Called to order. Pursuant to notice on june 30, 2017 the committee needs to consider the nominations of clarion grady to be undersecretary of management at the department of Homeland Security and hammy carter to be special counsel office. Just a brief opening remark, i think as the hearing indicated a couple weeks ago, to highly qualified candidates, simply couldnt be more impressed with the people selected to fill those incredibly important positions. In terms of the folks we are going to be voting on, we will talk about the nominees but i am pleased that we are voting on two qualified candidates and i certainly intend to support their nominations and with that i will yield my Ranking Member, senator mccaskill. I will say for the record a brief Opening Statement that i had for this markup. Im pleased to support both of these nominees. If there is no further debate, i ask unanimous consent that we consider supporting the nominations on block. The question is on recording that you nominations the floor, all in favor say aye. The ayes have it, the nominees are reported to the full senate. The business meeting is adjourned. We will begin our hearing to consider nominations once the witnesses are seated. That was quick. This nomination hearing is called order. We are meeting today for a nomination hearing to consider David J Glawe to be undersecretary for intelligence analysis for the Us Department of Homeland Security and admiral David Pekoske to be assistant secretary of transportation, administration, tsa department of Homeland Security. These are two incredibly important positions, particularly at this point in time with all the threats we face to our transportation sector as well as across the globe and the rest to our homeland. Dont be undersecretary for intelligence analysis at the department of Homeland Security is responsible to lead the department of Homeland Securitys intelligence and analysis answer the departments Intelligence Officer. In these roles the undersecretary is responsible for fusing streams of intelligence and analysis to develop operational understanding of breast to the homeland, ensuring relatively information between state, local and private sector partners. As the departments chief Intelligence Officer the undersecretary is responsible for overseeing intelligence across the hs and collaborating with partners. Multiple reviews of office of intelligence analysis by this committee watched our organization and others have raised concerns about the quality and value of its intelligence, the lack of coordination between intelligence activities and around and Human Resources challenges facing the office. The next undersecretary had the opportunity to strengthen the department and help secretary kelly secure the nation. The dhs assistant secretary also known as the transportation security administrator is responsible for the safety and security of the countrys Transportation Systems ensuring the free flow of people and commerce. The administrators job is to assess the nations transportation sector and direct approximately 53,000 transportation security employees and protecting hundreds of millions of travelers each and every year. Tsa was created after the september 11 attacks to disrupt terrorist plots and safeguard the nations Transportation System. The agency oversees Aviation Security as well as rail, highway, mass transit and pipeline security with a budget of over 7 million. Aviation remains a target for foreign and domestic terrorists. To achieve its mission, the tsa needs to improve it capabilities and adapt to the terrorist threats of the future. The next demonstrator had the opportunity to increase tsas screening capabilities, improve workforce out and deliver efficient security to the traveling public. With that i will turn it over to Ranking Member mccaskill. I appreciate you holding this hearing and want to thank the two nominees for their willingness to serve. Im pleased to be here today, given the strong qualifications and distinguished careers of the nominees that are in front of us today. You both had Exemplary Public Service careers and we need individuals like you, we need our Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. You will have difficult jobs, the offices you seek to lead our essential ones for the protection of our homeland. Tsa has the role of protecting air travel as well as us wellknown job of securing ground, rail and Maritime Security and the office of intelligence and analysis is a component of the Intelligence Community that informs the work of all dhs agencies and is charged with sharing intelligence with local government. In addition to the challenges you will face in executing the missions of these organizations you will face a serious challenge given the current more out of the workforce in these offices. Both tsa and ina are seen by their employees as being the worst places to work in the federal government. According to a survey of federal agencies, ina is 304 305 enteral agencies and their employee morale. Tsa is only slightly better, right 303 out of 305. Strong leadership will be necessary to strengthen the workforce at these offices and ensure that these components are recruiting and retaining the most qualified talent. The culture and sentiment in an office and honestly contribute to hiring and keeping the best personnel who in turn are working hard to keep us safe. Mister pekoske, with threats to our Transportation System tsa as an essential role in protecting our homeland. Ive made clear several times my concerns about the presence proposed cuts to the budget particularly when it comes to funds for counterterrorism programs. Once you are confirmed i expect you to make clear to the administration what you need to do your job and you should not back down until the Administration Proposes a budget that works for you. Mister glawe, i expect you to ensure that the work of your Office Remains apolitical and informed decisions at the highest level of the department and Intelligence Community. This administration can make policy decisions based on intelligence and facts and it is your office that has the data and analytic tools to make sure the policy decisions are sound. I look forward to our conversation and working with you in the future. Mister mr. Pekoske, i understand you told the Committee Staff you would sit down with them what you been down on the job for several months. I appreciate the offer and expect my staff to take you up on it. I hope both of you will remain accessible to this committee once you are confirmed, thank you mister chairman. Thank you, the committee wants to welcome the witnesses, your families, i want to thank you for your past service and your willingness to serve again. I want to thank your families for their sacrifice because these are important jobs and you are going to be busy and away from home will be a sacrifice as well. I know you will introduce your family members and friends and supporters during your comments. It is the tradition of this committee to swear in the witnesses you will rise and raise your right hand. Use where the testimony you give will be the truth, hold ruben nothing but the truth so help you god . You may be seated. Our first nominee is mister david glawe. He has extensive experience in National Security and Law Enforcement and serves as a special assistant to the president until recently served as the assistant commissioner and chief Intelligence Officer in the customs and Border Protection component at the dhs. Mr. Glawe served as an fbi agent, federal agent with the Us Postal Inspection Service and started his career in Public Service as a Houston Police officer area mr. Glawe have the certificate from the john f. Kennedy school of government and ambassador of arts degree from the university of northern iowa. Mr. Glawe, your extensive background in Law Enforcement across the spectrum both state and federal will serve you well. So again, we appreciate your willingness to serve and look forward to your testimony. Chairman johnson, Ranking Member mccaskill, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to be before you today at the president s nominee to the dhs. Im honored to have been nominated by President Trump and im hopeful to receive the support of the secretary kelly, and director of National Intelligence coats. Before i begin id like to take a moment to recognize my family. Im grateful for their sacrifices to allow me this opportunity. With us today is my 20 year partner and husband terry gores, supervisor and special agent at the Washington Field office. Almost in our mind are our two wonderful children alexis and wyatt and i want to thank the rest of my coworkers who supported me through my life. I would not have this opportunity without them. The Mission Statement of dhs is clear and direct. We will safeguard the american people, holy land and our values. Dhs seeks the complex and evolving threat environment and must work in concert with our state and local territorial and private sector partners. As the only member of us Intelligence Community with statutorily sharing intelligence andinformation with our state, local , tribal and private sector partners, ina enables tsa to complete this mission. He expects ina to provide relevant information to the dhs enterprise and Intelligence Community and our state and local partners. I have 24 years of experience and if confirmed i will work to apply that knowledge i acquired and Lessons Learned to make the premier Intelligence Organization that drives operations, information sharing and delivery of unique analysis to operate decisionmakers and enable them to identify reports and ultimately mitigate threats. Ina has the broadest base of the Intelligence Community and meeting many demands of those customers is a challenge. I intend to focus inas capacity on areas where they have position to add value, areas like trade, travel, cider, borders and Aviation Security rather than duplicating work done elsewhere. Ina if confirmed it will be my honor to meet the Homeland Security at ina and implement secretary kellys vision by meeting the needs of the primary customers, integrating intelligence operations and making ina a mission focused environment for the workforce. In closing id like to take a moment to recognize the Important Role of Congress Plays in the success of ina. I pledge to fulfill that role by keeping you informed on ina activities and developments. Im committed to transparency and look forward to moving the Organization Forward and protect the homeland. I will submit the remainder of my comments for the record. I look forward to answering your questions. Thank you mr. Glawe. Our next nominee is vice admiral pekoske, chief operating officer of the Us Coast Guard when he retired in 2010. After 32 years of service and we thank you for that service. Prior to becoming vice admiral he was commander for the fence forces protecting 73 million square miles of territory through the pacific region. After retiring from the coast guard, admiral pekoske was in the Security Group at amt solutions and Vice President for National Programs at specific architecture and engineering. Is it careers in the Homeland Security from his time in the coast guard covering crisis management, strategic operations, Financial Risk Management and counterterrorism. Vice admiral pekoske received his bachelors degree from the Us Coast Guard academy and two masters degrees, one from Columbia University in economics and one from Massachusetts Institute of technology in Business Management and vice admiral, i have a brief Opening Statement which you will be presenting your experience. I cant think of somebody more qualified at this point in time. With that i look forward to your testimony. Mister chairman, good morning chairman johnson and Ranking Member mccaskill and members of this committee. Its a privilege to appear before you as the president s nominee. I am honored to have been nominated by President Trump for this important position and if confirmed, i look forward to the opportunity to work with secretary kelly, deputy secretary duke and the entire team at the department of Homeland Security. Ive always been a strong supporter of my family and am honored to introduce my wife michelle. Who joined me at the hearing today. Together we raised four terrific children, all very successful in their own rights. Many members of our family are watching from locations around the country. I thank them for their love and support and am glad they are able to be with us today and virtually for this important event in my professional life. Let me begin by recognizing the men and women of the tsa. Each and every one contributes to the security of our nations Transportation System and works tirelessly to earn the respect of the american people. Work is radical to our Transportation Systems and they have in my opinion an outstanding job in protecting us from ever present and dynamic threats. It would be my privilege to join them as their administrator and bring my leadership skills and experience directly to the effort of securing our homeland. Tsa could not accomplish its mission were it not for the partnerships and have with other federal partners, state and local Law Enforcement agencies, airline industry, Public Services industry, airport and surface Transportation System owners and operators and International Partners. Throughout my professional career ive seen firsthand the enormous value of strong partnerships and professional relationships. This is the extended tsa team and it would be my privilege to join them as well in our collective goal of ensuring security for the United States and i had a high honor of serving this country in the coast guard for most of my life and im grateful to my coast guard colleagues for their investment in my leadership and professional development. My career provided me with background and experience that are relevant to the position of tsa administrator, i performed in top leadership positions on a large operating agency with the security and Law Enforcement division in the department of Homeland Security. I have experience in operational Risk Management and Risk Mitigation and have experienced working withother federal, state and Law Enforcement agencies , industry and Interest Groups and International Partners and International Standards bodies. On my service i joined the successful Market Company and Government Services industry, my experience was valuable and i learned how government can be better consumers of private sector expertise and support. Today as you know we face a multitude of threats in the persistent and ever evolving. We know certain terrorist organizations running focused on aviation and disrupting the freedoms we enjoy as an open society. Paying a heavy stretch and ensuring appropriate measures are in place to ensure Security Effectiveness will continue to be yesterdays most significant challenge. If confirmed it would be my honor to serve in what i consider one of the most challenging jo