Transcripts For CSPAN2 Hearing Examines National Security Sp

Of expert witnesses joining us here today and want to take a moment to a knowledge that while i cannot imagine to be a better place to work and the subcommittee apparently somebody thinks there is a better job in washington d. C. So this is the last hearing steve bin his current position to go to the secretary of defense for space policy. And our loss is his game he does a great job i know he will do a great job there as well. [applause] so today we have witnesses general raymond Commander Air force Commander Joint command for space in director of National Reconnaissance office and the director of national guyots Spatial Intelligence Agency in the system for spays paula c. And after we finish this unclassified testimony we will adjourn to a closed session in a secure fashion. So with the confirmation hearing earlier this year stated what the military has capable airplane and anc forces to demand an increasing sheriff investment and i fully agree with the secretarys statement the leaders have been nuclear going back many years that the use of space could be taken away in the next military conflict the we have not move for that conviction or urgency with these warnings leaving us with a growing crisis with the threat of bader of full faith and confidence of beach expert witnesses i do not have faith in the bureaucratic structure although china is rapidly advancing with a new military organization to focus cyberand Electronic Warfare capabilities misstated earlier were not broke organized to deal with those new challenges the old structure may have been sufficient with areas of operations but that time has passed and i cannot agree more. Ladies and gentlemen, now was the time for reform so without afford to hearing your priorities on this topic i now recognize my friend from tennessee. Bob like to add my note of congratulations and thank you for this hearing especially the focus to strengthen the Space Capabilities there is no more important goal there are many issues before us but i am glad we are addressing them in a bipartisan fashion of afford to the testimony. Can now recognize our witnesses statements will be submitted for the record if you to leave it to five minutes or less to get to questions that would be awesome. I will also pylon to say congratulations to look forward to have you sitting here next u. S. Next year. [laughter] has distinguished members of the subcommittee it is my distinct privilege to represent in the 36,000 airmen providing cyberSpace Capabilities and is also a distinct privilege to be with my friends and panel of experts this is an exciting year for the air force and air force Space Command in september 2017 we will celebrate our 70th birthday and commanding will be with there 35th birthday we have been involved since the beginning of 1954 we have come a long way. Today there is nothing read do of a joint force but is that enabled and immigration has been restrained ahead the intersection of i reliance and folder ability but today in no Uncertain Terms just like air land and Sea Potential adversaries develop capabilities to deny access with the benefit of the main and i will be clear we do not want a conflict but one way to keep that from happening is to avoid that conflict if it should occur and should not be lost or Space Program is the envy of the world but first to be in partnership of the National Space defense to provide commandandcontrol capability and second must have state Situational Awareness to a full fighting focus that is required and to transition this based architects to provide resilient capabilities for the strategic environment that we face thank you for your support and active leadership and we will work closely with you and i look forward to your questions. Chairman rogers and Ranking Member thank you for your steadfast support for men and women in uniform with the states enterprise. As this committee is well aware to turn in educational corner that is not widely acknowledgement but is critical for our way of life coupled with the understanding of the compound being threats is the burning platform to the National Security Space Enterprise certainly an overhaul is necessary to guarantee your freedoms to and from space this is a challenge because National Security process was is largely conceding to provide services or commodities during an era when the most significant threat was debris giving that emerging threat we no longer approach space as a Service Provider mentality but the foremost responsibility is to gain and maintain space superiority this is a prerequisite with this payees joint operating area to provide space for an engagement with the joint forces across the globe. Over the past year we have made substantial progress especially with respect to all the Main Operations to defend the National Security Space Enterprise there are areas that have continued focus in vigilance must continue to normalize operations to include Situational Awareness as well as improving foundational intelligence to have robust indications continuing the full court press for awareness of command and control capability to review and update those authorities of rules of engagement. And we must continue to push down those capabilities on an operational the relevant time line here focused on maintaining freedom of action it is imperative of the joint force as a learning organization we will review our approach is an organizational structure because the speed and complexity demands operational agile organization. Every challenges an opportunity. Freedom of action is not a birthright and must be security and preserved this requires constant vigilance and active participation thanks for your leadership and advocacy. Chairman rogers and distinguished members things for the opportunity to be here to be responsible for operating the nations overhead surveillance and reconnaissance architecture the foundation of the global Situational Awareness and contribute to military analysts Security Operations while assisting with the formation of National Policy to achieve diplomatic goals we provide direct support and help protect the borders and contribute significantly to the fight against isis and Counterterrorism Operations worldwide and our people are behind every Mission Success and without direct support of combat and command to serve as a functional component in the Task Force Unit not just dedicated to the mission that we in still a culture of innovation in everything we do it comes in many forms to develop new apps for the ground system and those other critical to a closing the intelligence gap so to be sure we have fully leverage capabilities as a small slat organization fully successful and affordable architecture we have control of every thing that enables us to stay ahead of targets to the acquisition space and ground capability and then to upgrade those capabilities. Staying ahead of the adversaries and threaten our Space Capabilities are a challenge. The invest heavily in except heavily that nasa is the rapid progress. The us is not keeping pace. I believe we have not made the investment that would indicate space is a priority or fundamental to the us. Our retirement and budget acquisition project are disconnected and none of them. Failure is not well tolerated, even in the research and developing activities required to keep our base capabilities relevant and vital. Or to improve their real resiliency. National security space is a team sport and everyone on the team those in the executive branch and the Congress Must do all they can to advance its capabilities and improve its resilience to threats. We must have processes that are integrated, then move faster and demonstrate greater risk tolerance. We must recommit to space as a National Priority and imperative committee has been out in front trying to drive the changes required. The inroads to address barriers to change in the pace of change required to advance National Security space. The broader National Space community have people with the Talent Committee and passion necessary to take us forward. We only need to empower and enable them to succeed. Mr. Chairman and members of the subsidy, thank you for your continued support for the recon against this information. Thank you. I recognize for five minutes back members of the committee, i too am pleased to testify before you here today with my distinct alex. As a member of the National Security presence. And ga is the primary provider of Geospatial Intelligence or for the department of defense and the intelligence community. Our support to military services and commands and providers includes safety of navigation, precise targeting, Disaster Recovery and tailored intelligence support, just to name a few. I also have the job of being the functional manager the National System of Geospatial Intelligence. I strengthen the overall enterprise by ensuring that those combat and coming needs are met through future overhead architectures. More specifically, the d document serves as a framework to titillate those needs into the Key Enterprise functions and capabilities that are analysts required to resolve our most vexing intelligence challenges. Global persistent provides an architecture to monitor these intelligent challenges and an nda to provide National Tactical leaders the intelligence and Early Warning needed to precision advantage. It leverages the exquisite capabilities of the Reconnaissance Office to allow the combat and command hold specific targets at that risk. It integrates our International Partners to fill gaps in our enterprise. The explosion of data has driven the geo beyond the limits of human interpretation and explanation. By combining the data now available to us with the use of algorithms, automated processing , machine to Machine Learning and artificial intelligence, we believe we can automate as much as 75 or more of the road tests we performed today. This free are analysts to spend more time and focus on those hard intelligence problems. Adding to that point will prior significant investments in our it architecture as well as our research and development. Not only is the data exploding, conservative estimates over the next ten years. Over 9000 commercial satellites will be launched compared to fewer than 1500 in the last ten years. Accordingly, in our and our oval partner, nta will partner with nro to engage and access the most mature of these space via the geo activity. Through it will identify and evaluate emerging commercial sealant data and services against those needs that we capture and maintain. In closing, the National Security Space Enterprise is vital nta ability to provide war fighters, commanders and policymakers, to give them the decision space and the operational time they need to do their job, timely relevant, accurate is only possible through the combined efforts of the ic, chairman of the fence emerging industry and allied partners. Im happy to address any questions you might have and im pleased to be here. Thank you your guys for five minutes. Thank you, chairman routers, with members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. In the months ahead understanding and addressing the impatience of the growing threat in space is critical as this administration prepares the president new National Security strategy and the National Defense strategy and is congress carried out responsibly for oversight and funding of the programs and activities necessary to live the strategies no less important, strategic success requires increased resources, and the Defense Budget caps, an end to the yearlong pattern of continuing resolutions and return to strategy focused resourcing. Today we consider Space Security in an area where russia and china present anti access area denial strategies intended to prevent or counter intervention and conflict and to undercut our ability to secure our interest. Diplomatic solutions remain our preferred option of settling the differences that divide nations but american diplomatic influences rests on the credibility and capability of our military power which is fundamental to determine into the confidence of our allies in knowing that they do not have to submit to the course of pressures of large and powerful neighbors. Americas space posture underwrite deterrence by enabling the us military to project power globally, responded to crises rapidly, strikes fully and precisely into command forces in multiple theaters simultaneously. Potential adversaries know well our reliance on spatial systems that many perceive as vulnerable this leads to an unstable situation which some have concluded that in times of conflict attacking Us Military Space systems may make an irresistible and most tempting. This is using them of such misguided notions is a strategic priority. That is why in the department of defense we are making such a concerted effort to strengthen the Mission Assurance of our Space Capabilities and to deny aggressors the benefits of the tax base. We are changing our investment in operations and increasing our partnering with commercial entities and allies. More importantly, we are changing attitudes by recognizing the space is a war fighting domain and preparing ourselves to deter competencies and fail if deterrence fails. Finally, i want to recognize this committees priorities on strengthening National Security Space Organization management and leadership. This question has the intention of the secretary of jeopardy of defense, they expect that it sound analysis and a full range of options and they mean for us to meet the deadline of reporting to congress this june. In conclusion, i want to think this committee for keeping the challenges of securing space before the public. I look forward to working together to ensure that we had the right strategy and resources and the necessary programs, posture and organizational structures to sustain deterrence , to fail deterrence fail and to increase the incentive nations have settled their differences by peaceful means. Thank you. I would add, as a person acting in the job of that he will be doing, nobody is happier to have him that i am left back. [laughter] i recognize myself first for questions. This would be a question for anybody who is willing to get it we passed a law about ten years ago directed how the operation for space office would be one. Ive heard that instead of being streamlined, or if options are still forced to the traditional pentagon processes, including the Defense Space council. Thats a small number of decisionmakers focused on moving fast with the respect to Operational Response of apartment acquisitions in the recent decision meeting the program included over 60 attendees with 54 more than we had envisioned. To me this is an example that indicative of extremely bureaucratic zoo, my word, you have to be this out to know what to do is, it comes in and struggles out the life of the dod Space Programs. This is a situation where everyone can say no but no one can say yes. How do you set . Well first . German, thank you for the present. Sixty people were not involved in that position. As you stated, common law is clear. [inaudible] the psa has the ability to designate others that are critical to that decision and in this case, i wasnt in the room, but my understanding was those six for the voting members plus two or three others. Thats it. Its under the framework of a larger doc for the larger decisionmakers were eight or nine for the voting members. I understand there were six voting members but were there 60 people in the room . Yes, there were 60 people in the room but theres also some transparency of having others there. They didnt influence the decision, they were there and ill tell you after those folks make the decision a lot of those folks then have to be the ones that have to go execute the decision and make sure they have a common understanding. It was a very small number of folks that was consistent with the legislative that was passed for a small, tight decisionmaking process for and im comfortable that it was six people were the decisionmakers. As i mentioned, there were six that were by law and a couple others that were added eight or nine people. Do you have to have six to eight people on an acquisition process program for the organization . I have at least two people to make decisions. When on the icy side and one of the dod sit