping to address real-world challenges and opportunities will always add to the value that a student gains from classroom instruction. This kind of experience is something they can reference as they gain knowledge about logistics and supply chain from their classroom experiences."
The project provided Sanchez and Sweet with a valuable real-world application of their classroom learning.
"Presenting our project on the use of AI in our research was a huge step forward for us. The conference helped us grow in ways that are essential for any supply chain management career," Sweet said.
"I'm incredibly grateful for everything this project added to my academic journey. It pushed me to grow as a team member, researcher and problem solver—all of which have made a big difference in how I approach my studies."
The project was led by Hossein Najmi, Ph.D., associate professor of supply chain management at UCO.
For more information on UCO's supply chain management program, visit go.uco.edu/SCM.
To learn more about the UCO College of Business, visit business.uco.edu.
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Cutline: Two recent graduates of the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Business presented a cargo expansion project with an emphasis on artificial intelligence for Will Rogers World Airport at the Western Decision Sciences Institute’s (WDSI) 53rd Annual Conference in Honolulu. Chris Sanchez, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Austin Sweet, of Edmond, Oklahoma, both supply chain management graduates, collaborated with Jeff Mulder, director of Oklahoma City Airports, on the project.
Pictured, left to right, Sanchez, Hossein Najmi, Ph.D., associate professor of supply chain management at UCO, and Sweet.
Devan Wielgos