Bradley salzman testified that a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Forces committee. Live coverage here on cspan three. Your parents, randy and belinda salts men who are watching from home, im sure. And i know theyre very proud of her nomination. Recognizing the increasing importance of the space to maine and the growing threats to our critical space assets by china and Russia Congress established the space for us in the fiscal year, 2020 National Defense offers a shun act. The first shiva Space Operations, general raymond, then the commander of the u. S. Air force base command, was legislated to transferred in 2020 to be the chief so you are the first to be nominated in have a hearing for this position. Given that the space force is only two years old its still becoming institutionalized within the department of the fence and there are many challenges in that process. First the space force must develop its ability to train and equip guardians. Space is a remote domain at one that is now contested. Your guardians will have to have the ability to integrate digital and other advanced technologies to accomplish their mission. All on their my understanding is that space force is standing up for Space Training and Readiness Command for star calm. I will want to know your views if confirmed and how star come will train future guardians as a force in the space to maine. Second, youll have to force during a Service Culture and dramatically evolving space environment. Often called new space. We are witnessing an enormous surge in the space industry with some satellite constellations that numbered one or two dozen satellites a few years ago. Now having thousands in low earth orbit. All interconnected to provide highspeed internet anywhere on the globe. Rockets that were once disposable are now reusable. Lowering the cost of the launch to a fraction of what it used to be. The space force of today and tomorrow must adapt to this rapid change in pace of innovation and utilized to protect and defend our assets in space and on the ground. The space for us is an organization in its guardians need to reflect the strange environment. Third, in response to the growing adversarial threaten space, congress that only created the space force as a war fighting into the. It also reorganize a way we acquire Space Systems. The way we formulate space policy and the way we fight and space for the new combatant command. If confirmed, you will lead the space force and its new National Defense enterprise. I want to know what do you foresee as major issues you expect to face. And how you will answer those space force can respond to them. Most importantly, an integral part of the military service is its culture and its unity of mission. When the space force was established, most guardians necessarily transferred from other services. And thus had to adapt to a new culture. I was pleased to learn in our meeting last week that successful recruiting efforts have ensued that soon one third of the space force will never have served in another service. General, im interested in how you intend to create the unique culture with the blend of transfers in new recruits. Thank you again for your willingness to serve our nation. I look forward to your testimony. Let me now recognize Ranking Member thank you, mister chairman. I would also like to extend a welcome to the general. I appreciate the time you spent with me giving you an idea of what you have in your mind and also the fact that the of your family here today. Its very meaningful to us. We appreciate that very much. I see a lot of the our National Defense strategy is not shy about the scope and scale of the threat from china. And the speed of the advances. There is no better example of that than space. In a decade, the United States is gone from the unquestioned leader in the space to merely one of two peers in a competition. Most people dont realize that. There is a lot china and russia are doing in space. We can talk about today but even what we can talk about the public is very concerning. For years, we kept noting that everything our military does relies on space. But we never really acted like it. Space is no longer simply enabler for other functions. So we have a different environment altogether today. You are only the second one to take on this awesome responsibility. We appreciate very much the effort that youre making. And the background that you bring. Thank, you mister chairman. Thank you senator inhofe youre recognized for the Opening Statement. Could you playing brings the microphone as close as possible . Can you hear me okay . Yes, sir. Thank you, chairman reid. My Ranking Member in, huff. Distinguish move this committee. Im honored and deeply humbled by the opportunity to be with you this morning. I like to begin by shooting my family. With me today at the most important people in my life. First my wife jennifer. Im very proud now just yesterday, we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Jennifer has been steadfastly by my side for this entire military journey. Through 15 moves nearly 200 overnight icbm alerts, countless late nights and troops away from home. And most recently, a year supported while i deployed to the middle east. She has taken on all these challenges and target them with a smile on her face and warmth in her heart. But her most amazing accomplishment has been raising our two children and into the final to see here. Our son Jonathan Rideau social media content for a Sports Marketing firm. In our daughter sarah recently completed a masters degree in Public Administration with a perfect four point oh gpa. Jennifer and i cannot be prouder of these two. They have followed moment that all over the country and been successful at every turn. They meet challenges head on and have always shown maturity beyond their years. Optimism in a contagious wit. My home and family are my bedrock and they are clearly at the center of any career success that ive enjoyed. I owe all of that these three and ill be forever grateful for the love and support they have shown and the sacrifices theyve made. I would also like to think its a opportunity to offer a special thanks to general jay and molly raymond. The sultan and rain families go back many years. We have benefited greatly from their mentorship and friendship. They are concluding 38 years of distinguished service to our nation. But these last few years have been critical to the historic establishment of the space force their passion dedication and vision have set the space for us on a solid foundation. If i have the good fortune to be confirmed, jennifer and i will work hard to build on their successes and continue to push the space force to new heights. I would also like to express my impression to this committee for your relentless support and advocacy for our space force its guardians and their families. For the last two years about the privilege of serving with these guardians and i can attest that they are the finest men and women that america has to offer. If confirmed will be the honor of my life to lead them as the second chief of Space Operations for the United States space force. Not quite three years ago, congress established the space for us to provide freedom of operation for the United States. And from and to space. To conduct Space Operations and to protect the interests of the United States and space. In the few short years since the space force was established, the number of satellites on orbit has doubled. And the global space economy is approaching half a trillion dollars. Space is truly a critical domain for u. S. Interests. So we must be clear eyed in our understanding that our strategic competitors have invested heavily in Fielding Systems capable of disrupting degrading and even destroying our Space Capabilities. If confirmed, i will work to ensure the space forces ready to protect these vital interests from these threats. It is truly an honor to be nominated to serve as the space forces next chief Space Operations. I mix that about the opportunities ahead for the space fourth. If confirmed, i look forward to working with this committee. Other members of congress to continue to ensure the space force fulfills this mission as part of americas joint force. I look forward to your questions. Thank you, very much. Before i begin questioning here are a series of standard questions for a nominees. You can respond. Have you adhere to applicable laws governing conflicts of interests . Yes. Have you assume the duties are taken any actions that would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process . No. Exercising a legislative and oversight responsibilities makes it important that this committee and subcommittees another appropriate committees of congress received testimony briefings reports records in other information from the executive branch on a timely basis. Do you agree if confirmed to appear to testify before this committee when requested . Yes. Do you agree when asked before this committee to give your personal views even if your views differ from the administration . Yes. Do you agree to provide records, documents, Electronic Communications in a timely manner when requested by this committee. Subcommittees or other appropriate committees of congress into consult with the request regarding the basis for any good faith delay or denial in providing such records . Yes. Will you ensure that your staff complies with deadlines established for this committee for the production of reports workers and other information including timely responding to hearing questions for the record . Yes. Will you cooperate and providing witnesses and brief response to congressional requests . Yes. Will those witnesses in briefly be protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings . Yes. Thank you very much, general. General, in my comments i talked about force designed that the space force must lead. The intent and congress is essentialized that forced design in space for. The Senate Version of the 2022 National Defense authorization act deemed the chief of Space Operations to be de force designed for space of the of i know different in many ways of how the chief of Naval Operations designer of the fleet of ships for our navy. The conference will require the side of the fence to designate the chief of special operations as the forces nine architect. The august 17th leathers of the committee but the secretary does indeed designate the chief of the forces an architect. Except for all of the other authorities in space resorting in the armed forces. Which are rather expensive. Do you think this is a workable designation . And it follows the intent of congress . Yes sir, i do. Ive had extensive discussions with secretary of the air force and general raymond, the current u. S. Base operations. Its my understanding that the exemptions that he mentioned really are not about authorities associate with the forces and architect. And that the authorities and responsibilities that the secretary of defense gave to general raymond as the chief of Space Operations is sufficient to accomplish the intent of congress. If confirmed, i would continue to execute those same authorities and responsibilities so that could take seriously those priorities for forced assigned to make the space force is capable as possible. Thank you. General salzman, if confirmed, your job will be 2 training and equipped forces to u. S. Space command primarily. But also you will have the duty to support other combatant command such as you comics that era. Is there any significant distinction in your mind between your responsibilities between those two or the different commands you will support . No, senator. The responsibilities of the chief has faced operations are to make sure there are ready forces that have the flexibility, the agility, the training and experience necessary to support all combatant commanders. Of note, of, course is the u. S. Space command has primary responsibilities for that space area of of responsibilities. As well as some key admissions providing capabilities for the joint force. And so while over 90 of the space for his capabilities are presented to u. S. Space command, there are critical other capabilities regional capabilities that are also presented to the other combatant commands. To fulfill their missions as well. Thank you. General salzman. The administration has sent a legislative proposal to create essentially full and parttime Space Force Military personnel. In lieu of a separate reserve and guard elements as in other services. This i think originates because the space force is relatively small. And the reserve elements would be smaller still. Do you support this proposal . Senator, the most important aspect of this is that there are critically capabilities and expertise that currently reside in the air force reserves as well as the interNational Guard. The prime responsibility of course is to make sure that we have complete access to that experience, that expertise in those capabilities. So from a readiness perspective, i can tell you as the chief of operations currently, thats high on my list to make sure that we have unfettered access to those capabilities. Were also looking at flexible and innovative ways to make sure that we have viable and flexible career pass for our guardians. Its important we retain this talent for an extended period of time to get the most out of them. And having the ability to seamlessly and have a permeable way to move between fulltime and parttime capacity inside the space for us. We think its a tremendous benefit to the guardians. And ultimately to the force to maintain the readiness. So if confirmed a so, i would certainly welcome the opportunity to continue to work with members of this committee and other stakeholders to make sure that we get the right organizational structure to take advantage of these capabilities. Thank you. Again, one of the great challenges you have facing you is creating a culture in the space for us. As a war fighting force. One thats highly technical. And one that innovates constantly. We find sometimes culture is more determine of outcomes than a lot of other factors. Thats something i think youll be working on and we hope to Work Together with you. Thank you very much. Let me recognize the Ranking Member, senator inhofe. General saltzman, can we get the two required questions of the way so now the two are what worries you the most and what do you intend to do about it . And secondly, what will be the first challenge that you go after . Two questions. Yes sir, thank you. The most immediate threat in my opinion is the pace with which our strategic challengers first and foremost the chinese are aggressively pursuing capabilities that can disrupt, the grade in ultimately even destroy our satellite capabilities and our sattar ground infrastructure. They have watched how we perform joint force operations. They know how critical the u. S. Space capabilities are to the joint force. Theyve learned from that. And they recognize that it is an asymmetric advantage there is to go after our Space Capabilities and deny them the joint force. And theyve invested heavily in demonstrated the capabilities that can deny us this. It is one of my earliest priorities to make sure that were on track to build in fields affective capabilities and untrained the guardians to operate in a contested domains that we can counter this activity by our strategic competitors. Good, thank you general salzman. Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you very much, senator thank you, congratulations, general salzman on your nomination. I hope that for your 30th anniversary, youre doing something other than just bringing your wife to this hearing. The pearls are the gift for the 30th anniversary. So i hope jennifers got that on her list. Youre getting me in trouble, maam. I appreciate that. Seriously, i appreciated the opportunity to meet with you a last week. I especially appreciate the conversation that we have about the risk thats involved with our Space Capabilities and i wonder if you could speak to how important it is to have the sbir sttr programs with our Small Businesses who are able to assume more of that risk and what would what your assessment is if those programs are discontinued because we dont get the reauthorize this year. Thank you, senator. The size of the space for, its the criticality of the missions. Means were going to have to innovate. Were going to have to do things differently in order to deliver the kinds of capabilities that the nation needs are protected space force. To protect the space movies. And protect the joint force from our adversaries. Its my opinion that when you are trying to innovate, when youre trying to be creative, the best way to do that is to open up the aperture of ideas. And i think Small Businesses have a tremendous role that they can play in helping provide some of those innovative creative capabilities. Then we can then leverage to build a full spectrum response to what our adversaries are trying to do. I firmly believe we ought to lower the fresh mold to make it easier for Small Businesses to offer the abilities for us to take into. I assume you would agreement that if we dont get those programs to reauthorize, its going to be a real loss in terms of the innovation that our Small Businesses are providing to the Space Program and also to our military. If confirmed, i am certain