Arthur Bill and Peter Bieder Inducted into Swiss Supply Chain Hall of Fame

The idea for the Swiss Rescue Chain came to Arthur Bill, the delegate for disaster relief abroad, during an emergency aid operation in Southern Italy. Together with Peter Bieder, the then director of the Federal Office for Air Protection Troops of the Swiss Army.

(Dietikon) An instrument was developed that unites all the necessary components for a successful rescue operation: namely location, rescue (recovery), emergency medicine (care), material logistics, and transport logistics, i.e., logistics/supply chain in all its facets. Together, they laid the central foundations for the often urgently needed logistics in the most challenging environments from Switzerland for the world, thereby saving many lives.

Arthur Bill (1916 – 2011)

Arthur Bill worked as a primary school teacher in the Bernese school system from 1937 to 1947 after his training. At the beginning of World War II, he trained as a military pilot and later became a colonel on the general staff as well as deputy chief of the Air Force. Since 1947, Arthur Bill has been involved with various children’s and social organizations. In 1972, he was appointed by the Swiss Federal Council as the first delegate for disaster relief abroad. Within a short time, he established a volunteer corps and led its first missions in Southern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Until 1981, Arthur Bill was also head of the humanitarian aid department of the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DEH, now DEZA). After his retirement, he took on voluntary roles in national and international humanitarian organizations, such as for the disaster relief corps or as a special envoy of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) and in the context of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Peter Bieder (1939 – 2008)

During his time as director of the Federal Office for Air Protection Troops (now rescue troops) and chief of weapons from January 1, 1988, to December 31, 1995, Peter Bieder significantly shaped our current rescue troops. He transformed the rescue troops into a capable force that has proven itself in many missions both domestically and abroad. Brigadier Peter Bieder was deeply committed to the air protection troops. He was a chief of weapons and a professional officer who led by example, trained with enthusiasm, and always placed people at the center as an educator.

Peter Bieder uniquely succeeded in laying the foundation for today’s rescue troops. His commitment to assisting in the establishment of the Swiss Rescue Chain with members of the air protection/rescue troops as rescuers abroad was immense and tireless. Due to his vast experience, he was elected in 2004 to the extra-parliamentary commission for military operations for international peace promotion. This body advises the Foreign and Defense Departments in decision-making for international missions. Peter Bieder passed away during a humanitarian mission.

The recognition and induction of Arthur Bill and Peter Bieder will take place in a ceremonial setting on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in the Campus Hall in Brugg-Windisch. The announcement of the nineteenth member will remain secret until September 26, 2023. The induction into the Swiss Supply Chain Hall of Fame will take place immediately after the recognition of Arthur Bill and Peter Bieder. The charity gala is public and subject to a fee. Partners and guests traditionally support the non-profit projects of the Logistics Switzerland Foundation with their event participation.
Ticket purchase and registrations are now possible via the homepage https://shof.ch/gala2023.

Photo: © SHOF / Image caption: With Arthur Bill (left) and Peter Bieder (right) – the founders of the Swiss Rescue Chain – posthumously inducted as members number 17 and 18 into the Swiss Supply Chain Hall of Fame