Welcome assistant secretary of defense from Homeland Defense and Global Security that is a very long title in Lieutenant GeneralDeputy Commander of United States special Operations Command thank you for appearing before us today the hearing comes at an important time or we are witnessing a craze in the proliferation of wmds and terrorist organizations that present a growing threat to National Security. While we are familiar with and concerned by those capabilities of the program we should be mindful of the efforts to expand the chemical and biological weapons capabilities the Washington Post reported that north korea is moving steadily to acquire the machinery that could potentially be used for an advanced bio Weapons Program from factories by the time by laboratory specializing in genetic modification. Similarly isis has demonstrated its ability to develop to use chemical weapons in iraq and syria as spiders flee the region we must be aware of the potential for Technical Knowledge to spread additionally new reports of syrian dictator continued use of chemical agents like serotonin with attacks against his own people all of these developments show the Global Nature of the wmd threat to underscore the need for a global strategy to combat the threat the most recent dod strategy was released june of 2014. As i have just laid out the scope and complexity of the problem has only increased this requires the dod to reassess its strategy to ensure we are postured appropriately with organization and authority in capabilities to most effectively confront this threat to mitigate existing ones to responding in the event of an incident and then to provide the subcommittee with their candid assessment as well as provide recommendations on any changes to the current approach that may be warranted. Additionally the preferences to deal with the threat before reaches the shores we must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to the wmd event in the homeland. While dod is not the lead organization in particular the National Guard plays a key role to civil authorities like the fema or department of Homeland Security and local authorities. We would appreciate an update on planning and efforts in the event of a wmd attack on the homeland and lastly it has been over one year since the Campaign Plan was updated with the responsibility to synchronize the mission which entails drafting a new global Campaign Plan establishing intelligence priorities and monitoring Global Operations generally look to you to provide an update how so, is managing the new responsibilities to date and the description of any issues that could challenge the ability of socalled to successfully execute this Important Mission. Thanks for being here this afternoon we look forward to your testimony on this topic i will call on my Ranking Member to make his opening statement. When all else fails, improvise. [laughter]. Ranging from nonproliferation programs that help set International Norm and export controls to other efforts designed to stop the development of wmd by noncooperative nations. Assistant secretary, your portfolio includes response abilities for these efforts, and i look forward to better understanding how they are achieving their objectives and also what challenges they may be encountering. U. S. Special operation commanders played a key role in supporting the dod role in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction for more than 25 years now. As a force provider, to educate, train and equip special operators tasked with interdicting and rendering safe wmd, should they fall into the wrong hands. As a combatant command, theyve also been tasked with synchronizing dod global plan in operation or in countering wmd. Today i hope the witnesses will share their views on how they are fulfilling these critical responsibilities, while also retaining its focus on countering violent extremist groups. As we all know, special Operation Forces are a finite resource, and it is important that we maintain sufficient readiness to address any contingencies and bees do fail counter wmd missionaries. I look forward to the testimony. We will go ahead and start over with this testimony. Why dont we start with you. The regime has increased a behavior and continued to Test Nuclear Weapons and Ballistic Missiles in violation of multiple Un Security Council resolutions. With the chemical weapons by both the regime and the islamic state. Further eroding o the International Norms against the use. With expertise in material that can be used for both peacefully and military purposes to heighten the risk that adversaries to acquire wmd. Its never been more difficult to prevent adversaries from acquiring the materials or expertise necessary to develop wmd. The speed, the unit coverage means the naturally occurring pathogens. Itits what they delivered a biological attack. They keep up with and adapt to the current threats. The department of state and department of justice play a Critical Role in detecting threats. Both domestic and overseas activities and works closely with allies and partners to the wide range of threats that exist today. Close cooperation with the other departments and agencies and allies and partners are crucial for the efforts to encounter operationally significant risks and activities for mitigating the threats of the source preventing them from reaching the homeland and when necessary responding militarily. The Department Strategic approach to the mission focuses on three lines of effort. The dual use materials to and from the Department Works closely with interagency partners to encourage states to impede and stop the shipments including through efforts to build capacities and International Norms and obligations to the Proliferation Security Initiative. Despite the best efforts at prevention, we must be prepared to reduce threats once they develop. The posture to isolate and identify and neutralize and dispose once we reached the borders. They do not use them against the United States or allies and partners. To work with International Allies and partners to hold the regime accountable for using chemical weapons we remain concerned about the reports of ongoing use and will continue to ensure the president has all the options available to respond if necessary. In addition to contain and reduce th the threat from isis,e u. S. And our Coalition Partners continue to exploit opportunities on the ground to better understand and to disrupt the networks. Ultimately should be efforts to contain and reduce threats fail and an adversary attack against the United States or our allies the department of defense top military priority is to respond and to prevent future attacks. This may require forces to operate in a contaminated environment which makes it critical that we safeguard ports and insured u. S. Personnel to sustain effective operations in the event of the war or other contingencies. In asia for example the dod is working with key regional allies the republic of korea and japan to ensure our forces remain prepared to respond to the cbo contention is on or emanating from the korean peninsula. Elsewhere, complementing those engagements, they prepared the program to equip the partner nations to enhance the capabilities to respond to and mitigate the effect of the cern incident. For the domestic incident at home while most incidents begin and end locally, significant events such as a wmd attack would require the jurisdiction from the state governments and if necessary the federal government. The response elements continuously train and exercise. While the largescale attack is something we hope will never occur we cannot be complacent or wait until a threat is imminent to act. The complexity of this area requires a whole government approach and strong unity of effort. I work closely with the joint staff and Combatant Commanders and other components to ensure the department prioritizes the efforts for the unique authorities, resources and capabilities to protect the nation. Theyve brought a renewed focus and sense of enthusiasm to this mission is. The plans to the operational efforts. In closing we must anticipate our adversaries will continue to evolve and develop increasingly sophisticated methods. If they would be rigorous and prioritize its efforts and work closely with other departments and agencies and International Partners to continue to confront the threat posed at home and abroad. The related challenges continue to emerge and continued support for the departments efforts described for the ability to understand, anticipate and mitigate the threats thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and i look forward to your questions. It is an honor to testify with the policy of strategic guidance for the department of defense to support the countering weapons of mass destruction or wmd. During the testimony to the full Senate Armed ServicesCommittee Last february, general thomas outlined the u. S. Special Operations Command with the initial goal for the new role following the change of january, 2017. With other u. S. Government agencies as well as allies and partners working in this space. For the u. S. Special Operations Forces to execute counter wmd tasks. To broaden the scope of responsibility for the Operation Forces specific roles for the planning of the department of defense counter wmd efforts and support of other combatant commands, department of priority is and as directed other u. S. Government agencies. Other coordinating authorities that have been established this enables a more strategic approach to enhanced integration of department of defense plans and intelligence priorities. The establishment of the coordinating authority we focus on three major areas of effort. First, we are developing a Campaign Plan in coordination with the geographic combatant commands you to the plan takes a trans regional perspective and the sizes of the new development and existing programs. Second, weve conducted a Baseline Assessment to determine geographical combatant command counter wmd capabilities and capacities. The intelligence planning and assessments to this end weve established a counter wmd Fusion Center dedicated to the planning and using intelligence operations providing the community. While much progress has been made in the past year, a tremendous amount of work remains to finalize and implement these efforts. Other Combatant Commanders and the rest of the counter wmd community. They are opened with questions and even if we are giving those in fiveminute iterations shall we be joined by other members of the subcommittee we will remind their questions as well. I would like to start with you. Which wmd threat concerns you most at this stage based on your work within the department and your insight across the inner agencies . Thank you, senator. I think it depends on th filter that you look through. North korea is a primary concern in the department and the combination of destabilizing behaviors and very aggressive Testing Programs and statements about the nuclear Weapons Program and capabilities give cause for great concern, an ande have a lot of efforts focused on that. I think we also put a lot of concerted in terms of that evolving capability beyond the focus that you are familiar with on the National Defense strategy as they are developing missiles and capabilities of un security resolutions and are a threat we are monitoring closely. Then finally in terms of development that creates growing concern over time. Its ubiquitous availability of biotechnology today. You can do a paint by numbers instruction in the province of the nobel prizewinning scientists only decades ago. Its for those that can present a real threat. You mentioned the nuclear test and we followed that with great interest, but something we just dont talk about a loss that was pointed out in the Washington Post ive mentioned in my remarks is north korea acquiring different mechanical pieces that potentially could allow them to develop chemical or biological weapons. We are focused on developing weapons sierra trekking that very closely and there are a variety of export controls to which we look to limit the export and further proliferation of agents of particular concern we do have concerns about the biotechnology and the ability to innovate the agency to develop an without that kind of stock. Secretary or general, what we talked about in the nationstates, we know they have a capability out there. What are some of these assessments when it comes to the various terrorist organizations in order reporting isis do they have the ability to deliver this type of weapons . We understand that both al qaeda and isis are interested in Chemical Biological. Nuclear, they certainly would be if they had an opportunity to acquire the material and the knowhow. Part is to allow a model made the state on state actors to look at the threats if yo you wl in the vertical column columns n the functional Campaign Plan crosscuts those so we can observe where the Technology Transfer may occur between state and nonstate actors and working in a geographical location or functional capacity. So we try to weave that into the translation of the strategy and policy to the tactical application of introduction in order to basically reinforce the larger efforts that are in place. Thank you very much, senator heinrich. I want to go back to the issue that you were talking about and rapid innovation with respect to biological resources. Its never occur to the field before. Are there things we should be thinking about now that can create some level of obstruction or raised their ear race. As to the entry to make sure that we are doing an adequate job of what we apply with respect to export controls and other tools and other fields. How can we make sure we are not just missing some very big developments that could be happening under our nose with offtheshelf internet purchase items . That is something we are very focused on what our interagency partners and in turn, there are a number of forms in terms of internationally, nationally with regards to research being done in the area. Where you look to not do certain things but wellestablished norms that works great for the folks that follow the norms. We showed sort of track and Trace Technology to make sure people are following the standards. I didnt come prepared to speak in details about that today. The research is going on all over the world and its not like more select research is only being done in highly developed nations. Its proliferated to where it is being done at places that would have been unimaginable decades ago. I think we need to put some thought into this because this is a situation that feels like it could get ahead of all of us very quickly. I want to shift gears for a minute and ask you, general, with respect to special forces and how theyve led the effort in places like syria and iraq and raining and development of chemical or biological weapons from groups like isis, these are specialized missions tailored for the stock opportunities that i wanted to ask how would they prefer this sort of mission in a more conventional force environment where you have a different battle space then you would in iraq were serious and ialot of heavily secured wmd sites, just trying to get without a specific understanding i want to know how you apply the missions in a more traditional battle space environment. I think i would answer that from the standpoint of reactive or proactive approach. When you look at the proactive ways of being able to interdict things like that it is associated with a pathway approach ambiguity alluded to that in one of your Opening Statements of the components of different types that are required as a precursor to with missile or other type of activities. So, understanding pathways is important and i guess when i would look at that from what weve done in iraq and syria for state actor. We could easily translate the Human Capital associated with these things and that becomes an opportunity for targeting would be genetically or non kinetically, so i think there are a lot of similar things in that way that can be done. When it comes to secure facilities if it have to get back with you on that. But the approach is very similar in the sense that there are ways the Human Capital resourcing and Technology Associated in these type of things. The fusion to understand what is the indication of the warning that things may be coming along and have you matrixed up with the different threats that are out there versu