Questions on the backgrounds and priorities. Many members i asked about military training, readiness, Technology Implementation as well as the state of military bases and specific projects in their home states. This is two hours and 20 minutes. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] i guess we are one minute late. The Committee Meets today to consider the nomination of mrs. Barbara barrett to be secretary of the air force, and mr. Ryan mccarthy to be secretary of the army. Thanks for being here today. We have the standard questions, whether you like about your to answer. Would you answer audibly so it can be heard . And appreciate it very much. Do you adhere to the applicable laws and resolutions governing topics of interest . Yes. Yes. Will you ensure your staff complies with deadlines established for requesting communications including for the record . Yes. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and briefers in response to congressional request . Yes, senator. Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal from the testimony and briefing . Yes, senator. Do you agree it confirmed to appear and testify upon request before this committee . Yes, senator. And do you agree to provide documents including copies of electronic forms communication in a timely manner when requested by a duly Constitutional Committee or to consult with the Committee Regarding the basis for many good faith into late or denial in providing such documents . Yes, senator. Lastly, have you assumed a duty spider taken any actions which would appear to the outcome of the confirmation process . No, senator. As was often said, i really believe were in the most dangerous situation weve been in in this world, in my lifetime, and even if i ever thought i would say i thought back wistfully of the dates of the cold war, i would think would have have a really bad. So do have a serious problem with the president and weve a National Defense strategy bring that i cant believe that. All right. We dont have our book with us, are in the s book. This is kind of unique. Something with the democrats and republicans got together and gives total agreement on the strategy that we would use. And so we are locked in pretty much to that, china and russia has passed us in key areas or catching up in others its the time when we had our lunch superiority that we dont have any more. We dont know how thats changing. Its a moving target. When President Trump assumed Office Americas main focus was counterterrorism but today the United States is properly focus on the security challenges that we face. Years of budget cuts and the obama sensation left our military and readiness crisis. Last Administration Even that we could cut our Defense Budget by hundreds of billions of dollars fighting to midportion everything which are not. However, that isnt the case. This is a surprising thing. I see senator wicker is not here yet, but he came up with a document that after check it out i believe it to be true, that during the time that we were kind our budget, between fiscal years 20102015, by some 25 , china was increasing during that time theres my 83 . People are not aware of this. They dont know thats going on. These cuts left a military with got a good start. We did in fiscal year 18, this could your we made some great advances and we want to continue those advances so we are looking forward to todays hearing. If the two of you will be, if confirmed, will play a major role in fixing some things are broken right now. Senator reed. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I joined about me secretary mccarthy and ambassador barrett to this mornings hearing. Also id like to of your families, jennifer, david and kathleen. Likewise ambassador Barrett Family is also in attendance. We are all police you can view this morning. Secretary mccarthy come as we consider nomination i know you have a wealth of experience and defense policy and yes, sir admirably as the undersecretary of the army. If confirmed you will be responsible ensuring that the Army Continues to innovate know to support the National Defense strategy. As the undersecretary you were close with secretary esper and with the Army Senior Military leadership to establish a cross functional teams focus on the armys major modernization priorities. As those astonishing command as a single man for full modernization efforts. I would ask you show with the committee what youve learned from these efforts. Delivering cuttingedge capabilities to war fighter is critical for country to compete with the near. Threat. Modernize military platforms will be pointless at the do have the training necessary to prevail on the battlefield. As such reddish veins are resized. I hope youll share with the members what you will do to ensure the army and marine is focus of greatness if youre confirmed by the senate. Finally, handinhand with red is the army success the dependent upon the men and women who serve in uniform as will the civilians working in the department of the army. The armys the army is that cheg recruitment goals as the only cause causes remain focus on quality of soldiers. If youre confirmed i trust you will closely monitor the situation. Ambassador barrett, if confirmed youll face a number of Critical Issues confronting the department of the air force. You will be leading air force during a major transition that the air force and guidance to salvage a spaceport. Doing this curricula great influence on our ability to challenge nearpeer competitors. The air force has been involved overseas since 9 11 and has been waiting under the day today strains under the high tempo. Given concerns about supporting the readiness of our deployed and nondeployed forces, the next sectors efforts of managing improvements to the force and supporting structure will be critical. It seems to me the secretary sey should be focusing on improving readiness of the existing force. In addition to improving readiness, the next secretary must focus on modernization. Over a number of years may seem to have expressed concerns about the size and relative modernization of the air force. As comic as it is to reach the number of aircraft whereby, by more aircraft is not enough. The air force must also buy the right types of aircraft. The air force is on special of modernizing several capabilities including the groundbased Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force, and demands Battle ManagementSystem Program which has a network of existing and new era in space based. Finally the Service Sector is not in a great chain of command but the Service Sector plays a critical in the budget and requirements decision that drive programs. This committee will look to you for your contributions and bouncing air force resources against air force needs, and ensuring they get the Acquisition Workforce the Department Needs to get the job done. Again let me thank you, mr. Chairman for only the syrian and i look forward to hearing from the nominees. Thank you, senator reed. I see terry mccarthy, an introduction of you is not really necessary. He worked for what, two years as a undersecretary in the same position . You know it well. However, we do have senator nixon has requested to introduce ms. Barrett, and i know you dont object to that. Senator nixon. Thank you, chairman, Ranking Member reed. Its great privacy before this going to edit his fellow arizona and a personal friend, ambassador Barbara Barrett as a nominee to be the next secretary of our air force. Many of us know barbara for os x a competent and leadership spanning from the business world, academia to international diplomacy. A few of these include the deputy federal aviation administrator serving as u. S. Ambassador defendant, her time with u. S. Mission of the united nations. These positions make her a phenomenal choice to lead the branch but are unique experiences are what make her the best choice to lead our air force at this important time in history. First and foremost shes a pilot herself so she thinks in three dimensions. She always looks up and shares a passion for flying with the air when she would leave. Next she is fast management expense including leading teams to change. In fact, as interim president of the Thunderbird School of Global Management she was responsible for producing the next generation of global thinkers and leaders. This will be vital for air force as we that to Great Power Competition and the threats they post the world. Shes been a key member of the Aerospace Community giving her first hand understanding of how to navigate commercial partnerships in order to get her error meant the quality equipment, technology and best practices they need when they needed and waiting to do. Shes worked at several organizations, air force looks to for analysis, like serving a seal of the aerospace corporation, a nonprofit based in california that operates federally funded research and develop a center. She served on the board of brand which one the most inferential think tanks in the military space. When asked to serve on the defense business board, barbara tackle the tough task of improving Business Practices in the dds holder this kind of macrolevel analysis expense will enable her to Enter Air Force to meet and defeat any threat anywhere anytime. Shes been involved in many institutions focus on advocacy and education for air and space pic serving on the boards and national air and space his income sally ride science and the space foundation. Nearest and dearest to my heart is ambassador barrett played an Important Role in what are the biggest paradigm shifts the military is experienced in the last few decades, expanding air combat roles for women. As a only the no pilot serving the defense advisory committee, she was incidental in recommending women be allowed to compete for and fly in combat. In fact, the leadership of this very committee opposed the recommendations at the time. Dont read the full senate overruled and i dont take that personally but paving the way for thousands of women like me to serve a a country with distinction in air combat. We none of the wisdom of these in part because of these changes are military is more effective and more lethal than ever before, taking the best man for the cockpit even if shes a woman. If because of individuals like ambassador barrett that is able to get the air force academy and be the first to fly in combat and later command a fighter squadron. This led other airmen being able to meet their goals but none of these first one possible not for the expense, efficacy and a grid of women like ambassador Barbara Barrett opposing new solutions to update a way of thinking. Im grateful, barbara for her work to allow women like me to step up and serve our country that also are to continue the proud tradition of arizona women in aerospace. Today as we sit in a fight makes the type of important decisions, these types of decisions i continue to be inspired by her example. Who isnt afraid to question the status quo can always look for improvements, think strategically and acknowledged sometimes doing things away the ball is been done the past not be good enough anymore. Its a personal understanding of what airmen need for intimate knowledge of their citizenship that supports them come for competence and passion for air and space domain and i can say to search for new, better more Innovative Solutions that make ambassador barrett the best candidate to lead our air force today and tomorrow. Finally, i can place to get to know barbara as a friend and i believe she is a perfect fit for this job and i advocated to President Trump for the nomination and im grateful that he is nominated her. From our use of friendship i cn tell you shes a woman of character, vision, smarts and the true leader who cares deeply about our country, our military and our air force. With all shes accomplished, she did not have to enter this call. She is not seeking this call. Yet she was willing to give these years of her life to share her a immense experience and lead our air force into the future. Barbara truly embodies the air force core values of integrity first, service before self and exited overdue. And both inspire our airmen as a train and fight to keep the state. I wholeheartedly support her nomination. I hope each member will join me. Thank you, mr. Chair and Ranking Member reed for the opportunity to make the introduction and with that is my pleasure to introduce my friend, ambassador Barbara Barrett. Thats great. Thank you, senator nick sally. Dutiful introduction. We will now have Opening Statements from our nominees. And keep in mind your entire statement will be made part of the records i dont need to go through the whole thing. Just abbreviated as best you can and invite you to introduce in your friends or family with, to support you this morning. Secretary mccarthy. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member reed, members of the committee, it is an honor to come before you today as the present so many for secretary of the army. I i have testified previously in front of this committee. I hold it in the highest regard. Want to thank secretary esper for sculptors for the president for for nominating me. Yesterday as we do every year we pause and remember the 9 11 attacks to all of the souls lost on that day and the subsequent 18 years of war. Just as the pentagon building still bears the physical scars of the attack, we will never forget. 18 years ago today i was beginning my preparation to the point of afghanistan invasion. That they finally changed my life and this brought me to this moment. Troops deployed in combat operations remain my primary focus. Id like to begin by recognizing my wife jennifer to join you today. She along with a daughter alexandra and the rest of my family serve as a bedrock to who i am as a person. It they provide you with strength and motivation to be the best husband, father and man that i can be. To my parents dave and kathleen i want to publicly thank them for the love, support and during guidance my entire life. And my sister, shannon and my brotherinlaw chase, thank you for being confidants and friends who were always there for me. While i want to thank the committee of the confidence of bipartisan support theyve shown the army and the department of defense for the committees top lundmark which provide the foundation for a budget deal that provide fiscal certainty in the fy 20 20 and fy 2021. We will work to maximize the utility of every dollar with ruthless privatization and safeguard of most treasured national resource, the minute women serving in the army, the eight civilians and the families. Im an avid supporter of the National Defense strategy and will continue the privatization necessary for it to be realized. The nds serves as our blueprint. Minimizing any potential turbulence as result of the transition of leaders. This strategy allows for a laserlike focus against Great Power Competition while institutionalizing the hard Lessons Learned in counterinsurgency of the Violent Extremist Organization fight. If confirmed, i will continue to champion the Army Strategy and vision with an emphasis on readiness, modernization, and reform. It is only to the care of our people that these priorities will be achieved if ive encouraged by their intention as number of performance. And fy 19 to army met over 100 of our retention goals without waivers. We are on track to achieve a revised goal without delusion and called it. If confirmed, i to ensure our soldiers and the films have the resources to thrive. This includes quality and safe housing, Reliable Health care and access to childcare you are taking care of the force leads to better quality of life, retention of worldclass soldiers and ultimately improved readiness. Im an equally committed to the prevention of Sexual Assault and harassment in our formations which tears of the very fabric of our institution. Leadership at every level must build a team of teams, protecting our brothers and sisters to our left and right. Reinforcing theres no place for suicide and Sexual Assault and harassment in our army. If confirmed, the Army Leadership will continue to build upon reform agenda with established over the last 24 months pick significant work remains to solidify the Modernization Enterprise and finish what we collectively started. Congressional support has helped the army and i look for to working with this committee and congas to fulfilling the responsibility of providing the best manned, equipped, and trained force our nation needs to meet its objectives. Im grateful for your consideration of my nomination and i and i look forward it to your questions. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Secretary. And ms. Barrett. Chairman inhofe, Ranking Member reed, distinguished