Gilbert Laporte is a world-renowned authority in operations research and mathematical optimization, widely recognized as the leading expert in logistics and distribution management. He served as a full professor at HEC Montréal from 1976 until August 2020, when he transitioned to Professor Emeritus following a distinguished career spanning over four decades. Holding the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Distribution Management since 2001, Laporte earned his Ph.D. in Operational Research from the London School of Economics in 1975 after completing his M.A. at Lancaster University. His academic progression at HEC Montréal saw him advance from assistant professor in 1976 to associate professor in 1980 and full professor in 1986, establishing him as a cornerstone of decision sciences research in Canada.
Laporte has made seminal contributions to combinatorial optimization, particularly in vehicle routing, location theory, and transportation logistics, developing mathematical models and algorithms that have transformed how organizations optimize delivery networks and transportation systems. His research has resulted in over 600 scientific articles and 20 books, making him one of the most widely cited authors in operations research according to Google Scholar Citations. His analytical tools have been instrumental in solving complex real-world problems including vehicle routing for delivery services, scheduling of ambulances, creation of electoral maps, and optimization of healthcare service distribution. The practical applications of his work extend across numerous sectors, from promoting green transportation practices and electric vehicle adoption to improving mobility for people with disabilities, demonstrating the profound societal impact of his mathematical approaches.
As a founding member of the Group for Research in Decision Analysis (GERAD) and active participant in the Interuniversity Research Centre on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT), Laporte has been instrumental in building collaborative research networks that bridge academia and industry. His leadership has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards including his appointment to the Order of Canada in 2019 and election as an international member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2019. Beyond his research, Laporte has significantly shaped the field through editorial roles as former editor of Transportation Science, Computers & Operations Research, and INFOR, helping to define the direction of operations research scholarship globally. Even in his emeritus role, he continues to influence the discipline through appointments at the University of Bath, Eindhoven University of Technology, and ongoing collaborations that advance optimization techniques for emerging challenges in sustainable transportation and logistics.
