▶ 0:15:24>> we do have some business which we will proceed to. In just a moment. The speaker of the house has honored us with his presence today. I believe he has a few words of introduction. You are welcome to stay the rest of the morning. If you need to attend to other duties, you are certainly encouraged to do that.
▶ 0:15:55You are now recognized. >> I would love to be with you all the rest of the day. I want to thank ranking member read and all of the members of the committee. It is my honor to be here. I came this morning with the privilege of introducing my former staffer, trusted friend, jules hurst iii.
▶ 0:16:29I wish I brought a speech for some of the other distinguished gentlemen sitting at the table. We are blessed to have such highly qualified people willing to serve in these fateful times that we are in. It is great to see their children today. The family recently grew again as they welcomed their fifth child. He was just born a few weeks ago.
▶ 0:17:00Good-looking kid just like his dad. Congratulations to the beautiful family. It has been quite a month. He enjoined -- he joined my office as a defense fellow. He instantly became part of our family. He worked long hours and engage my constituents and local businesses. He solved complex issues for my staff.
▶ 0:17:28My district is one of the most important districts in america. We are home to the air force base, we have global strike command there, two thirds of the nuclear triad. We also have foretold -- four to rt polk. Jay was the best we ever had.
▶ 0:17:58Defense fellowships are only one year post. Despite that he planted deep roots in my office with all of our personnel and everyone involved. Office late after voting to find him there holding court with interns and staff. He meant toward people in and around my group. Personal responsibility, finances, whatever advice.
▶ 0:18:30He became the indispensable man for us. It is this type of leader he is. He had valuable insight and willingness to go above and beyond every day. While working in my office and afterwards he published many scholarly articles like great power competition, artificial intelligence and warfare in several respected publications. I don't know how he had time to do it.
▶ 0:18:59He's very prolific but he wrote and published often. His commitment to education should send a signal to this committee that he will bring the same level of dedication to the U.S. army. He left my office to return to the pentagon. When I was elected speaker of the house I called and begged him to come back. He was willing to do that.
▶ 0:19:26He became my legislative director and defense advisor to the speaker's office. With wars burning around the globe his insight and counsel were invaluable. He served as an army officer on the army staff within the joint special operations command intelligence brigade within U.S. central command.
▶ 0:19:50As a military officer and civilian he deployed to afghanistan four times and also supported the initial stand up which is the algorithmic warfare cross functional team. I have a hard time pronouncing that. He continues to serve in the army reserve as a strategist. I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to keep him much longer.
▶ 0:20:17His talents were needed, his expertise, his dedication were needed at a higher level. They took him and that's why I was not surprised when he was asked to serve on the dod landing team for personnel and readiness. And now to serve with the blessing of the senate as assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs.
▶ 0:20:43I have no doubt in his ability and it is my great honor and am truthfully privileged to support his nomination today. I want to thank all of you for the privilege of introducing him and I strongly encourage every member of this committee to support his confirmation. Thank you. >> do we get to question this witness? [laughter] >> no.
▶ 0:21:09[laughter] go ahead. No. Thank you Mr. speaker, you are excused with our blessing. >> thank you, sir.
▶ 0:21:26Chair Wicker: We are here also pursuant to a notice about an item of business. A quorum is now present and we are in order for that purpose. To consider a list of 7861 pending military nominations including nominations of vice admiral charles b cooper.
▶ 0:21:57Chair Wicker: Lieutenant general to be general and commander of the U.S. european command. All of those nominations have been before the committee. Is there a motion to proceed to these 7860 one military nominations to the senate favorably? So moved. The aye's appeared to have it.
▶ 0:22:30Chair Wicker: The motion carries. Thank you all and this executive session is now adjourned. We return now to the hearing portion of this committee. We are here to consider the nominations of Mr. hung cao to the undersecretary of the navy. Mr.
▶ 0:22:56Chair Wicker: Michael dodd to be assistant secretary of defense for critical technologies. Mr. jules hurst to be assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs. Mr. brent ingraham to be assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics, and technology. Mr. william gillis to be assistant secretary of the army for installations, energy, and environment.
▶ 0:23:28Chair Wicker: I welcome our nominees and families. I'm grateful for their willingness to serve our nation. The united states faces a dangerous threat environment. We need people like this to step up now more than ever. Mr. hung cao has been nominated to serve as undersecretary of the navy. He has industry experience as under secretary he would play a critical role in management of the navy and marine corps.
▶ 0:23:59Chair Wicker: There will be plenty to keep him busy revitalizing shipbuilding with the 80% surge readiness. Enhancing the welfare of our sailors and marines. His willingness to partner with congress will be essential. Mr. michael dodd has been nominated for the position of assistant secretary of defense for critical technologies. He will be the first individual to hold this position officially.
▶ 0:24:29Chair Wicker: He brings experience at the defense innovation unit and leadership particularly in microelectronics. I'm interested to hear what actions he believes we should take to make progress and deliver on this critical technology to the battlefield.
▶ 0:24:47Chair Wicker: Jay hirsch has been -- jules hurst has been nominated to be the assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs managing a workforce that is more agile and more effective while also ensuring soldiers and families receive the support they need. He is a seasoned army reserve officer with experience as a government contractor and civil service at the dod.
▶ 0:25:17Chair Wicker: I look forward to hearing his plans for strengthening the force and supporting those who serve. Mr. brent ingraham has been nominated to serve as the assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics, and technology. Including his current role as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for platform and weapons portfolio management.
▶ 0:25:49Chair Wicker: I look forward to hearing his plan in his new role to ensure the army stays on track. Mr. jordan gillis has been nominated to be assistant secretary of the army as a former assistant secretary for sustainment, his experience will be crucial to ensure the department of the army follows the law in implementing minimum plant replacement value of 4%
▶ 0:26:19Chair Wicker: Starting in 2030. We hope to hear today from Mr. gillis on this issue with many other facilities. I recognize my colleague, ranking member read.
▶ 0:26:31Sen. Reed: Good morning to our witnesses and congratulations on the united nations. We would like to welcome your families who are with you today. Would also like to thank the speaker for his thoughtful comments. You are nominated to the position and the department of the navy. If confirmed one of the most important priorities must be assisting the secretary in maintaining the fleet.
▶ 0:27:03Sen. Reed: For several years the department has fallen well short, a number of vessels including aircraft carrier, multiple destroyers, we are facing delays of more than a year. I'm interested to know how you would address these unique challenges and how we will work to get them back on schedule. I appreciate your service in the navy.
▶ 0:27:35Sen. Reed: Your recent record of controversial decisions. Sharply criticizing U.S. allies and advocating for the release of convicted january 6 individuals. If confirmed you would represent all military personnel in the department of the navy including those who disagree with these statements.
▶ 0:27:59Sen. Reed: I hope you would take the opportunity today to explain your position your commitment to uphold the navy's values in the constitution. You are nominated to be assistant secretary defense of critical technologies. If confirmed you will be responsible for assessing the emergency technologies by our military technologies and partners as well as our adversaries. You will need to focus on maintaining our edge over china and russia.
▶ 0:28:35Sen. Reed: Much of this could only be accomplished by improving the overcome so-called valley of death. Turning research innovations into acquisition programs and into real operational capabilities. Your experience should serve you very well in this role. Mr.
▶ 0:28:57Sen. Reed: Hurst you are nominated for the assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs. You will have supervision over all army personnel policies. Our army's greatest asset is the people. The assistant secretary should be focused on retaining and supporting soldiers. You are currently performing the duties of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
▶ 0:29:28Sen. Reed: Directed by the secretary have been to decrease the workforce now in the department of the army you have to ensure you could operate with a decreased workforce and make sure the reductions are sensible and add to the force. Again, your experience will bode very well. If not you will be criticized repeatedly by henry.
▶ 0:30:00Sen. Reed: Mr. ingraham you are nominated for the assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics, and technology. You will oversee programs and logistics act these while the army begins a significant transformation. You will balance the need for rigorous management with the imperative to move quickly and you smart acquisition strategies. It will be necessary to strengthen the workforce and improve data systems.
▶ 0:30:29Sen. Reed: You have considerable experience in the pentagon coordinating warfare systems. I would ask how the army could better develop and field each platform. You are nominated to the assistant secretary for installations, energy, and environment. You would thoughtful of managing the physical footprint.
▶ 0:30:53Sen. Reed: I'm concerned the army recently reprogrammed more than $1 billion from its facilities account to pay for southwest border operations at the request of dhs and customs and border patrol. This money was originally intended to improve a listed barracks and infrastructure repairs. Extreme weather events caused billions of dollars in damage. Which compromised soldier readiness.
▶ 0:31:21Sen. Reed: If confirmed you will need to be disciplined in aligning the army's budget to the challenges of the future including prioritizing soldier care and readiness above all else. Thank you to our nominees. I look forward to your testimony.
▶ 0:31:42Chair Wicker: Thank you very much, senator reed. I want to begin with opening statements. Members, eyewitnesses, and nominees are asked to limit statements to know more than five minutes. We will recognize you first for an opening statement.
▶ 0:32:05Mr. Cao: Good morning. I would like to thank president trump for trusting me and nominating me as secretary of the navy. This is the absolute honor of my life.
▶ 0:32:20Chair Wicker: It appears I missed a step. Senator scott wishes to say a few words.
▶ 0:32:30Sen. Scott: Thank you. It's an honor to introduce my good friend. President trump's nominee to serve as the undersecretary secretary of the navy. He's escorted by his wife april and five children. As a navy veteran and chairman of the senate armed services subcommittee I am totally committed to ensuring the readiness of forces.
▶ 0:32:57Sen. Scott: I am confident he is supremely qualified to fill this position and his skills, character, and expertise make him a highly qualified under secretary of the navy. Captain cao has applied for public service that comes from his experience of leaving -- living the american dream. They came to the united states as refugees. His parents hoped he would become a doctor, he chose a different path to service and joined the united states navy.
▶ 0:33:27Sen. Scott: As an operations officer that have given him and his family so much. Throughout his career captain cao lived large organizations with proven success.
▶ 0:33:42Sen. Scott: He brings experience with budgeting, operational background in the navy and in the private sector that will be critical as we push for a stronger more capable navy using taxpayer dollars more efficiently to meet the demands of a complex and dangerous future. This will benefit our work together for the mission for military and our country.
▶ 0:34:02Sen. Scott: I have known captain cao to be a leader, and individual of integrity both in the navy and private sectors he has built successful teams and showed he is willing to cut through unnecessary bureaucracy and make hard decisions. His experience in combat also demonstrates his ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver tangible results critical in the navy.
▶ 0:34:31Sen. Scott: He's deeply committed to our service members. He knows leadership is about people. Ensuring people in his chain of command have the tools to complete their missions. I look forward to hearing about his vision for the navy as they work to fulfill president trump's vision. I'm honored to recommend him to the committee and urge a speedy confirmation. Thank you.
▶ 0:34:54Chair Wicker: I apologize for getting out of order. You are now recognized for five minutes.
▶ 0:35:01Mr. Cao: Thank you president trump. I'm joined by my beautiful wife of more than 26 years. The mother of our five children. Like so many military spouses, april endured multiple moves across the country and overseas. She gave birth to our first child while I was deployed.
▶ 0:35:30Mr. Cao: She was mother and father during my deployments as well as handyman, nurse, teacher, and coach. Like all military spouses her heart stopped as she prayed every time there was a knock at the door or anytime the phone rang. Thank you for standing by my side all of these years. You are the love of my life. I would like to give praise and glory to my lord and savior jesus christ.
▶ 0:35:59Mr. Cao: April 30 of this year marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of saigon when my family and I fled vietnam. America gave us hope and opportunity. I have tried to repay that debt my entire life. As a navy diver I led underwater missions across the world. As a technician I diffused bombs for special forces teams in iraq, afghanistan, and somalia.
▶ 0:36:27Mr. Cao: I spent several tours in the pentagon writing requirements and later programming the navy's budget. I saw the breakdown of our acquisitions process which precludes us from outpacing armies. We are facing the biggest threat since the cold war. We are fighting terrorists in the desert. The biggest objective is to crush the united states. One thing will stand in their way. Our navy and marine corps team.
▶ 0:36:57Mr. Cao: We are america's 911 force, capable of being anywhere at any time as a striker or air ground task force. The american people have given president trump a clear mandate to protect our nation against all enemies. President trump has empowered everyone from secretary hegseth down to achieve one clear task. Peace through strength. If confirmed I will deliver the most lethal navy and marine corps the world has ever seen.
▶ 0:37:29Mr. Cao: We have a lot of work to do. Years of neglect and mismanagement have led to shift -- ships that cannot get underway and submarines I cannot dive because we chose to defer maintenance as a cost cutting tool. Military bureaucracy has slowed down the production of not only ships and submarines but also bombs, missiles, torpedoes. Recruiting and retention fell because we prioritize the individual over unit cohesion.
▶ 0:38:03Mr. Cao: We must restore the warrior generation of america's fighting force. We have a generation eager to serve and sacrifice for this nation. They grew up in the digital age where technology evolved that quantum speed. They deserve the best training and weapons available. Their intrinsic desire to solve problems using technology should not be stifled by red tape.
▶ 0:38:30Mr. Cao: I ask this congress to raise bold new ideas. We cannot solve the problems of tomorrow with the solutions of yesterday. Take it from this warrior, war must be the last resort. If war comes let it be swift and decisive. If confirmed I will work with industry to build capacity.
▶ 0:38:56Mr. Cao: Where capacity fall short our capabilities in warfare and hypersonic weapons will overcome . Our military families deserve the dignity of safe and healthy housing. They deserve responsive medical care. I will honor the sacrifice of america's sons and daughters by ensuring they have every tool necessary to be the deadliest threat to our enemies. To our enemies and those who want to do us harm, you could run but you will only die tired.
▶ 0:39:28Mr. Cao: To my fellow sailors and marines, I'm never above you are below you, I'm always beside you, semper fi and hoo rah.
▶ 0:39:37Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. We will proceed in this order forever remaining witnesses. Mr. dodd, Mr. hurst, Mr. ingraham, Mr. gillis.
▶ 0:39:52Mr. Dodd: Distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I'm honored to be the nominee or assistant secretary of defense for critical technologies. I'm grateful for the opportunity to potentially serve my country and humbled by the awesome challenges and opportunities we face.
▶ 0:40:15Mr. Dodd: Chairman wicker, you have regularly stated the united states faces the most dangerous security environment world war ii. Those of us who committed hours -- lives, when people ask whether it is as bad as people say, our response is worse than you could imagine. The people's republic of china is performing the unprecedented.
▶ 0:40:39Mr. Dodd: While some talk about the theft over intellectual property and investing in adversarial capital with compelling technologies which are both true, the prc is innovating, testing, producing, and operationalizing critical technologies at a scale never seen before. They are modernizing every prong of combat power with naval forces, missile forces, nuclear forces, and missile defenses to name just a few.
▶ 0:41:09Mr. Dodd: The prc's modernization is being executed with speed and purpose. President trump and secretary hegseth have made the mission clear, we will achieve peace through strength. Determine your conflict by maintaining superiority. If forced to fight, to win decisively. We will restore the warrior eat those, reestablish deterrence.
▶ 0:41:33Mr. Dodd: To the office that I have been nominated is relatively new, it is charged to set the technology vision for an era of competition. If confirmed the vision will be to dramatically accelerate elegy transition. I will work relentlessly to ensure the critical technologies our war fighters need are in their hands as quickly as possible. We will do this by focusing on three strategic technologies. Deliver state-of-the-art capabilities and speed, relevance, scale.
▶ 0:42:04Mr. Dodd: The executive order to modernize and spur innovation are consistent with many of the defense acquisition reforms under consideration by this committee. I will coordinate within the department with this committee to cut red tape and preserve the technological supremacy of our war fighters. To do business at the speed of business.
▶ 0:42:26Mr. Dodd: Strengthen the adoption of critical technologies in fields like artificial intelligence, microelectronics, quantum science, hyper science, we must close that gap. We will do it not by slowing down innovation but by creating new innovation on ramps. We will identify operational problems to solve and perform rapid prototyping.
▶ 0:42:51Mr. Dodd: We must enable our war fighters to access the best technologies not years from now but when they need the most today and tomorrow. Our technology development and transition offices will operate with the understanding that the military services are our customers. We will serve the military services priorities. We will support the war fighters by working with the war fighters.
▶ 0:43:21Mr. Dodd: Our ability to shape the future depends on whether we could harvest innovation faster and more effectively than our adversaries. We must take calculated risks and must remain anchored in our values. I will do my part and must never lose sight of the fact that at the heart of our national defense are the servicemembers we rely on for challenges ahead.
▶ 0:43:45Mr. Dodd: To close, I would not be here today without the support of my ways -- my amazing wife, my sons, my family, mentors, colleagues, the dedicated professionals I've had the privilege of working alongside. I'm grateful to those in the department of defense and the broader national security community who inspired my commitment to public service. I will give this role my full devotion.
▶ 0:44:14Mr. Dodd: I welcome your questions and look forward to discussing how I could support the american people.
▶ 0:44:17Chair Wicker: Thank you very much.
▶ 0:44:20Mr. Hurst: Chairman wicker, ranking member reed, distinguished members of the committee, it is an honor to be here before you today as the nominee for assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs. I'm grateful to the president, secretaries, and speaker for their confidence. My family and I/o the united states military and enormous debt.
▶ 0:44:50Mr. Hurst: It brought us to the middle class, given us opportunities, and a sense of purpose that has lasted over three generations. My grandfather was raised on a farm in louisiana. He served during world war ii, fought as a marine during the korean war. My father sonny was a foreign officer -- area officer.
▶ 0:45:15Mr. Hurst: I commissioned through the rotc at william and mary and have the privilege of serving for 17 years as an intelligence officer on and off active duty. I had occasions to go to afghanistan as part of the operations task. On one of those deployments I was lucky enough to meet my wife, elizabeth. She has given me five beautiful children here today and we are hopeful one of them will continue our tradition of service.
▶ 0:45:46Mr. Hurst: Perhaps more than any other service the army as a people business. We are not platform centric, we are soldier centric. It is equally important to become the choice for the young men and women of the united states. I believe the assistant secretary should be laser focused on this task. It is a war we need to win. To win this contest we need to engage in a process of continuous improvement.
▶ 0:46:16Mr. Hurst: Our families deserve world-class services. The army must continue to modernize its mechanisms for recruiting and hiring personnel. Continuing to improve support for military spouses and their children. The army must also prioritize realistic training. We need our ctc's and training to reflect modern battlefield threats like those in ukraine.
▶ 0:46:42Mr. Hurst: We need readiness and we need to prepare to conduct a national mobile -- national mobilization if it ever fails. Quality of service and quality of life for soldiers and civilians and preparing our army to adapt to change warfare. I look forward to your question.
▶ 0:47:02Chair Wicker: Thank you.
▶ 0:47:04Mr. Ingraham: Chairman wicker, ranking member reed, good morning. I'm honored by the opportunity to appear here today is the nominee as assistant secretary for logistics and technology. I'm grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by president trump, secretary hegseth, and secretary driscoll.
▶ 0:47:30Mr. Ingraham: I would like to begin by thanking the committee but more importantly the bipartisan support you have shown. I'm thankful for the support of my family, my wife here with me today. I'm thankful for colleagues and friends who had guided me through my career. Protect those that protect us.
▶ 0:47:52Mr. Ingraham: It's the motto of the protected vehicle program where I first served in government and encountered the passion and professionalism that drives our departments acquisition workforce. It has been the northstar that has guided me through my career to ensure our war fighters have the technological advantage on the battlefield with the tools they need to return home safely.
▶ 0:48:18Mr. Ingraham: I've had the privilege to work on multiple levels of our national security establishment overseas commands and at the pentagon including my current position performing the position of the deputy undersecretary of defense.
▶ 0:48:33Mr. Ingraham: These experiences shaped and molded me to lead key initiatives, spearhead agency efforts, work hand-in-hand with industry to deliver life-saving equipment and collaborate on multinational efforts with our allies and partners. Secretary hegseth has charge the department of defense to match threats across the spectrum of military operations.
▶ 0:48:59Mr. Ingraham: I'm driven to ensure our soldiers have the capabilities at hand that allow them to achieve it against any adversary. Congress has provided tools to cut red tape and accelerate the pace to deliver meaningful effective operational capabilities. We are in the middle of a transformation in the way wars are five. Automation, robotics, manufacturing effort naval disease technological revolutions.
▶ 0:49:28Mr. Ingraham: Coming together to rapidly innovate systems is more important now than ever with the many threats we face. The acquisition enterprise must provide the speed and flexibility to our soldiers to give them an advantage today and in the future. It delivers capabilities from the factory floor to the front line.
▶ 0:49:48Mr. Ingraham: If confirmed it will be my job to enable and equip armies transformation by delivering tools with the force modernization plan and ensure our soldiers never have to experience an unfair fight. We must secure our supply chains away from adversaries, establish flexible manufacturing capabilities and maintain a robust supply base.
▶ 0:50:22Mr. Ingraham: While increasing competition, and utilize modern software acquisition to allow for faster integration. We must power american innovation but we must hold them accountable and delivering capabilities or be good stewards for the american taxpayer. None of this is possible without the skill of the acquisition workforce. The army acquisition professionals is a national strategic asset.
▶ 0:50:50Mr. Ingraham: Our focus on training the right talent rely on professionalism, and technical acumen both before and after conflict where the factory floor could be just as significant as the battle yelled. It all comes down to men and women serving this nation, their bravery, patriotism, and courage.
▶ 0:51:17Mr. Ingraham: If confirmed my guiding light will be what has always been, protect those that protect us. I look forward to your questions and if confirmed working with congress to support united states army.
▶ 0:51:29Mr. Gillis: Chairman wicker, ranking member reed, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to serve as assistant secretary of the army. I want to thank the president for providing you with this opportunity and thank secretary driscoll for his support and trust. This is a high honor and distinct privilege. I have a number of friends and colleagues in attendance.
▶ 0:51:59Mr. Gillis: I would be especially remiss if I did not recognize my wife and daughter who was born when I was in iraq. They are with me today. My son thomas and my mom are watching remote. I thank them for their love and support. Without which I would not be here.
▶ 0:52:20Mr. Gillis: For as long as I could remember I have wanted to be in the army and follow the tradition on both sides of my family that includes a medal of honor winner in the civil war, lieutenant general george gillis, my grandfathers, both of whom were retired colonels from world war ii in korea.
▶ 0:52:43Mr. Gillis: 30 years ago this summer, I can't believe that math is right I was an rotc cadet intern at the pentagon. For that experience I would not have known there are appointees who carry out the principle of civilian control. I am grateful for the opportunity to have one of those roles and increase army lethality and improve the lives of soldiers and families. Since that internship I have wanted to return to the pentagon.
▶ 0:53:15Mr. Gillis: As a field artillery officer and having served in the reserve in peacetime and in combat I learned the importance of taking care of soldiers and families. I've seen enough installations to know the army as an institution is nothing without its people. When the portfolio has a direct impact. The mission set is unique. At the same time it is broad and deep.
▶ 0:53:42Mr. Gillis: Also deeply personal to the family trying to get a work order completed or to a member of congress advocating for an issue particular to their installation. It draws me to the mission. My decade plus in the private sector as a management consultant as well as my previous service as the principal deputy assistant secretary and as the assistant force for sustainment at a time when sustainment included the
▶ 0:54:13Mr. Gillis: Portfolio making uniquely qualified for this role. We are facing many of the same challenges now that I worked on personally five or more years ago including competing with priorities every budget cycle. My focus areas it for -- confirmed will be improving soldier in family quality, achieving the clean audit opinion, enhancing energy resilience. I think that is important as to what and how.
▶ 0:54:43Mr. Gillis: I will share two guiding principles. One, driving value for money includes using our authority to leverage other people's money such as energy savings performance contracts. Two, achieving results. We have to make sure our actions have demonstrable results.
▶ 0:55:03Mr. Gillis: Those range from those in support of army priorities like war fighting to those specifically related to our environmental commitment to our former army properties. If confirmed I will commit to being as innovative as I can as efficiency minded and results driven as possible. I worked with many of you on this committee as well as colleagues in the full senate and house.
▶ 0:55:29Mr. Gillis: I worked with the professional staff of this committee and others. I commit to partnering with you for the betterment of the army. It will be my honor to advance the mission of the army in support of this great nation and in support of the men and women who serve military and civilian, their families and the american people. Thank you for allowing me to be here today. I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:55:54Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. Thank you for mentioning the fact that as an rotc cadet we learned in the pentagon the almost sacred principle of civilian control of the military. It is a tradition that goes back to george washington and is part of the great foundation of our free society. Thank you for mentioning that.
▶ 0:56:27Chair Wicker: I moved to a series of standard questions that this committee poses to all civilian nominees. I guess I asked you to answer simultaneously yes or no. Have you adhered to ethical laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest? >> yes.
▶ 0:56:54Chair Wicker: Have you assumed any duties or taken actions that would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process? >> no.
▶ 0:57:05Chair Wicker: Makes it important that this committee and subcommittees and other appropriate committees, received briefings, reports and other information from the executive branch on a timely basis. Do you agree to appear and testify before this committee when requested? >> yes.
▶ 0:57:27Chair Wicker: You agree to provide records, documents, electronic communications in a timely manner when requested by this committee? Or other appropriate committees to consult regarding the basis of any delay or I'll in providing such records? >> yes.
▶ 0:57:51Chair Wicker: Will you assure your staff complies with deadlines and other information including timely responding to hearing for the record? >> yes.
▶ 0:58:06Chair Wicker: Will you cooperate in cooperation request? >> yes.
▶ 0:58:13Chair Wicker: Will they be protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings? >> yes.
▶ 0:58:20Chair Wicker: I guess the timekeeper could start the clock . These questions will be coming during my five minutes. The first question is about reconciliation. Much of the funding in the reconciliation bill is unspecific because of house and senate rules.
▶ 0:58:45Chair Wicker: It would technically be at the discretion of the department though the congress will write specific recommendations for the funding items. Which is received affirmative answer from each witness who has come before us this year? Do you commit to follow the congress spending recommendations in the defense reconciliation unequivocally? >> yes. >> yes.
▶ 0:59:15Chair Wicker: >> yes. >> yes.
▶ 0:59:18Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. Let me explore with you, I understand from our previous conversation that you have read over the act that I helped author. Is that correct? >> yes.
▶ 0:59:38Chair Wicker: Let me ask you, the idea is to make acquisition more modern, flexible and effective for our war fighters. To ensure the program manager cannot be overruled by low-level career bureaucrats.
▶ 1:00:06Chair Wicker: You would oversee for jack to reforms that are supposed to improved naval acquisition. How would you allow thora -- authorities to get our programs back on track?
▶ 1:00:16Mr. Cao: We need acquisition reform. The way the military has been working is not working. That's why we are falling short on ship and submarine production. If confirmed by plan to oversee this and ensure that we are on track with acquisitions and shipbuilding.
▶ 1:00:37Chair Wicker: The technical warrant holders in design and engineering led to numerous change orders on the constellation class that reportedly reduced its design commonality with the parent ship that started out at 85% down to just 50% in common. This is not untypical.
▶ 1:01:07Chair Wicker: Could be, new to combat this and get us back to where we need to be?
▶ 1:01:15Mr. Cao: There are ways for us to keep those holders accountable.
▶ 1:01:21Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. Mr. gillis, we have placed in the ndaa in the fiscal year 25 ndaa, the department to budget the commercial industry standard minimum value by the year 2030.
▶ 1:01:52Chair Wicker: We want to get to 4% by 2030 starting the budgeting now and ramping up to 2030. You understand that? >> yes, I do.
▶ 1:02:05Chair Wicker: We have led the charge on this. There are so many needs out there that all five of you have outlined that this gets ignored over time. The reason we put this in on a bipartisan basis is that a change needs to be made and we need to pay attention to the veiling facilities that our servicemen need.
▶ 1:02:34Chair Wicker: If confirmed, will you ensure that this law is enforced and will you commit to this committee to report to congress if there are those in the department that are knowingly refusing to follow the law or are not following the law for whatever reason? >> as you know it is a knife fight in the budget in the pentagon every day. That gives me the ammunition in that fight.
▶ 1:03:09Sen. Reed: Thank you for your testimony. The administration in the process of reducing personnel allowing early retirement, many times not evaluating the need for the individual wanting a clearer space.
▶ 1:03:32Sen. Reed: Based on current challenges, how do you plan to ensure the department has the technical skills and sufficient personnel to do what you are going to do, it is a revolution in terms of the way we do business. >> I appreciate the time to sit with you.
▶ 1:03:52Sen. Reed: There is a couple of things to weigh in, as they are going through a workforce optimization effort, as that flows down if confirmed the critical technologies portfolio, I would have some unique hiring authorities to actually identify and onboard some of the most technical experts in certain topic areas to represent the department.
▶ 1:04:19Sen. Reed: Additionally with my work currently in the defense unit and the engagement with over 50 tier one research universities, I would expect that engagement to continue and that collaboration to continue at scale as well.
▶ 1:04:41Sen. Reed: You are going to be one of the key drivers of the initiative. That is becoming one of if not the most important elements of the new approach. The army has acknowledged its own need to become a better customer. It comes down to requirements in many cases.
▶ 1:05:09Sen. Reed: What do you do to make the army better with the requirements? >> we have an incredible opportunity to implement ati to optimize and be more efficient with how we think about capabilities on the battlefield.
▶ 1:05:33Sen. Reed: Very quickly we need to get after aligning not only resources but an acquisition authority and implementing boards will give us the opportunity to ensure we are aligning those capabilities and making sure we are getting those capabilities fast.
▶ 1:05:59Sen. Reed: It allows us to get the capabilities quicker into the hands of the soldiers faster so we could ensure as we are going through the process we are delivering our capabilities.
▶ 1:06:12Sen. Reed: Related to this is a sense to presume this will be written hopefully in every contract. It will replace a screw on a machine. Is that part of your mandate also? >> absolutely.
▶ 1:06:34Sen. Reed: We need right to repair on every capability ensuring we get the data rights written in the contract upfront is critical.
▶ 1:06:45Sen. Reed: You are committed to addressing the shortfall of the quality of life issue. Probably the most central one as I indicated, the army just submitted a programming request worth $1.1 billion of fsrm f unding to send it to the border.
▶ 1:07:12Sen. Reed: How will you deal with the housing crisis when money is going elsewhere?
▶ 1:07:18Mr. Gillis: I share your concerns on housing and quality-of-life initiatives. I could ensure you going forward I will advocate unequivocally to be sure that we fund frsm to meet the requirements we have.
▶ 1:07:37Sen. Reed: Thank you very much. Mr. cao, the secretary has vision and purpose with the shipbuilding issue, particularly submarines. I hope you will be sharing his activities and passion for getting our ships back on time and on schedule.
▶ 1:08:06Mr. Cao: I will. We need sales to go on these ships, we need the right maintenance.
▶ 1:08:19Sen. Reed: My time is expiring. I will send you some questions in the written form. Congratulations. I'm impressed with your performance today. Thank you.
▶ 1:08:34Chair Wicker: Thank you.
▶ 1:08:39Sen. Rounds: Let me say thank you to all of you here for your previous service. I also want to thank you and your families. It is sometimes forgotten that when you go on deployment or offer your service, the families also participate in that.
▶ 1:09:04Sen. Rounds: We appreciate what it takes for that family to hang together and what it means to the entire family. We thank all of you as well for the offer of your spouse or your family member here to participate in service to this country. Thank you all.
▶ 1:09:26Sen. Rounds: I have heard from 28 senior dod officials over the past two years including the secretary of defense, every service chief, and eight combatant commanders that sharing the three point 1-3.45 gigahertz would have extremely cautious effects.
▶ 1:09:51Sen. Rounds: The department of the navy alone estimates that relocating their systems would cost them $250 billion. Secretary hegseth has said he would go to the math when necessary for spectrum capabilities. He believes are an absolute requirement for the dod and men and women in uniform.
▶ 1:10:17Sen. Rounds: Just simply because I want to make it clear to everyone listening and how critical it is, if confirmed will you fight to defend the department of defense's access to the use and maneuver with the electromagnetic spectrum at home and abroad? >> yes, senator. >> yes, senator. >> yes, senator.
▶ 1:10:46Sen. Rounds: I can't overemphasize the need to protect our young men and women there are parts that are used in my systems and communications. Literally if we lose that, people died. It is critical that we allow for the department of defense to have access to that portion. Mr.
▶ 1:11:09Sen. Rounds: Dodd, trusted artificial intelligence to the electromagnetic spectrum are foundational to compete with china and future conflicts. How would you drive ai into artificial systems and what barriers to transition require the most urgent attention?
▶ 1:11:29Mr. Dodd: I think initially I would look to utilize some of the existing tools and authorities that would exist in critical technologies. It clearly outlines the efforts within critical technologies to create those technology roadmaps. It influence and advocate the services.
▶ 1:12:03Mr. Dodd: They get heavily involved which I think we will hear several times today is acquisition reform. Other transition authorities so that we could acquire technologies on relevance and scale.
▶ 1:12:25Sen. Rounds: What you have indicated is one of the most important things we could do. I will go to that next. No question, artificial intelligence is here, it is here to stay, it is not going away. It will be used on most or we will use it to our advantage. Fair statement? >> absolutely.
▶ 1:12:51Sen. Rounds: The time it takes for the army acquisition programs is simply incompatible in the face of modern conflict. What reforms would you pursue for acquisition timelines with risk aversion and procurement and the private sector innovation.
▶ 1:13:15Sen. Rounds: >> the acquisition reforms and the implementation of adapted acquisition framework allowing the congress to fully utilize all of the resources we have. That starts with reducing the engine.
▶ 1:13:36Sen. Rounds: Ensuring that we are providing clear requirements but not overly burdensome requirements and quickly getting those capabilities into the hands of war fighters that allow us to continually define things like open architectures and allow the right capability to be delivered as quick as possible.
▶ 1:14:00Chair Wicker: Thank you very much.
▶ 1:14:03Sen. Hirono: Welcome to each of you. I start with asking the following two foundational questions. Every nominee before any of the committees that I sit to ensure the fitness of the nominee to serve. I will start with a response from Mr. hust and write down the line.
▶ 1:14:33Sen. Hirono: Have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature? >> no. >> no. >> no. >> no.
▶ 1:14:50Sen. Hirono: Have you ever have you ever face discipline or entered into a settlement relating to this kind of conduct? >> no, senator. >> no, senator. >> no, senator. >> no, senator. >> no, senator.
▶ 1:15:08Chair Wicker: Mr. gillis, housing remains a persistent problem in hawaii where housing costs are extremely high. Affordability of housing is a huge challenge. I believe the dod can play a bigger role in helping to address this issue by basically creating housing for the personnel.
▶ 1:15:33Chair Wicker: Some 50% of -- 40% of military personnel currently live off base. Would you deem this to be an issue that you would like to do something about, to alleviate the housing shortage, by creating housing for your personnel? How would you go about doing that?
▶ 1:16:00Mr. Gillis: Senator, I cannot take the promotion to doctor. I am merely an honorable or former assistant secretary. To your question, I absolutely agree. If confirmed, I would look to see what the balances on insulation housing, if we can bring more soldiers and families onto installations, we would take measures to do that.
▶ 1:16:23Sen. Hirono: Would you commit to working with the hawaii delegation to address the issue of more housing provided by the navy for your personnel?
▶ 1:16:32Mr. Gillis: Senator, I do, not just on housing but with army land leases in hawaii. It was on a trip to hawaii where I got to sit next to you at the ribbon-cutting at the schofield generating station, that I really learned to appreciate the importance of hawaii to army operations. I do commit to working with you and your staff.
▶ 1:16:54Sen. Hirono: Needless to say, you acknowledge the importance of all of our leases. Mr. cao, the navy is currently building a critical new dry dock at pearl harbor to support submarine maintenance. I know maintenance of our ships is a priority for you.
▶ 1:17:18Sen. Hirono: This construction project is the largest in dod history at nearly $4.5 billion, but it has faced significant cost overruns including in the first year of construction, a cost increase of $834 million in just one year. How do you plan to ensure dry. Construction remains on time and on budget?
▶ 1:17:46Sen. Hirono: Will you consider this construction to be a critical priority for you, should you be confirmed?
▶ 1:17:55Mr. Cao: Senator, thank you for the question. It is near and dear to my heart, the workforce in hawaii is unmatched. All the public shipyards that we have. You have my commitment that it confirmed I will go in and look at the cost overruns and keep the cost overruns under control.
▶ 1:18:16Sen. Hirono: I was at the opening of this construction. I said in my remarks that I hope this project can come in on time, on budget. Before I could practically blink there was an $800 million increase, so this will require I would say oversight from you, to make sure that things are on time and on budget. Mr.
▶ 1:18:45Sen. Hirono: Gillis, army installations in hawaii have a number of infrastructure-related problems, from fragile electrical grids, water systems to aging barracks and other facility-related maintenance issues. We know that 50% of army facilities in hawaii are categorized as failed or failing with a backlog cost to repair, $5.6 billion.
▶ 1:19:16Sen. Hirono: So these issues negatively impact military readiness, quality of life for our soldiers and their families. What will you do in terms of the infrastructure needs in hawaii to prioritize these needs?
▶ 1:19:28Mr. Gillis: Senator, I agree with you about the importance of this issue. This is what is beginning to be a good new story. If you could spot me a few seconds, Mr. chairman. For instance, the army is working to privatize the electric infrastructure in hawaii, in partnership with heco . Exactly right.
▶ 1:19:52Mr. Gillis: I think that approach is a good way to get folks whose core business it is to maintain and plan for the improvements necessary for that infrastructure.
▶ 1:20:00Sen. Hirono: I will hold you to it especially that brac. I will make sure that we get that project done.
▶ 1:20:11Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator mullin.
▶ 1:20:16Sen. Mullin: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Thank you to all of you guys for stepping up and willing to serve in this capacity's, these challenging times. A lot of changes for the better. Unfortunately, a lot of roles you are stepping into, change is not exactly easy. It is tough. Mr. cao, can you explain to me while you are taking on this role and responsibility?
▶ 1:20:43Mr. Cao: Thank you for the question. I came to this country with nothing, as a refugee. We grew up in africa actually. In 1979, when the shah of iran was overthrown, the marines brought us into the embassy and stood watch over us in case they needed to do evacuation. The look in their eyes that night that said nothing will hurt you, not on my watch. I want to be like those heroes.
▶ 1:21:12Mr. Cao: I dedicated my entire life to serving the military. Right now, my son is a senior at the naval academy. In 11 months, he will be commissioned as an officer. I don't want him to go to war the way that I did, where we use body armor to put between the doors to protect us. We were lucky enough to have body armor. That will not happen to my son and will not happen to any american sons and daughters, not on my watch, sir.
▶ 1:21:38Sen. Mullin: We have real issues going on with shipbuilding. We are behind, cannot seem to get anything out of dry dock, much less something from conception to delivery. How do we fix this?
▶ 1:21:55Mr. Cao: Senator, I've been studying this issue. I have 10 different levers that I want to provide to you and the president in order to get shipbuilding going. We also have to remember we need to maintain those ships and we need to man those ships and read the weapons on those ships. It is a four-prong problem that we need to address. I will look into these issues, present all the solutions to the commander-in-chief, secretary, secretary of navy, as well as this body.
▶ 1:22:26Sen. Mullin: Should we be trying to refit the current platforms, trying to embrace new technology, new platforms, maybe rethink the way that we have naval warfare to begin with?
▶ 1:22:39Mr. Cao: Absolutely we need to rethink naval warfare, use what we already have. Wars could be any day. We live every day as if it is september 10, 2001. We need to be ready for what happens tomorrow. That means we need to maintain our ships, have the electronic systems aboard to fight off any hypersonic weapons. We also need to accelerate shipbuilding as well.
▶ 1:23:05Sen. Mullin: Mr. gillis, united states has an abundant amount of natural gas, same with oklahoma. We start talking about army installations. How do we become energy resilient if we have burdensome regulations that prevent us from moving forward?
▶ 1:23:26Mr. Gillis: Senator mullin, I think you are exactly right. The more we can bring on-site generation, on-site power sources to army installations, the more resilient they are. We have one use case where we are currently extracting natural gas on the insulation for that purpose. I would like to be able to see that expanded, work with you to make sure we have the authority to do that.
▶ 1:23:50Sen. Mullin: What kind of legislation would you need? We just talked about in mcallister, the munition depot has a tremendous amount of resources under the ground. You look at the paperwork it takes to do it, it is nearly impossible. How can we help you be successful in this?
▶ 1:24:11Mr. Gillis: Senator, I appreciate the offer. It confirmed, I will take you up on that. We will have the team looked deeply into that issue in that you know exactly how we can use some help.
▶ 1:24:22Sen. Mullin: I will yield back some time.
▶ 1:24:25Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator kaine.
▶ 1:24:31Sen. Kaine: Thank you, Mr. chair. To my colleagues and those who have been here, I've been in the senate now coming up on 13 years, and the best job is being on this committee by far. When everything else is not going well, being on this committee is part of -- the best part of the job. It is the best job because my colleagues are solid. We have plenty of disagreements but we work very closely together. The week after the fourth of july, we markup the defense bill, we are the only committee that does this.
▶ 1:25:02Sen. Kaine: We sit around the table and until every last member has offered amendments and there is nothing left to offer, and then we end up with a bill, even if you lose and a madman or two, everyone has their fingerprints on it. My colleagues are good, the staff is fantastic. But the important part of it is the mission. It is our troops. Virginia -- I will make a claim.
▶ 1:25:29Sen. Kaine: Other senators will challenge me in a virtuous competition but I will claim that we are the most pro--military state in the country. One out of 10 virginians is a veteran. Then there is active, guard, reserve, dod civilians, dod contractors, military families like mine. It is such a serious stuff. It is such a serious stuff.
▶ 1:25:58Sen. Kaine: I was very, very disturbed yesterday -- and this is not a question for any of you, this is just for this gathering. I was so disturbed yesterday when the commander-in-chief of the greatest nation on this planet posted a music video. Bob, bob, bob, bomb iran. Went to a mosque, going to throw some rocks. Time to turn iran into a parking lot.
▶ 1:26:30Sen. Kaine: Music video with bombers flying behind residential buildings. Another line in it about sending the ayatollah home in a box. Is this the way we ought to treat war? In this country? Is it just a big joke? 40,000 troops are deployed in the middle east right now.
▶ 1:26:58Sen. Kaine: They are all on high alert because of what is going on in the middle east. I have people all over virginia worried about, are they going to get deployed, are there kids going to get deployed? Third more in the middle east in the last 20 years and we have a commander-in-chief putting up stuff like this? When I came to the senate, I served first under a democrat president, then under president trump, then under a democratic president, then again under president trump.
▶ 1:27:27Sen. Kaine: I came with the view that war was to series an issue to be left to one person. I deeply believe what the framers of our constitution believed, that the matter is so serious and so consequential that it should be left to one person. That we should only be at war if congress has a serious and deliberative process about that.
▶ 1:27:54Sen. Kaine: I have a resolution that will likely be voted on to that effect in the next couple of days. But I just wanted to begin with this. Let's take this seriously. I think the committee takes this seriously, the american public takes this seriously. I know virginians in the military, families in the military take it seriously. It is not a joke. It is not a joke. Secretary gillis, let me ask you this.
▶ 1:28:25Sen. Kaine: We have the person currently serving as acting in the position for which you have been nominated before us. In the subcommittee yesterday, senator sullivan and hirono held a hearing, and I asked about uas issues. We have major challenges with incursions on our army bases and others. We had an incursion at the langley base where we have not gotten good answers for even the army is playing a lead role in this.
▶ 1:28:56Sen. Kaine: They are the executive agent. Northcom is the lead synchronizer, all trying to figure out how to stop incursions on our bases. How would you prioritize this it confirmed?
▶ 1:29:09Mr. Gillis: I watch at that hearing the great interest. I thought Dr. waxman did a great job. I will reiterate a few points. First, there is a technological piece. We have to figure out if it is kinetic or non-kinetic, balance the security installation with the safety of the adjacent public. Then there are the authorities piece.
▶ 1:29:30Mr. Gillis: Having looked into this a little bit before when I was in this seat, we have to be sure that we have the right of authorities with respect to the faa, fcc, so we can take the action that we need to take. I agree with you that it is a very important and alarming issue, commit to looking into that, continuing to drive the army's efforts.
▶ 1:29:51Sen. Kaine: I yield back.
▶ 1:29:53Chair Wicker: It is an issue that needs a good bit of attention. Senator king.
▶ 1:30:00Sen. King: Thank you for taking on this challenge, for your inspiring story, Mr. cao. You demonstrate to this committee and this country the value that immigrants and refugees can play in the future of our country. You are a walking statement of that fact. I want to emphasize something that you mentioned in your opening statement, and that is maintenance. It is the most boring topic of all.
▶ 1:30:27Sen. King: But as you correctly point out, one of our major problems is availability. We all talk about ai. I did a little ai work this morning. The average availability of navy ships is in the range of 60%. Some are below 50, some in the range of 65, 70. Generally between 50 and 60%. The availability of carnival cruise lines ships is 91%. If carnival cruise lines ships were available 60% of the time, they would be out of business.
▶ 1:30:59Sen. King: I hope that you will carry through on what you are suggesting in your testimony and really get after this issue of maintenance, availability. I challenge you to come back to this committee and a couple of years and tell us we are benchmarking against carnival cruise.
▶ 1:31:16Mr. Cao: Thank you for that, senator. Yes, we are a maritime nation. We depend on the seas for trade and right now we have a deficit not in just commercial ships, less than one hundred 80 flagships, 129, our fleet is less than 400 right now -- less than 300. We need a stronger navy in order to maintain it.
▶ 1:31:47Sen. King: We are not building enough but we are also not keeping the ships that we have in service. I take it that you agree with that?
▶ 1:31:55Mr. Cao: Yes, senator. The operational availability is pretty horrid on a lot of ships.
▶ 1:32:01Sen. King: I look forward to tracking that with you as time moves on. Mr. dodd, you have, I think, one of the most important jobs in the pentagon, which is technology. The adaptation of new technology is what wins wars. Genghis khan was able to conquer the world because of his utilization of the stirrup, which enabled his archers to shoot from horseback.
▶ 1:32:27Sen. King: It was that technology that enabled him, the longbow, battle edge, defeating an army of 20,000 french. You mentioned several technologies in your testimony but we have been basically slow on several technologies. Slow on drones, hypersonics, particularly on directed energy, which you didn't mention. In the age of drones, directed energy can be more important than ever.
▶ 1:32:59Sen. King: The prior administration woefully underfunded the development of directed energy. I hope that is something you will pursue in your new position.
▶ 1:33:06Mr. Dodd: Thank you for raising that important issue. It confirmed, directed energy would be a technology area, critical technology portfolio. I am a staunch advocate and believer, as you referenced, in a one to many response in utilizing many faster, cheaper platforms. Certainly in the counter U.S. domain, directed energy will play a role.
▶ 1:33:35Mr. Dodd: High-performance microwaves are making some significant advances. Those platforms are being tested currently. We are excited, it confirmed, to see the growth and scaling of energy platforms.
▶ 1:33:47Sen. King: In the red sea today, we are shooting down $20,000 yemeni and iranian drones with $4 million missiles. That is unsustainable. A shot from a directed energy is about $.75. This is urgent. I hope it is pursued not only systematically but also with some urgency.
▶ 1:34:10Mr. Dodd: Fully commit to pursuing directed energy platforms it confirmed.
▶ 1:34:15Sen. King: Thank you. Mr. ingram, logistics, acquisition, technology, one of the hidden issues there is industrial base. Everybody that comes before this committee talks about rebuilding the industrial base. Part of that is workforce. The industrial base cannot grow and support what we need with the limited workforce we have now.
▶ 1:34:40Sen. King: I hope that will be a significant part because you cannot do acquisition if you don't have people to acquire the products from. This industrial base become part of what you view as your mission? ?
▶ 1:34:53Mr. Ingraham: Absolutely critical in ensuring we have a strong industrial base. Fundamental to acquisitions as you mentioned. A number of key things to him if confirmed, I would want to make sure we are doing. First, understanding where those critical gaps are in our industrial base. Starting from the mind all the way to the factory floor, where we see in the value stream, adding some resilience and strength.
▶ 1:35:21Sen. King: I would suggest one important provision here, initiative here is a steady demand signal. We cannot expect our private sector contractors to make major investments unless they know they are going to be able to sell their products. Multiyear contracting, steady demand signal is important.
▶ 1:35:45Sen. King: They are not going to invest if it is going to be turned off or on and don't know if they have the business at two -- a year or two later.
▶ 1:35:52Mr. Ingraham: Absolutely. Multiyear procurements have been critical especially in the munitions space we drive that that constant demand.
▶ 1:36:02Sen. King: And it saves taxpayer money.
▶ 1:36:05Chair Wicker: Senator banks.
▶ 1:36:07Sen. Banks: Mr. dodd, great to see you here today. Congratulations on your important nomination. Once you are confirmed, you'll be in charge of a number of critical technology areas including hypersonic's that you will help oversee. America still has not deployed a hypersonic weapon and our adversaries are already ahead of us in this important area. We need to get these weapons out of the lab and into the field.
▶ 1:36:38Sen. Banks: Can you tell us today how you will help do that? >> thank you for the extremely important question. Your compelling work in this topic especially with naval surface warfare center, development of the hypersonic technologies. As you reference, the united states is currently behind our adversaries, most notably china come in this technology domain.
▶ 1:37:03Sen. Banks: There are a couple of efforts underway, sister organizations, joint hypersonics transitions office, mission capabilities office would be the program which you have been a staunch advocate for, testing and evaluating on a much more rapid time and scale. That is needed. For us to catch up in hypersonics, this utilization of those programs, furthering testing and deployment of hypersonic technology.
▶ 1:37:34Sen. Banks: Can you explain the program to the committee and why it is so important?
▶ 1:37:38Mr. Dodd: Thank you for that. The mock tv program would reside in the mission capabilities portfolio. It is the rapid testing evaluating of the hypersonic technologies, reducing the cost by which we are looking to deploy these technologies as well.
▶ 1:37:56Sen. Banks: What else can we do when it comes to research and development for hypersonics, what else is out there that we are not doing that we can be doing that you are pushing for?
▶ 1:38:07Mr. Dodd: Thank you for the question. If confirmed, and additional efforts are utilizing the existing authorities and successes that exist currently in the critical technology portfolio in hypersonics. Utilization of the transaction authority, ability to vet, procure, deploy those technologies at speed, relevance, and scale.
▶ 1:38:31Sen. Banks: Another area that you will oversee is microelectronics. Places like naval surface warfare center, critical to making sure that the dod has secure access to safe and reliable microelectronics. How can we further strengthen our secure microelectronics supply chain at the dod?
▶ 1:38:51Mr. Dodd: Thank you for the question. Also, naval surface warfare division, mission partner in the trusted and assured microelectronics comments. Not widely known but scary, by some accounts, as much as 10% of microelectronics in the united states are counterfeit, corrupt, or malicious.
▶ 1:39:14Mr. Dodd: Both of those programs address the gap in our security in identifying and applying trusted microelectronics into our systems. Foundational and everything that we have.
▶ 1:39:26Sen. Banks: Mr. cao, naval surface warfare center crane that we've been talking about is the crown jewel of indiana's defense industry, defense assets. I hope that you'll take time to visit after you are confirmed. It would be important to have us host you as the undersecretary of the navy. As you may know, crane has a key role in navy hypersonics, in the navy's new nuclear see launch cruise missiles.
▶ 1:39:58Sen. Banks: How important are these programs at the turn conflict with china?
▶ 1:40:00Mr. Cao: Thank you for the question. Cps is extremely important. I moved that budget line when I was in the navy from there to the navy and 2017. We still have not developed cps. It was supposed to be developed. That is extremely critical. As for -- we need every piece of that nuclear triad to be operational. I would love to visit crane indiana.
▶ 1:40:31Sen. Banks: We look forward to hosting you. I yield back.
▶ 1:40:35Chair Wicker: Senator schmitt, you are now recognized. Also, you hold the gavel. I have to leave for another hearing.
▶ 1:40:47Sen. Schmitt: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Thank you all for being here. Mr. cao, as it relates to the navy, I was thrilled to see the air force, president trump announced the 47 is moving forward, next generation fighter that I think is particularly important as we continue to give to china, in the pacific. Faster, bigger payloads. The reason why it's a very important platform for us.
▶ 1:41:14Sen. Schmitt: Which gets us to the navy with the potential faxx nexgen fighter that will be carrier based. How do you view that, why is it important, what advantages can be gained from having a nexgen fighter on those carriers?
▶ 1:41:30Mr. Cao: Thank you for the question. The carrier is 99,000 tons of american diplomacy. It can be anywhere at any time. The air wing on board, the seventh largest air wing in the world. We need a six generation aircraft to be on those aircraft carriers in order to push our american diplomacy and secure the seas for allies and our friends.
▶ 1:41:59Sen. Schmitt: As you see it right now, what are some of the challenges that might exist that the navy may need to overcome? There is some money in here to move forward in the reconciliation bill but what challenges do we need to overcome to make sure that happens?
▶ 1:42:17Mr. Cao: Senator, again it is the bureaucracy, the tech holders, as chairman wicker mentioned. It's a lot of people saying no. One person should only say no and that is the secretary of the navy. Along the way, people can assume the risk and move out or they push it out to the next level. We need to move out. We need six generation aircraft.
▶ 1:42:42Sen. Schmitt: Agree. Look forward to working with you too may be cut through some of that bureaucratic and make sure we we get this done. Mr. hurst, as it relates to military base defense, anybody who watched anything related to what the ukrainians and that drone attack in russia can understand -- and we have heard
▶ 1:43:12Sen. Schmitt: About it a lot in open and classified settings. But I think that really brings home the capabilities that are out there, that exist, which leads to our defense of that. How are you looking at the evolution of insulation security in the modern era given the potential risk from drone strikes?
▶ 1:43:35Mr. Hurst: Thank you for the question. The proliferation of small unmanned aerial systems has democratized air power. It is a key readiness issue. Commercial technologies that are ready to counter that. We include that in our training exercises. We work with the faa and other authorities that allow us to utilize capabilities to stop these threats.
▶ 1:43:57Sen. Schmitt: It is my view that the commercial sector has already produced a lot of these tools that can be used, getting back to some of the cultural shift that I think needs to happen. Often times the private sector is asked or they create a solution but the government procurement folks, requirements that are put in place, especially as it relates to drones. They are outdated in six months.
▶ 1:44:29Sen. Schmitt: A lot of that technology is already out there. Unfortunately, the air force has been really flat-footed on this. Of course, we have fort leonard wood in missouri, the army, white man, which has clearly been in the news given what had happened with the b-2's. This is one of those things that we have to be nimble with. The private sector.
▶ 1:44:54Sen. Schmitt: They have the capability to detect, disarm, ultimately takedown the sort of drone strikes, even massive drone strikes, swarms. I still feel like we are stuck in this bureaucratic maze. What can be done to cut through that? I think everyone recognizes the capabilities and the problems, but we are still here.
▶ 1:45:22Mr. Hurst: Senator, this is an issue that I would own. I would confirm with other people on the panel but one thing the department could explore is contracting for things such as service. Counter U.S. as a service to get started and test things out faster.
▶ 1:45:38Sen. Schmitt: I look forward to working with you on that. Senator kelly.
▶ 1:45:45Sen. Kelly: Thank you, Mr. chairman ibrahim, actually to all five of you, congratulations on your nominations. Thank you for your service and your future service. Mr. engram, thank you for meeting with me earlier this week. I want to follow-up on our discussion on electronic warfare.
▶ 1:46:06Sen. Kelly: As the assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics, technology, you'll be responsible for the entire research development and acquisition life cycle of army platforms and warfare systems. I appreciate you sharing with me your experience in afghanistan about how important it is for service members to get the best equipment possible. That is critical.
▶ 1:46:29Sen. Kelly: Within the acquisition cycle, can you tell me how important you think it is in the developmental, testing, and evaluation step here? How important is developmental, testing, and evaluation?
▶ 1:46:46Mr. Ingraham: Senator, I appreciate the question, enjoy the time and discussion we had in your office before hand. Development and testing is absolutely critical. We started talking a lot about electronic warfare, especially in the electronic warfare space. We have to make sure our capabilities can be the most effective in an electromagnetic spectrum that the operators cannot see. Our soldiers will not be able to see the warfare effects being placed on them.
▶ 1:47:18Mr. Ingraham: Having the capability to counter those electronic warfare methods will absolutely be critical.
▶ 1:47:23Sen. Kelly: I would argue that we are doing a disservice to our service members to turnover systems to them before it has gone through a complete dt evaluation cycle. You are not going to figure out problems with the systems without doing that. I am concerned about proposed cuts that would proportionately affect the electronic proving ground.
▶ 1:47:52Sen. Kelly: The electronic proving ground provides the unique capability to execute electronic warfare develop mental testing without the interference due to geography. It sits in a bowl with mountain basically on all sides. It also benefits from an ideal climate. 320 flying days per year, federally protected airspace which further minimizes the interference.
▶ 1:48:21Sen. Kelly: It allows some very aggressive, offensive ew jamming tests to really flush out the systems in a developmental test program. Other army test and evaluation proving grounds cannot provide the same environment. That would leave us without the ability to fully test our capabilities and train our soldiers and pilots, how to use them and counter our adversaries.
▶ 1:48:53Sen. Kelly: What I'm getting at is the cuts proposed for the electronic proving ground. It will have some long-term consequences if the staff at epg is significantly reduced. Normally, when we want to look at an organization and make some cuts, because we think there is too much overhead involved, I think the appropriate thing to do is to look at the entire organization.
▶ 1:49:21Sen. Kelly: At epg, the folks they are looking at eliminating are the ones that are actually doing the work, developmental testing work that is key to making sure our electronic warfare systems are going to work effectively. In a real-world environment. If confirmed, would you be willing to work with me on trying to prevent these unnecessary cuts at epg?
▶ 1:49:49Mr. Ingraham: Senator, if confirmed, absolutely look forward to working with you on this. We have an opportunity to learn from the lessons, what is happening in ukraine and israel right now, where electronic warfare is a critical factor on the battlefield, ensure our systems can operate in that environment.
▶ 1:50:07Sen. Kelly: Especially in the western pacific. We are seeing it in ukraine right now but especially in the western pacific, in a conflict with china, who controls and can operate in a contested ew environment will be the key to air superiority. It will be the key to success in fighting our adversaries. So thank you for your willingness to do that. Mr.
▶ 1:50:36Sen. Kelly: Chairman, I will submit a question for the record for Mr. hurst. Has to do with training our health care workforce within the military, how we can help them transition to careers once they leave their service. Thank you. >> without objection. Senator king.
▶ 1:50:59Sen. King: Before I want to ask my question, I want to comment the four best behaved children in the world are sitting right here. I am so impressed. Whose children are they? >> those are mine, senator.
▶ 1:51:14Sen. King: You just earn my vote.
▶ 1:51:16Mr. Hurst: I thank my wife.
▶ 1:51:19Sen. King: Mr. ingrid hand, what I want to touch on, when we are purchasing platforms, doing acquisition, we should be acquiring the ip along with the platform so that we can repair. So that we can maintain. It would maintain the process. Every ship should have a pretty 3d printer. Every depot should have a 3d printer, so that we can -- the famous saying.
▶ 1:51:51Sen. King: I hope that can be something that will be a part of our routine acquisition process. Not only by the product but we buy the rights to repair that product, the ip for how to build those parts which we can now do. I hope that is something that you will follow up on. >> absolutely. Right to repair is critical in any of our platforms. Ensuring we get the right data rights, contracts is absolutely critical.
▶ 1:52:18Sen. King: I absolutely agree, adding 3d printers is critical as we think about moving forward especially at the tip of the spear, frontline. In a pastoral inside department of defense, I purchased the first 3d metal printer, implemented it, nervous surface welfare -- naval surface warfare.
▶ 1:52:45Sen. King: You know it is not only a savings of money for the taxpayer but more importantly a savings of time, could be a savings of lives in particular situations. I commend you for that. I hope that gospel of right to repair, purchasing the ip will be consistent throughout the acquisition process at the pentagon. Spread the word, please. Thank you, Mr..
▶ 1:53:10Sen. Schmitt: I want to think of witnesses for the testimony today and for information from the members questions. Due to the committee within two business days in the conclusion of this hearing. We are adjourned.