    [Senate Hearing 117-985]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                            S. Hrg. 117-985

          THE NOMINATION OF GENERAL JACQUELINE D. VAN OVOST, USAF FOR
       REAPPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF GENERAL AND TO BE COMMANDER, UNITED
                         STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   before the

                          COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                        ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                               SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
                                   __________

             Printed for the use of the Committee on Armed Services

                   [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                     Available via: http://www.govinfo.gov
                                    ______

                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    63-134 PDF                 WASHINGTON : 2026

                          COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                       JACK REED, Rhode Island, Chairman
    JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire        JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
    KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, New York      ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi
    RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut      DEB FISCHER, Nebraska
    MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii              TOM COTTON, Arkansas
    TIM KAINE, Virginia                  MIKE ROUNDS, South Dakota
    ANGUS S. KING, Jr., Maine            JONI ERNST, Iowa
    ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts      THOM TILLIS, North Carolina
    GARY C. PETERS, Michigan             DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
    JOE MANCHIN III, West Virginia       KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota
    TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois            RICK SCOTT, Florida
    JACKY ROSEN, Nevada                  MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee
    MARK KELLY, Arizona                  JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri
                                         TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama

                       Elizabeth L. King, Staff Director
                         John D. Wason, Minority Staff
                                    Director

                                      (ii)

                                 C O N T E N T S
                                   ___________

                               september 23, 2021

                                                                       Page

    The Nomination of General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, USAF for           1
      Reappointment to the Grade of General and to be Commander,
      United States Transportation Command.

                               Members Statements

    Reed, Senator Jack...............................................     1

    Inhofe, Senator James M..........................................     3

                               Witness Statements

    Van Ovost, General Jacqueline D., USAF for Reappointment to the       3
      Grade of General and to be Commander, United States
      Transportation Command.

      Advance Policy Questions.......................................    24

      Questions for the Record.......................................    40

      Nomination Reference and Report................................    60

      Biographical Sketch............................................    61

      Committee on Armed Services Questionnaire......................    64

      Signature Page.................................................    66

                                     (iii)

                  This hearing is printed to include all available
                    information
                    requested or required to be inserted for the
                    record.

                                      (iv)

          THE NOMINATION OF GENERAL JACQUELINE D. VAN OVOST, USAF FOR
       REAPPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF GENERAL AND TO BE COMMANDER, UNITED
                         STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

                                  ----------

                          THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

                                  United States Senate,
                                   Committee on Armed Services,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:32 a.m. in room
    SD-G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Senator Jack Reed (
    Chairman of the Committee) presiding.
        Committee Members present: Senators Reed, Shaheen,
    Gillibrand, Blumenthal, Kaine, King, Warren, Peters, Manchin,
    Duckworth, Rosen, Kelly, Inhofe, Fischer, Cotton, Ernst,
    Tillis, Scott, and Hawley.

                 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JACK REED

        Chairman Reed. Excuse me. Let me call the hearing to order.
        A few administrative announcements. A ten o'clock there
    will be two votes for the benefit of my colleagues and to the
    general.
        Also, this will be a hybrid hearing. Some of our colleagues
    will be joining virtually; as a result, we will use the
    seniority rule to identify speakers, as we have in the past at
    hybrid hearings.
        Good morning. The committee meets today to consider the
    nomination of General Jacqueline Van Ovost to be the next
    Commander of the United States Transportation Command
    (TRANSCOM).
        If confirmed, General Van Ovost will be the first female
    genera to take on this critical role and will also be the first
    time we have had two female combatant commanders serving
    concurrently.
        General, I want to welcome you to the committee and I thank
    you for your many years of service to our Nation and for your
    willingness to continue to serve in positions of great
    responsibility.
        We also thank your family for their support and sacrifice
    and welcome your husband, Alan.
        The men and women of TRANSCOM perform duties that sustain
    the whole Department of Defense (DOD) effort in protecting our
    nation's security. We saw that very clearly with the
    extraordinary efforts of TRANSCOM to support the withdrawal
    from Afghanistan. Our ability to conduct and support operations
    around the globe remains a clear, competitive advantage for the
    United States forces.
        With its competitive edge in deploying and sustaining
    America's Armed Forces, TRANSCOM provides the Defense
    Department with unique capabilities that some may have come to
    take for granted. TRANSCOM is busy supporting all the combatant
    commanders every day and without these forces, the United
    States would be at a significant disadvantage almost everywhere
    in the world.
        TRANSCOM faces a number of daunting tasks. General, given
    that you have served previously as Commander of Air Mobility
    Command, I believe that these are not new issues for you. One
    primary concern is addressing a new set of cyberthreats.
    TRANSCOM works extensively with private sector entities in the
    transportation and shipping industries to support Defense
    Department deployment operations, which creates increased
    exposure to the commercial, internet, and challenges of
    operating our strategic transportation system.
        General, I look forward to your views on how to ensure that
    TRANSCOM's network is secure and that sensitive information
    remains protected.
        TRANSCOM has just completed a new Mobility Capability
    Requirements Study, an MCRS, and a Sealift Tanker Study. These
    studies indicate, among other things, a need to keep more C-130
    airlift aircraft that are in the Air Force's plans, and a need
    for a program of subsidies for U.S.-flagged fuel tankers, to
    keep more tankers in the domestic fleet. I am interested in how
    you plan to address these critical shortfalls.
        There is also the issue of modernizing the Ready Reserve
    Force, the RRF; a group of cargo ships held in readiness by the
    Maritime Administration. The RRF is aging and will need to be
    modernized over the next decade.
        General Van Ovost, I look forward to hearing what criteria
    you think we should consider as we undertake this large
    modernization program.
        The Defense Department also needs to ensure that the Civil
    Reserve Air Fleet, or CRAF program, which provides as much as
    40 percent of wartime airlift needs, remains viable after
    operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and will be able to provide
    needed search capacity in the future. Notably, we saw some of
    that capacity used by the Defense Department in activating
    stage one of the CRAF program during the Afghanistan
    withdrawal.
        General, I am interested in your views on the state of this
    fleet and whether anything needs to be done to ensure its
    readiness.
        Now, finally, I would ask that you share your views on how
    TRANSCOM should contract out the management of the Personnel
    Property Program, or DP3. DP3 is the program that handles the
    movement of household goods for DOD personnel. In this plan, a
    contractor team would be responsible for issuing contracts to
    individual movers and carriers, rather than the U.S.
    Government. Last year, after a bidding competition, TRANSCOM
    awarded a contract to a contractor team; however, the losing
    bidders protested the award and GAO upheld the protest. We need
    to have a clearer picture of how TRANSCOM will proceed with the
    DP3 outsourcing effort.
        Thank you, again, for your decades of service. We all look
    forward to your testimony.
        Let me now recognize the Ranking Member, Senator Inhofe.

                   STATEMENT OF SENATOR JAMES INHOFE

        Senator Inhofe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I appreciate having this and, of course, seeing General Van
    Ovost.
        I have to say this about you, General, I know you never
    were privileged to getting your training in Oklahoma, but they
    don't know that in Oklahoma. They think that you are one of us.
    You have come to our Coyle breakfast and all of that, so you
    are a star there.
        I enjoyed meeting Alan for the first time and I look
    forward to your testimony, as I always do, and, again, I thank
    you for all that you have done for America.
        If we learned anything in the last 8 weeks, it is that we
    can't shoot from the hip when it comes to military operations
    and geopolitical affairs. I am, of course, referring to this
    Administration's botched evacuation of American citizens and
    allies in the waning hours of the Afghanistan withdrawal and
    paving the way for the Taliban takeover.
        While this hearing is not about your current role, it is
    about what you will bring to the TRANSCOM, which oversaw a
    vital portion of the Afghan evacuation. As the current
    commander of Air Mobility Command, you had firsthand knowledge
    of how evacuations were unfolding; you oversaw more than 250
    military aircraft, supporting complex aircraft.
        I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the success of
    the military portion of the operation and what the limiting
    factors were for the withdrawal, since thousands were left
    stranded to face Taliban retribution.
        Additionally, TRANSCOM has had issues meeting its
    requirements. This is, I think I didn't check that. I think
    this is about the first time a major operation was done and not
    carried out as we normally do with the National Defense
    Strategy Commission, and we were not able to do that for some
    obvious reasons. For one thing, last year's budget, Congress
    had to reverse divestments of thousands of air-refueling
    tankers because the Air Force made cuts that would directly
    hinder TRANSCOM's ability to refuel aircraft.
        I am curious what you think is the right path for combatant
    command's input in the budget process and, finally, I would
    like to get your thoughts on the ongoing transition of this
    issue that keeps coming up. I will be glad, I think everyone up
    here will be glad when it is over, if we bring it to a
    successful conclusion; that is, the Global Household Goods
    Contract.
        So, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to the meeting.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, Senator Inhofe.
        General, your statement, please.

    STATEMENT OF GENERAL JACQUELINE D. VAN OVOST, USAF, NOMINEE TO
               BE COMMANDER, U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND.

        General Van Ovost. Thank you. Good morning, Chairman Reed,
    Ranking Member Inhofe, and distinguished Members of this
    committee. It is my great honor to appear before you today as
    the President's nominee to command the men and women of the
    United States Transportation Command.
        I first want to thank President Biden for his nomination,
    as well as Secretary Austin and Chairman Milley for the special
    trust and confidence that they have placed in me.
        I also want to acknowledge General Stephen Lyons for his
    steadfast leadership of the United States Transportation
    Command and thank him for his staunch support of Air Mobility
    Command.
        Here with me today is my husband Alan, who, for the past 30
    years, has been an incredible source of strength and
    inspiration. He has always kept me grounded in my faith, and
    like most military spouses, has exemplified the true meaning of
    flexibility and resiliency. Most notable, however, has been his
    support and commitment to our military families.
        The strength of our servicemen and women starts at home and
    the impact Alan has had on service family resiliency and
    quality of life is immeasurable. I can unquestionably say that
    without his love and support, I would not be here today.
        I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable
    men and women I have had the privilege of leading at Air
    Mobility Command. Projecting decisive strength and delivering
    hope 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, this team tackles some of
    our nation's hardest missions.
        Just last month, AMC played a significant role in the
    national and coalition effort to airlift more than 120,000
    people out of Afghanistan. It was a difficult and dynamic
    mission, where some of our airmen had to make decisions when
    lives were on the line. I am so very proud of the work they did
    there and that they continue to do every day.
        Mr. Chairman, today we face a dynamic and increasingly
    contested global strategic environment. Determined and
    emboldened strategic competitors, like China and Russia,
    continue rapid and deliberate development of advanced
    capabilities and they challenge international norms with their
    coercive behavior.
        As the National Security Strategic Guidance emphasizes, we
    must maintain our military competitive edge by continuing to
    field and train the best force, adopt new technologies, and
    build and maintain key partnerships. As all components within
    the Department of Defense compete daily across the global to
    strengthen our strategic network of allies and partners,
    advance our national security interests, and remain poised to
    defeat our adversaries, the unique mission of the United States
    Transportation Command has never been more important.
        If confirmed, I will ensure United States Transportation
    Command continues to provide our nation with one of its most
    important, strategic, and asymmetric advantages over our
    adversaries: the ability to rapidly project and sustain joint
    combat power at strategically relevant speeds, distances, and
    scale at the time and place of our nation's choosing.
        If confirmed, I look forward to working with this
    committee, our like-minded allies and partners, our commercial
    industry partners, the services and combatant commanders to
    ensure United States Transportation Command delivers for the
    nation, meeting the demands of logistics required by the
    evolving character of war.
        I would like for acknowledge and thank the Members of this
    Committee for your continued support of the men and women who
    so selflessly serve to defend our great nation. Their honor,
    courage, and sacrifice is humbling, and their passion for
    service, inspiring. They are the foundation to our success and
    we owe them the very best our nation has to offer.
        Mr. Chairman, thank you, again, for this opportunity. It is
    my honor to appear before the committee today and I look
    forward to your questions.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, General.
        I have a series of questions which are required for all
    sitting nominees and you can simply respond, as appropriately.
        Have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations
    governing conflicts of interest?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Have you assumed any duties or taken any
    actions that would appear to presume the outcome of the
    confirmation process?
        General Van Ovost. No, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Exercising our legislative and oversight
    responsibilities makes it important that this committee, its
    subcommittees, and other appropriate committees of Congress
    receive testimony, briefings, reports, records, and other
    information from the Executive Branch on a timely basis.
        Do you agree, if confirmed, to appear and testify before
    this committee when requested?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Do you agree, when asked before this
    committee, to give your personal views, even if your views
    differ from the Administration?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Do you agree to provide records, documents,
    and electronic communications in a timely manner when requested
    by this committee, its subcommittees, or other appropriate
    committees of Congress, and to consult with the requestor
    regarding the basis for any good faith delay or denial in
    providing such records?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Will you ensure that your staff complies
    deadlines established by this committee for the production of
    reports, records, and other information, including timely
    responding to hearing questions for the record?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Will you cooperate and provide any witnesses
    and briefers in response to congressional request?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Will those witnesses and briefers be
    protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, General.
        Again, let me commend you on your extraordinary career and
    your knowledge and experience as you enter this very demanding,
    but as you point out, significant component of our national
    security, one of our advantages.
        The one issue I wanted to touch upon, I suggested in my
    opening comments, is cybersecurity. I was struck once and
    talked to you or asking questions of one of your predecessors,
    who indicated that his dealing with the commercial airlines,
    there is some interest, but the person in charge has no contact
    with the board of directors or the senior management, so that
    it is a complicating challenge.
        What can you do to help improve and protect the cyber
    connections between yourself and commercial entities?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, cyber operations pose
    significant threats to logistics. They target vulnerable supply
    chain elements and can interrupt the flow of goods and supplies
    around the world.
        Senator, there has been a lot of work that the United
    States Transportation Command has done to develop relationships
    with our commercial service providers; one of which, of course,
    is to ensure secure command and control of the assets and
    ensure secure data management and IT.
        If confirmed, I will continue to thicken the relationships
    with the commercial providers to ensure that they understand
    the threats and we can remain agile enough to combat these
    threats as they come up.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, General.
        I would like, in the future after you have got your feet on
    the ground in this particular job, to inform us either directly
    or informally about whether you are getting the kind of
    cooperation from the civilian sector that you need. This is a
    two-way street, so the commercial entities have to take it as
    seriously as we do. So, please let us know as that develops.
        Let me shift gears for a moment and talk about the C-130
    Force Structure. The fiscal year 2022 budget would reduce the
    inventory of C-130s to a level of 255 total aircraft from our
    current level of 287 and the new C-130 Air Force fleet size
    would be inconsistent with the study that has just been
    published about capabilities.
        So, does this give you a concern?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, the Mobility Capability
    Requirements Study that was just released did provide a more
    comprehensive assessment of the viability of the Joint
    Deployment and Distribution Enterprise, given the new threats
    that we face. One of the recommendations of this study was to
    follow on with a specific intra-theater lift study, looking at
    the lift capabilities, not merely in air, but also in land and
    surface and preposition, in order to meet tomorrow's threats.
        So, Senator, while the current C-130 discussion on total
    aircraft inventory was your question, the bottom line is I
    think we need to take a holistic look on the survivability of
    these various assets, given the new threat.
        Chairman Reed. Well, thank you, General.
        So, you are already planning to look at different
    alternatives to the number of C-130s that are available and
    also look at the capabilities of C-130s in a given environment.
        Is that fair?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator; in fact, it is very
    important that we explore the new technologies as we are
    looking at the joint warfighting concept and the new ways that
    the services are going to fight, it is becoming apparent that
    potentially runway, independent operations might be a keep
    capability. In that case, we have to discover how it is that we
    are going to support and sustain our runway, independent
    operations.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, General.
        A final question. The Ready Reserve Force recapitalization,
    the committee has authorized the Department to start a program
    to recapitalize the Ready Reserve fleet by purchasing a number
    of foreign-built vessels and purchasing these vessels to
    modernize the RRF has been held up by problems with the
    contracting effort at the Maritime Administration.
        Can you give us an update on this process, are we making
    progress, and do we have to do more here?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, thank you.
        This is a critical capacity concern of mine, with respect
    to U.S. Transportation Command. We must continue to move
    forward on recapitalizing this aging fleet. As you are aware,
    over 50 percent of our roll-on/roll-off capability will be
    aging out in a decade. So, the time is now to do that
    recapitalization.
        I fully support the Navy's buy-used strategy. I understand
    that a vessel-acquisition manager is in place and is working
    the contract and we do expect that there will be a buy in
    calendar year 2022 of used ships to begin this recapitalization
    progress.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, General.
        Now, let me recognize the Ranking Member, Senator Inhofe.
        Senator Inhofe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Biden administration's horrific attempt at a successful
    withdrawal from Afghanistan will go down, in my opinion, and
    the opinion of many others, as one of the biggest blunders in
    American military history; however, it has given us a great
    opportunity, and through your efforts, I would say, in training
    in lessons that we have learned.
        As Commander of the Air Mobility Command and the Air
    Component Commander for TRANSCOM, you oversaw operations with
    over 250 military aircraft; in fact, my staff told me that they
    had, the number of sorties were at 2,627. I had them go back
    and check the accuracy of that. That is just a huge undertaking
    of what went on that included C-17s, C-130s, refuelers, KC-
    135s, KC-10s, maybe even the 46, but it was huge.
        General, in AMC's planning for the withdrawal, and
    specifically for the airlift, what were the limiting factors in
    wind and what advice did you give to your senior leaders on how
    the withdrawal would be conducted?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, I am proud of how the airmen of
    Air Mobility Command executed this campaign in such a dynamic
    situation.
        Senator Inhofe. I think they are probably still riding high
    on this. You all did such a great, great effort.
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        While my advice was limited to the mission I was tasked
    with, which was airlift out of Kabul International Airfield, my
    goal was to ensure that airlift and our supporting ground
    operations were never a constraint for the Central Command
    Commander. Due to the heroic efforts of our airmen, we achieved
    that goal.
        Senator Inhofe. Well, that is great and it is really a job
    well done.
        I mentioned in my opening statement where we are right now
    with this Global Household Goods Contract and the fact that I
    am hoping we are in a position now to get this behind us. It is
    my understanding it is now being competed again with an award
    date of this month.
        So, what was your feeling about it and do you believe a new
    system is needed? Do you believe that TRANSCOM's approach is
    the best path forward? How do you feel about it now?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, you have hit upon a key
    ``quality of life'' issue for our servicemembers and their
    families. It is clear that the current program is really
    incapable of consistently providing that quality capacity,
    accountability, and transparency that our members and family
    members deserve.
        So, if confirmed, I will ensure, as I assess the contract
    as we move forward in letting that contract that all the
    mechanisms are in place for the single move manager to be able
    to effectively execute and meet the standards that our members
    and families deserve.
        Senator Inhofe. We will get it behind us.
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Inhofe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, Senator Inhofe.
        Now, let me recognize Senator Shaheen, please.
        Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Congratulations, General, we are delighted to have you
    before us and to have you as the person nominated to head up
    TRANSCOM. I very much appreciated the opportunity to see you in
    action in New Hampshire when you came to visit the New
    Hampshire Air National Guard, and I know that people were very
    impressed with your presentation.
        Of course, there, one of the areas of focus of that
    presentation was the KC-46. It is the first Guard base to get
    those planes. People are very anxious for when they can do the
    fully operational missions that they are anticipating. That
    was, obviously, one of the questions that people had for you.
        So, as you are thinking about what we still need to do to
    make sure that those are fully operational, how will you
    continue to push on that once confirmed?
        General Van Ovost. Thank you, Senator.
        Let me commend the men and women of the 157th for being the
    first Guard base to help us field the KC-46. They have done
    some amazing work within operations and maintenance, and we are
    able to take those new tactics, techniques, and procedures, and
    export them across the fleet; indeed, even in this Operation
    Allies Refuge, they all leaned forward to support us and the
    KC-46 was in the fight for this operation.
        Now, while I desire to get full operational capability as
    soon as possible in the KC-46, as you know, we have moved to an
    interim-capability release, where we are providing the U.S.
    Transportation Command taskable capacity and we are flying this
    aircraft around the world doing drogue refueling and probe-and-
    drogue, and probe refueling, I'm sorry, boom refueling with
    certain aircraft. So I appreciate the fact that Pease leans
    forward and volunteers to continue to do this work.
        Senator Shaheen. So, as you are thinking about the
    challenges ahead to make sure those planes become fully
    operational, are you comfortable with Boeing's commitment to
    address the challenges that we have with the planes and do you
    have a sense of what the timeline is going to be?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Again, while I like to move as quickly as possible, and we
    want to hold contractors responsible to meet all requirements
    in different contracts, I am seeing positive movements on
    resolving the deficiencies of the KC-46 so that we can achieve
    FOC as soon as possible.
        With respect to, in particular, the Remote Vision System
    2.0, we are looking for the timeline of 2024 for cutting into
    production and retrofitting those aircraft. So, I am hopeful we
    have achieved agreement on a design that we know will be
    effective. Our boom operators have been very engaged, as have
    yours, and so I look forward to continuing to push this
    progress forward as quickly as possible.
        Senator Shaheen. Thank you.
        One of the things that was discussed when you were in New
    Hampshire was the partnership that the 157th has with Delta
    Airlines to try and address the real maintenance challenges
    that reduce the aircraft flying time.
        So, can you talk about how TRANSCOM can address the
    overlapping FAA and DOD maintenance requirements, which are
    really requiring, I think, a challenge as we look at the future
    of, really, not just the KC-46, but aviation?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        You hit on a key thing, again, that the Wing has been very
    focused on, is to how to ensure the maximum effectiveness of
    our maintenance operations both, in the field and in depot. It
    is the United States Air Force's responsibility with respect to
    that, so as a TRANSCOM perspective, I will ensure that the Air
    Force continues forward to try to streamline and reduce the
    maintenance times on these aircraft, which really turns out to
    be readiness.
        So, as the TRANSCOM Commander, I would be focused on more
    fighter readiness and I will absolutely be watching the
    readiness of the KC-46.
        Senator Shaheen. Is that an area where we need to better
    engage the FAA? Are you comfortable that what the FAA is
    requiring is necessary?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, I am comfortable with their
    procedures. We work with them on a number of issues. We have
    other commercial platforms that we work with them, and so I am
    comfortable with the process that we are going to go through to
    ensure we have the most effective, technical orders to operate
    off of.
        Senator Shaheen. Thank you.
        One of the other things we discussed while you were in New
    Hampshire was the deterioration of the ramp, the parking ramp
    at Pease, and I am out of time, so I will send you a question
    for the record, with respect to this, but, again, another
    critical issue if we are going to ensure that the 157th
    continues to complete its missions and that we can have other
    aircraft going through, be able to land at Pease. Thank you.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, Senator Shaheen.
        Let me recognize via Webex, Senator Fischer.
        Senator Fischer. Thank you Senator Reed.
        Thank you, General, for being here with us this morning. I
    enjoyed the visit that we had yesterday in my office. Thank you
    for taking the time to [inaudible] yesterday.
        One of the battlefield conditions that the National Defense
    Strategy presupposes is the increasing prevalence of contested
    domains, but I think it is unclear to what extent TRANSCOM has
    acted on this guidance.
        General, what do you view as the key challenges that
    TRANSCOM and the Department of Defense must address, with
    respect to planning for a potential conflict in a contested
    logistics environment and how can we build a more distributed
    and resilient [inaudible]?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, thank you for the conversation.
        As I emphasized earlier, the character of war is changing.
    We face direct challenges across all domains, particularly in
    previously unmatched areas of superiority, like global
    logistics. So, as I think about the challenges that we face, we
    have to be able to project and sustain the Joint Force along a
    very long, contested line of communication, particularly when
    we think about the distances associated in the Indo-Pacific
    area.
        One of the key areas for the all-domain threats that we
    must overcome is cyber operations because they pose significant
    threats, as I previously mentioned. We need secure command and
    control and modernized digital infrastructure.
        As the AMC Commander, responsible for global command and
    control, I prioritized our investments in cyber mission
    assurance, secure and resilient communications, and data
    utilization and management so that we could achieve decision
    advantage at the speed of war. Those are the kinds of things
    that I would focus on as the Transportation Command Commander,
    if confirmed.
        Indeed, I understand that USTRANSCOM has a number of
    digital modernization initiatives to include some pilot
    programs with U.S. Cyber Commands that are very promising,
    including Zero Trust.
        Senator Fischer. You know, as we look to a possible
    conflict, I know that TRANSCOM may be heavily reliant on
    commercial partners to participate, for example, the Civil
    Reserve Air Fleet and the Ready Reserve Force.
        How do you view the potential role of these partners if we
    are in a contested, operating environment?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, our ability to project and
    sustain the Joint Forces are inextricably linked to commercial
    industry and those emergency programs that you talked about:
    Civil Reserve Air Fleet and Voluntary Intermodal Service
    Agreement.
        As we go forward, at this time, U.S. Transportation Command
    is writing into the contracts to ensure some basic cyber
    hygiene standards by the National Institute of Standards and
    Technology. As we go forward, as you probably know, they are
    required to do a self-assessment every year on their cyber
    vulnerabilities. My understanding is TRANSCOM is entering into
    a pilot program where they are going to have a third party do
    that assessment; take a different look at those companies.
        So, I think, if confirmed, I would want to deepen those
    relationships with our commercial partners. I would like to
    share more so that we understand each other, we understand
    where the threat vectors are, and where that attack surface is,
    and we have an understanding of where the risks are across the
    whole global logistics complex.
        Senator Fischer. Thank you.
        In September of 2019, TRANSCOM conducted the largest no-
    notice sealift exercise of the wartime sealift fleet in the
    Command's history, and at the end of the exercise, TRANSCOM
    concluded that the readiness rate could delay the buildup on
    combat power in the theater of operations.
        What has the Command done to address these problems and
    what, in your opinion, needs to happen? What more needs to be
    done in order to correct that?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, warfighting readiness is a key
    priority for this command, so as you stated, during the
    exercise, the readiness levels were not where we wanted them to
    be, where TRANSCOM wanted them to be. Frankly, we have older
    ships and some of the Reserve ships are up to 46 years old, and
    as you know, older equipment takes longer to maintain and,
    perhaps, takes longer to actually bring to the ready for us.
        So, the single-most-important thing is I would support the
    Navy in their recapitalization effort to buy used.
        Senator Fischer. Thank you very much.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, Senator Fischer.
        Let me recognize Senator Kaine and also ask if Senator
    Shaheen could preside while I go and vote. The vote is on, the
    first vote is on. Thank you.
        Senator Kaine. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and Ranking Member
    Inhofe.
        General Van Ovost, I also really appreciated the
    conversation we had yesterday. Two topics I just want to raise.
    One, the controversy and challenges around the retirement of
    the old tankers suggest that maybe we waited too long to begin
    the process of figuring out what the new refueling aircraft
    should be.
        So, trying to learn that lesson and taking it over into the
    airlift fleet, our C-17 airframes are pretty old; anywhere from
    10 to 25 years old. The C-5s are over 30 years old. So, talk to
    me about what the Air Force is thinking about doing to start
    the planning of the next generation of cargo aircraft so we can
    avoid any time crunch that we have felt in the tanker.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, as the AMC Commander, I have
    two responsibilities. One, as the Component Commander to the
    United States Transportation Command to provide ready capacity
    for tasking around the world to project and sustain the force
    on a day-to-day capacity; on the other hand, I have an
    ``organize, train, and equip'' responsibility, where I need to
    look out into the future to see how our capacity can remain
    credible in order to defeat the threats in the future, so I can
    continue to project to sustain the force with credible
    capacity.
        So, as I think about aging infrastructure, I have to
    balance both sides; I have to have capacity today and I must be
    able to respond to tomorrow. So, it is a risk between the both.
    There is not quite a balance, but there is a risk between the
    both.
        As I look to the strategic airlift fleet, you are exactly
    correct. We are looking into the timelines for the C-5 and when
    it has to retire, as well as the C-17. They have performed
    magnificently, both, frankly, during Operation Allies Refuge.
    So, what we are doing now is we are looking through the joint
    warfighting concept at the new threats and the new employment
    concepts, which we will have to deliver airlift to, and as we
    think about that, we think about the capability. We think about
    survivability, you know, full spectrum of survivability and,
    frankly, kinetic survivability, and being connected on to the
    battlefield so that we have the situational awareness to be
    able to make decisions.
        So, we are gathering these requirements and then we will
    move to an analysis of alternatives, a formal process where we
    will then finalize those requirements and run them through the
    Joint Staff for approval. So, we are moving forward with that,
    but, basically, as we look at our warfighting concepts and we
    are doing these war games, that is giving us that insight to be
    able to create those requirements that we can then codify for
    the next strategic airlifter.
        Senator Kaine. Thank you for that answer, General Van
    Ovost.
        The second topic I wanted to ask you about was raised by
    Ranking Member Inhofe and that was the household moves. You
    know, being a senator from Virginia with an awful lot of
    military members, the moving situation is one that often comes
    up, people have concerns about.
        I was interested when we talked yesterday, tell the
    committee how many times you and your family have had to move
    during your career.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, we have had to endure 13 moves.
        Senator Kaine. So, you have a consumer's view of this
    situation and you know how important it is that it be right. We
    also talked a little bit about some of the challenges of
    managing moves in the status quo, or the status quo ante
    environment.
        Isn't it the case that you were dealing with more than 900
    different moving contractors? That has kind of been what we
    have had to manage, which is pretty difficult.
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator. U.S. Transportation
    Command has had to reach out, frankly, during COVID and
    coordinate and provide information to all of these service
    providers to keep them up to date on the different policies and
    enforce health-protection measures that we were trying to take,
    and to ensure that the capacity delivered during this
    incredible time.
        Frankly, what we learned in COVID was it really exasperated
    the flaws that are in the current contract. Having a single
    move manager that would be, with a multi-year contract, they
    would be more confident to invest in quality suppliers and
    digital IT and will be pressed with the accountability that our
    family members deserve.
        Senator Kaine. Well, I think the committee knows from
    earlier iterations of contracts, like in the housing space, the
    contract is only as good as the military's willingness to
    exercise deep and intense oversight of the contract.
        I appreciate the challenges of the need to make these moves
    right to meet families' needs, and because of your own
    experience and having had to endure 13 moves with your family
    over the course of your military career, it seems to me like
    you are the right person to get this right. So, I encourage you
    in that.
        With that, I yield back.
        Senator Shaheen. [Presiding.] Thank you, Senator Kaine.
        Senator Cotton?
        Senator Cotton. General, thank you for your service to our
    country and congratulations on your nomination.
        We have spoken on several occasions this morning about
    reports and studies. A GAO report released earlier this year
    says that in the 5 years and across about a dozen classified or
    sensitive studies, quote, the Department of Defense has studied
    contested mobility, but has not systematically addressed
    recommendations, end quote.
        What, in your opinion, is preventing TRANSCOM from
    systematically addressing the study recommendations and how can
    you improve on this assessment?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, facing these, you know, really
    threats from China and Russia and strategic competition, we
    have learned that we really need to ensure that logistics
    planning is integrated with all joint warfighting functions.
    Logistics planning is not an add-on and it needs to be part of
    the deliberate process as we go forward.
        So, if confirmed, Senator, I will work with the other
    combatant commanders to ensure that logistics concerns are
    being addressed early and we provide options to them for the
    best use of these scarce resources.
        Senator Cotton. Thank you.
        Following on that line, I, too, want to commend our airmen
    who performed excellently, a job in Afghanistan that they
    should never have had to be perform. They were brave. They were
    skillful. They saved many lives.
        That is the rare occasion in which we have seen contested
    logistics play out in the real world in recent years; however,
    the contest we faced in Afghanistan would look like child's
    play if we had a conflict with China in the Western Pacific,
    and it would have us fighting on all fronts to include, very
    much, as you say, on logistics.
        What have studies, such as the Mobility Capability
    Requirements Study, as well as others, demonstrated regarding
    the survivability, efficiency, and reliability of our logistics
    systems during a large and contested conflict with China?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, the Mobility Capability
    Requirements Study did provide a very comprehensive assessment
    on what the new employment concepts would do to logistics and
    that information was given to the combatant commanders to,
    overall, assess the risk to their plans for us having to,
    essentially, project and sustain along a long, contested line
    of communication.
        You are correct, in Afghanistan, early on, the ground line
    of communication became non-usable and we had to move to air
    lines of communication to execute the retrograde.
        So, as we move forward, we take the results from the
    Mobility Capability Requirements Study and we would like to
    exercise those in our upcoming war games and TTXs so that we
    can better tease out the insights required to build a stronger
    Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise so that we can
    project and sustain throughout strategic competition.
        Senator Cotton. Thank you.
        China's Belt and Road Initiative has invested substantially
    throughout Asia and Africa, increasingly in Europe, in
    logistics and transportation hubs, in particular, in
    international ports. I would like your assessment on whether
    that initiative, and especially its investment in ports, has
    created any new access problems for TRANSCOM or do you foresee
    it creating access problems, as ports might be potentially
    closed to the United States and our partner forces during a
    time of crisis.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, you have hit on a key concern.
    China has been challenging a stable and open international
    order, trying to impose their authoritarian model beyond their
    borders. They have been coercing our allies and partners to
    make different economic, diplomatic, and even security
    decisions. Their investments around the world in ports are
    something that we are absolutely watching, with respect to how
    it would change any access, basing, and overflight that we
    critically need.
        The good news is we have a deep bench of allies and
    partners and we can provide multiple options through multiple
    routes and nodes, not just from our organic capability, but by
    relying on our commercial partners, who have a very extensive
    network throughout the world, and in some cases, that we might
    not have access to.
        So, going forward, Senator, if confirmed, I will continue
    to assess our global posture with respect to China, to ensure
    that we can meet all the combatant commanders' requirements.
        Senator Cotton. Thank you, I am glad to hear that. TRANSCOM
    has a lot of very important responsibilities. I think the
    number one priority for TRANSCOM, as all of our combatant
    command, needs to be the preparation for, and therefore,
    hopefully, the deterrence of a conflict with China.
        Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Senator Cotton.
        Next, we have Senator King, via Webex.
        Senator King. Thank you, Madam Chair.
        First, General, welcome to the committee, and thank you for
    your willingness to take on this incredibly important
    assignment.
        In light of Senator Kaine's questions, I have to mention
    that many years ago, I worked in this area for a moving and
    storage company that did a huge amount of work for the military
    and I will never forget a military spouse telling me that she
    considered seven moves to be equal to a fire in terms of her
    household goods. So, I know how serious that problem could be,
    absolutely, from, literally, from the ground up.
        Let me talk a moment about the time of conflict and cyber.
    If we are engaged in a conflict, the very first target will be
    nuclear command and control by an all-out cyber attack. The
    second will be command and control, generally. The third will
    be you, will be TRANSCOM.
        In your pre-filed remarks, you said something to the
    effect, well, you said, the posture of TRANSCOM and the
    Department is likely insufficient to deal with a well-
    resourced, capable, and determined nation-state adversary.
        You just defined China and Russia: well-resourced, capable,
    and determined nation-state adversary.
        In other words, we are not prepared. I want to hear your
    views on what has to be done. This is a ``hair on fire'' issue.
    Your whole infrastructure is not going to be functional if you
    don't have command and control and the ability to allocate your
    resources.
        I want to hear your sense of urgency on this issue.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, you are exactly correct, the
    ability to command and control this enterprise is central to
    making an executing logistics decisions around the world. We
    must take advantage of the significant advances in commercial
    technology and integrate that into military technologies,
    especially when it comes to exposing and using data to make
    better decisions.
        So, if confirmed, I will focus, I will first assess the
    digital initiatives that U.S. Transportation Command is
    currently executing and I will work to accelerate these
    technologies so that we can always retain decision advantage.
        But to your point, these are determined enemies and
    technology is only going to increase; it will never be one-and-
    done. This is about risk management, and so I will apply the
    focus to the areas that are the most risk first.
        Senator King. Well, in that light, I would urge you to
    engage, either in the private sector or within the Department,
    your own hackers to determine where your vulnerabilities are.
    Every CIO says, we are okay, boss. They don't know whether that
    is true until you test it, so I urge you to test it. Because I
    can assure you at this very moment, our adversaries are
    figuring out how to hack your systems and compromise your
    ability to move our resources around the world.
        Let me change the subject for a minute to tankers. General
    Lyons testified a few years ago that he was concerned that
    there could be a gap between the deployment of the KC-46s and
    the retirement of the C-135s, a gap in terms of refueling
    capability.
        Do you feel that that gap has been adequately addressed
    today?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, a few years ago, that is
    exactly where we were headed, but since then, now that we have
    brought the KC-46 interim capability release to bear for
    USTRANSCOM's taskings, and in addition, we have amazing support
    from our total force volunteerism to increase a taskings of the
    Guard and Reserve refueling assets. We have been able to meet,
    and I foresee that we will absolutely be able to meet the day-
    to-day requirements and any wartime requirements made.
        Senator King. Have the problems with the boom-management
    system in the KC-46 been resolved and, if so, what is the time
    frame for restarting the significant deployment of those
    airplanes?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, the boom deficiencies are still
    in work and we are satisfied with the design, and we are
    pushing the contractor to continue to integrate and test. We
    are looking forward to a 2024 cut into the line to ensure that
    in the future, this aircraft can meet all of the requirements.
        But until that point, what we are doing with interim
    capability release is we are providing a capability to the U.S.
    Transportation Command for select missions for that aircraft;
    for example, we are refueling now, B-52s, the C-17s, and I
    expect we are going to be refueling F-16s and F-15s in the very
    near future.
        Senator King. Well, I would be remiss if I didn't mention
    when it comes time to start the reallocation of the KC-46s,
    don't forget the Maineiacs in Bangor who provide incredible
    refueling support over the North Atlantic, and we would very
    much like to have the KC-46 capability, because most of the
    airplanes we are flying up there now are way older than their
    pilots.
        Thank you very much, General, for your testimony. I look
    forward to working with you.
        Chairman Reed. [Presiding.] Thank you very much, Senator
    King.
        I am told that Senator Hawley is on his way, and that would
    allow me to ask a question in the interim.
        General, with respect to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, did
    we learn in lessons, and I presume we are doing an after-action
    review, from the operations in Afghanistan, and can you share
    any of those lessons with us.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, as
    you mentioned, this is the third time ever that we actually
    activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, and we did it in the
    run-up to Operation Allies Refuge.
        We start with commercial augmentation; in other words, they
    voluntarily contract and meet our commitments, which is,
    frankly, how we meet 90 percent of our passenger movement. When
    volunteerism wasn't there or we didn't have enough, that is
    when the U.S. Transportation Command Commander requested to the
    Secretary to activate stage one of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet,
    which is 18 long-haul, international, passenger aircraft.
        Because we have deepened our relationships with our Civil
    Reserve, especially over COVID, where we had numerous
    conversations with them because, essentially, we were both
    relying on each other for our networks, because international
    rules were changing during COVID, and so it was a mutual,
    beneficial relationship that we had and we kept each other
    informed of what was going on around the world, such that in
    the run-up to this activation, we kept them informed that we
    might have to activate and they were prepared when the decision
    was made.
        Now, nothing goes perfectly, and I look forward to
    learning, gathering the lessons learned, and worked with the
    CRAF to make it a better activation both, from our position and
    from their position, but I am so thankful for their
    partnership.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much.
        Let me suspend my questioning and recognize Senator Hawley.
        Senator Hawley. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I really
    appreciate your willingness to wait for me.
        General, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for
    your years of service to our nation and congratulations on your
    nomination.
        I want to ask you a question that I have asked all the
    senior leaders who have come before this committee. I will
    preface this by saying that Secretary Austin has reaffirmed
    several times now that China is the pacing threat, emphasis on
    ``the,'' for the Department.
        Do you agree with that, that China is the pacing threat?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Hawley. Very good.
        I have also asked the Secretary, Deputy Secretary Hicks,
    and just about every other Defense leader if the United States
    should maintain its ability to defeat a Chinese fait accompli
    with regard to Taiwan. They have all responded yes.
        I want to ask you, I have been, myself, a real pest on this
    issue and I don't want to let my reputation slide, so I want to
    ask you, General, if we agree that we need to maintain the
    ability to defeat a potential Chinese fait accompli against
    Taiwan?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Hawley. Very good.
        Given the importance of this, do you agree that TRANSCOM
    needs to prioritize that scenario, the fait accompli scenario,
    as it develops plans, concepts, and capabilities?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Hawley. Very good.
        Now, General, Admirals Davidson and Aquilino have both
    warned us that China might attempt a fait accompli against
    Taiwan sooner than previously anticipated. This, I think, was
    eye-opening testimony that this committee heard earlier this
    year.
        Do you agree that the threat of a fait accompli against
    Taiwan is something we need to be worried about in this decade
    and not just in the 2030s and beyond, but potentially sooner
    than that?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, I am not privy to all the
    intelligence that the geographic combatant commander would have
    with respect to the driving threats, but I would say that the
    rapid, technological advances that China makes are very
    disturbing.
        Senator Hawley. Would you agree that we need to be able to,
    we need to be prepared to blunt and also deny that offensive,
    any potential offensive from the beginning, from the start, if
    China should attempt it?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, I believe from the U.S.
    Transportation Command position that we need to ensure that we
    have the favorable, global posture, credible capacity, and
    ability to securely command and control so that we can be agile
    enough to respond to the INDOPACOM requirements of the
    [inaudible] plan.
        Senator Hawley. Let me ask you about some of the logistics
    requirements for blunting a Chinese fait accompli.
        How might those differ from the logistics requirements for
    fighting and winning a protracted war in INDOPACOM? So, help us
    understand the difference, logistically, between denying on the
    front end and fighting a lengthy war, by contrast.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, U.S. Transportation Command is
    responsible to deliver an immediate force tonight and a
    decisive force, when necessary, as you pointed out, the blunt
    versus the continuation.
        As we go forward and look into the plans, our Mobility
    Capability Requirements Study of 2020 recently looked at this
    contested environment and validated the requirements for
    sealift, airlift, and air refueling to defeat this kind of war.
    So, where there is a balance, the other piece that we will be
    looking into, with respect to the study, is the posture, you
    know, where do we need to be postured; where do our logistics
    need to be; where does the fuel need to be.
        If confirmed, I will work with INDOPACOM with the services
    and DLA to best posture to meet the INDOPACOM Command
    requirements.
        Senator Hawley. Very good.
        Let me ask you this, the Joint Force has limited lift
    capacity and this past August, we used over half of our
    available C-17s, if I am not incorrect, in our inventory to
    support the evacuation operations in Afghanistan. Those
    capacity limits have significant implications for the force's
    ability to manage multiple conflicts at once.
        Are you concerned by the threat of simultaneous conflicts,
    potential simultaneous conflicts, for instance, in Asia and in
    Europe, and TRANSCOM's ability to satisfy any operational
    requirements, should we have kinetic operations in multiple
    theaters at one time?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator. First, I would say that
    the surge for Afghanistan, I want to just say how proud I am of
    the airmen, of maintenance, and crew operators, who were able
    to surge the fleet and safely and effectively accomplish this
    operation.
        When I look to the Mobility Capability Requirements Study
    2020, this is exactly what it looked at: What is the integrated
    scenario we might be up against should we go against a peer
    conflict, and what are the requirements for each of the
    capabilities, in my case, that Air Mobility Command brings: the
    airlift, air refueling, air medical evacuation, and global
    mobility support.
        It did recognize that we would be stressed to meet the
    globally integrated requirement for air refueling and for
    intra-theater airlift.
        Senator Hawley. Let me ask you how you would approach and
    prepare for the possibility of simultaneous conflicts in
    multiple theaters.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, I believe that using the
    warfighting construct of our favorable posture, our credible
    capacity, and secure command and control, we need to constantly
    re-look at, given the threat, and we would have to change our
    posture based on how the threat changes. I would work with the
    Secretary of Defense and with the combatant commanders, again,
    to meet the requirements.
        Senator Hawley. Thank you for being here. I may have a few
    more questions for you for the record. Thanks, again, for your
    service.
        Mr. Chairman, I thank you again. I appreciate you waiting
    for me.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, Senator Hawley.
        Now, let me recognize, via Webex, Senator Gillibrand.
        Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I am sorry
    I am off the floor, so it is not as quiet as it should be.
        General, one of the issues that I have heard a lot in my
    office that I wanted to check with you about was the fact that
    a lot of servicemembers is how COVID delays have negatively
    affected their PCSing, including being told to handle their own
    move, since there are not enough TRANSCOM contractors and
    services available to assist them.
        So, if confirmed, can I have your commitment that you will
    work to improve the PCSing experience for our personnel?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Gillibrand. The second issue is the vaccine gap on
    the last mile. I understand TRANSCOM has done a lot to
    facilitate the distribution of vaccines worldwide; however,
    there is still inequity between developing nations and
    developed nations. Less than 4 percent of the African
    population is fully vaccinated, whereas 70 percent of the
    European population is vaccinated, for instance.
        Experts in both, the public and private sectors, have
    blamed the last mile problem as the bottleneck. This includes
    getting the frozen vaccines from logistics hubs.
        Can you tell me how you will respond to this, if confirmed?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, U.S. Transportation Command, if
    requested, by the Department of State, does contract or deliver
    COVID vaccines and personal protective equipment around the
    world, and we have done so on various occasions.
        If confirmed, I will work with the Department of State and
    Department of Defense as they give us the tasks, but as you are
    probably aware, the Department of Defense does not make the
    decisions on where the vaccines go.
        Senator Gillibrand. Yes. Well, thank you, again.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for letting me have time for a few
    questions.
        I appreciate you both. God bless.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand.
        Now, I may resume my second round, but, General, there is--
    well, I see Senator Kelly arriving and if--oh, excuse me, we
    have Senator Duckworth now on the Webex.
        So, Senator Duckworth, you are recognized.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I just wanted to welcome General Van Ovost to this and I
    want to commend the General's leadership and recognize the
    servicemembers of Air Mobility Command for conducting the
    historic, largest, non-combatant rescue, evacuation airlift in
    history. I am so proud of TRANSCOM's monumental efforts in
    August, as well as the continued work of servicemembers across
    the United States military in providing ongoing airlift support
    of our Afghan allies, including volunteers from the 182nd
    Airlift Wing in Peoria, Illinois.
        I think we are all witnessing real time example of why it
    is so important that we plan for and resource our logistics and
    sustainment capabilities as much as we plan for and resource
    our combat capabilities. Our logistics enterprise is absolutely
    vital for responding to emergencies, while preparing for future
    conflicts.
        General Van Ovost, welcome. Based on the finding from the
    most recent Mobility Capability Requirements Study, if you are
    confirmed, how will you ensure TRANSCOM is balancing steady
    state requirements, emergency response missions, and
    preparation for future operations in a contested environment?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, thank you for the earlier
    discussion and thank you for your support of logistics around
    the world.
        We are simply a strategic capability, really, unmatched by
    any other nation to be able to project and sustain our force
    around the world, and it is very helpful that you bring forward
    the thoughts about the critical role that logistics plays, and
    not simply within an old plan, but, frankly, from a deterrent
    value. Our logistics formations can absolutely deter when we
    have these deep relationships with our allies and partners and
    we become more interoperable with them and we use their
    logistics chains, as well as very, very powerful, when our
    enemies see that.
        Speaking to the Mobility Capability Requirements Study and
    the need to project decisive force along a long, contested line
    of communication, if confirmed, I will not only assess these
    results with the services, but I will work with the combatant
    commanders on their operational plans to ensure that we can
    provide them multiple options to meet their needs both, for an
    immediate force tonight and a decisive force, when needed.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, General.
        Following up on that, as the services are looking to divest
    from older platforms, like the C-130, for example, what future
    capabilities are required to meet future challenges, especially
    in the Indo-Pacific Region, as far as TRANSCOM is concerned?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, as we look to the joint
    warfighting concept and the embedding concepts, in particular,
    the joint concept for contested logistics, we recognize that we
    have gaps in our capabilities in strategic competition. So, I
    think about ensuring that we participate from a logistics
    standpoint in the joint warfighting, in the games, in the
    exercises, and tabletop to tease out those insights where we
    can then increase the credibility of logistics around the
    world.
        So, not only from there, the warfighting concepts from the
    different services, but we, indeed, need to think about doing
    new things, with respect to logistics. I think about having and
    utilizing data to make better logistics decisions more
    effective to use our critical resources better, especially, in
    a very dynamic situation, and then ensuring that we can
    actually execute those orders with a secure and resilient
    command and control.
        Senator Duckworth. Well, as you are doing that, do you
    think that TRANSCOM is adequately represented in the
    formulation of the upcoming NDS?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, I understand that U.S.
    Transportation Command has provided advice for the new National
    Defense Strategy, which is in formulation inside the
    Department. If confirmed, I will continue to provide that
    advice to the Secretary of Defense concerning logistics and,
    again, how logistics formations can increase deterrence and how
    logistics needs to be integrated with all the joint warfighting
    functions to be most effective for the warfighter.
        Senator Duckworth. I couldn't agree with you more. I have
    been unwavering in my insistence that we cannot build a combat-
    credible deterrence if we do not have the logistics capability
    and capacity to realistically support the complex military
    operational plans that we are likely to be executing.
        You touched on training a little bit. Can you touch a
    little, can you expand a little bit more on any training
    exercises or strategic planning that TRANSCOM must participate
    in over the next few years to get a clear picture of the state
    of our strategic capabilities, like the Ready Reserve Force, as
    well as to ensure that our operational plans adequately factor
    in logistics and sustainment concerns.
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator, and you are probably aware
    of the several Capstone exercises by INDOPACOM and EUCOM,
    Defender series, and various service games that we want to
    ensure that we are a part of so that we can, again, tease those
    insights out for how we are going to operate better together
    into the future and how we are going to increase our
    interoperability, not just with the services, but with our
    allies and partners, who can be of great benefit to us to
    ensure that we can capitalize on their capabilities.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, General.
        I am over time, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, Senator Duckworth.
        Now, let me recognize Senator Blumenthal. Senator
    Blumenthal, please.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Thank you for your service, General, and thanks for being
    here today.
        I have been very personally involved in assisting
    individuals with efforts to evacuate from Afghanistan both, in
    Kabul and in Mazar-i-Sharif. After the United States'
    withdrawal was completed, as you know, thousands of Afghan
    allies, along with Americans, fled to Mazar-i-Sharif or sought
    to leave Kabul, despite the absence of the American airlift or
    the end of it. A lot of them are currently in hiding. They are
    desperate. Their situation is urgent.
        Yesterday, Simcom canceled further flights to Al Udeid
    because of flight manifest discrepancies and I know that the
    air evacuation has been impeded by the cancellation of those
    flights. The flight manifests that I have seen have been fully
    vetted numerous times, far more than the manifests made on
    flights from Kabul before the American withdrawal. So the lives
    of Americans and hundreds of Afghan allies hang in the balance.
    I don't doubt our commitment to evacuate U.S. citizens and
    vulnerable allies, but we keep erecting unnecessary
    bureaucratic hurdles, when time is of the essence.
        My question to you as a logistics expert, and I believe,
    future combatant commander, can we depend on you to provide any
    and all assistance to get the air bridge from Kabul and Mazar-
    i-Sharif to Al Udeid back open and to keep it open for a
    sufficient number of days?
        General Van Ovost. Senator, while I cannot comment on the
    Department of State or the immigration or flight manifest
    vetting, what I can say is that if the refugees do make it to
    one of our lily pads, so, for example, Al Udeid, then U.S.
    Transportation Command would then be subsequently tasked to
    provide their airlift movement to the final destination and we
    would absolutely support that effort.
        Senator Blumenthal. Well, as you know, even before the
    withdrawal in late August, I and other members of the Senate,
    veterans groups, NGOs [non-governmental organizations], private
    citizens have been working tirelessly, along with the
    Administration, to evacuate as many citizens, legal permanent
    residents, SIB holders, and other Afghan allies with their
    families, as quickly as possible. I hope that you will be
    committed to participate and to support that effort, despite
    our absence; that is American military absence.
        Do we have your commitment on that point?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Blumenthal. Let me ask you, assuming you are
    confirmed, do you have specific steps in mind that United
    States Transportation Command can play in addressing climate
    change, which has been judged to be a national security threat?
        General Van Ovost. Now, Senator, climate change is a threat
    to infrastructure and operations, and it absolutely drives
    instability around the world. I have seen that firsthand as the
    Air Mobility Command Commander, who had been asked to respond
    to disasters and provide humanitarian relief. So, it absolutely
    is a critical concern and climate considerations will be a part
    of how we inform our strategies, our plans, and our
    infrastructure going into the future.
        If confirmed, I look forward to looking at the strategies
    plans and the infrastructure and evaluating them with respect
    to the climatology of those locations.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, very much.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you, Senator Blumenthal.
        Senator Kelly, please?
        Senator Kelly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        General, great seeing you again. Congratulations on your
    nomination.
        I would like to follow-up with some of the discussion that
    we had last week. General, a concern of mine that I believe you
    share is the readiness of our nation's sealift capabilities.
    Our competitors are investing heavily in this area; in fact,
    the Naval War College published an assessment this spring,
    which found that the Chinese maritime industry is now the
    largest in the world in nearly every relevant category, from
    investment in global ports to shipbuilding, while our former
    dominance of this industry is slipping.
        Just to put this in perspective, right now, the Chinese
    have over 5,000 ocean-going merchant vessels. We have less than
    a hundred.
        After years of focus on counterinsurgency, we need to take
    a clear-eyed look at the range of scenarios our military must
    prepare for. It is absolutely vital that we assess and respond
    to the unique demands of engagement in regions as distant as
    INDOPACOM, the Indo-Pacific Region.
        So, to start, General, can you say a bit about our current
    state of readiness and any concerns that you have about our
    sealift capability.
        General Van Ovost. Senator, you rightly hit upon a concern.
    China has been developing capabilities in order to project
    combat power around the world to secure their overseas
    interests and objectives. It is concerning, it is concerning
    from an access, basing, and overflight, and it is concerning
    with respect to their capabilities to monitor our capabilities
    around the world.
        With respect to warfighting readiness, which is a key to
    our functioning as a warfighting combatant command, the
    Mobility Capability Requirements Study did validate the amount
    of sealift that we would need to deliver a decisive force, and
    I am concerned about the readiness, given the age of the fleet
    and the maintenance, and its day-to-day readiness capacity.
        So, the first thing I would do is I would continue the
    great work by TRANSCOM, working with the Navy, to execute their
    buy-used strategy, so that we can get more U.S.-flagged, U.S.-
    manned, sealift capability that we can count on. In addition,
    the recent fuel tanker study did validate the fact that we had
    insufficient U.S.-flagged POL tanker capacity to meet the needs
    of the National Defense Strategy.
        So, if confirmed, I will work with the Navy and MARAD on a
    way forward to try to secure more U.S.-flagged tanker capacity.
        Senator Kelly. Yeah, to do that, we have got to get, figure
    out a way to get more U.S.-built ships, as well, U.S.-flagged,
    U.S.-crewed to meet this need, and I feel we need some rapid
    progress on this front. We can't wait years. This is a national
    security issue. If we can't meet the requirements of the NDS,
    we put our national security at risk.
        So, I would like to see a plan, and I am going to work with
    my colleagues on both sides of the aisle of this, to return our
    sealift capability to what it formerly was, where it had the
    capability to meet the needs of our nation, because that is not
    true today.
        So, I think it is important that we all understand that
    this is a critical investment to make as a nation, and this is
    going to need to be a whole-of-government effort, including
    stakeholders outside of this committee's jurisdiction. So, I
    appreciate your commitment to this issue and I look forward to
    working with you more on it after your confirmation.
        With that, I yield back the remainder of my time. Thank
    you.
        Chairman Reed. Thank you very much, Senator Kelly.
        General, let me resume and ask some additional questions.
    Some of our colleagues are trying to get online by Webex and
    some may be trying to return, but as I noted initially, there
    are votes in progress, also.
        It is usually the little things that go wrong and mess up
    all the big things we have planned. That is what I learned when
    I was wearing the uniform, and U.S. roads and U.S. bridges
    could be some of those little things.
        I was struck when the Commander of the 4th, the 3rd ID,
    rather, at Fort Stewart indicated his real problem is the
    railroad bridges can't sustain the weight of the tanks that he
    would have to roll out there to the port of embarkation. So,
    you could have your ships ready, down and ready to take them
    on, but they don't get there on time or they never get there.
        There is, under TRANSCOM, the Defense Access Road Program,
    and it is a cooperation between the DOD and the Department of
    Transportation to jointly address surface-transportation issues
    with a concern to DOD. It is neglected, frankly.
        In the fiscal year 2020 and 2021 NDAA [National Defense
    Authorization Act] legislation, we put in extensive amendments
    to try to update the program and energize the program. In one
    respect, it was a reflection of the growing concern over rising
    oceans, et cetera, and many of our bases are right along the
    coast and the roads and railroads are affected by this.
        TRANSCOM and associated entities have yet to issue any
    updates to their guidance and eligibility criteria for projects
    under the DAR program, so can you give us an update as to what
    is happening with the DAR program, how are our changes being
    implemented, and the status of coordination between the DOT and
    the Federal Highway Administration, et cetera. Again, great
    strategists don't usually think about the road outside the
    base; they are thinking about, you know, do I have enough
    ships? Do I have enough? But it is the little things, so any
    comments, I would appreciate.
        General Van Ovost. Yes, Senator. You pointed to a critical
    capability. Our posture is really dependent upon, it starts
    with the national infrastructure here and power projection,
    especially from our Army, power projection platforms begins
    with sufficient road and rail capacity to get to the seaports,
    as part of the initial marshaling for projection of that
    decisive power into the future.
        I am not familiar with the Defense Access Road Program, but
    I am familiar with the national, the infrastructure bills and
    the various strategic highway programs and strategic rail
    programs. My understanding is that U.S. Transportation Command
    has been working with the Department of Transportation on
    providing some advice in the areas of most risk in that area.
        So, Chairman, if confirmed, I would look to come back to
    you with my assessment of the DAR program.
        Chairman Reed. Well, thank you very much, General.
        Again, this might be seen as details, but as I keep
    harping, it is the little stuff that, oops, we forgot that, and
    the big stuff doesn't happen.
        We are at a juncture where my colleagues, we have no one, I
    think, available on either the Webex or in person; as such,
    General, let me thank you for your testimony and I look forward
    to your confirmation and to your service as the next USTRANSCOM
    Commander.
        Thank you very much, ma'am.
        General Van Ovost. Thank you, Chairman.
        Chairman Reed. With that, the hearing is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 10:50 a.m., the Committee adjourned.]

                                    ------

        [Prepared questions submitted to General Jacqueline D. Van
    Ovost, USAF by Chairman Reed prior to the hearing with answers
    supplied follow:]

                            Questions and Responses
                           duties and qualifications
        Question. What is your understanding of the duties and functions of
    the Commander, U.S. Transportation Command?
        Answer. The Commander, United States Transportation Command
    (USTRANSCOM), is responsible for providing air, land, and sea
    transportation for the DOD, in peace, crisis and war. USTRANSCOM
    executes through three component commands and two subordinate commands
    to accomplish this mission: Air Mobility Command (AMC), Military
    Sealift Command (MSC), and the Military Surface Deployment and
    Distribution Command (SDDC), as well as the Joint Transportation
    Reserve Unit (JTRU) and the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC).
    The Commander is assigned five responsibilities in the Unified Command
    Plan (UCP), to include: Mobility Joint Force Provider, DOD single
    manager for transportation, Joint Deployment and Distribution
    Enterprise planning and operations, DOD Single Manager for Patient
    Movement, and the Joint Enabling Capabilities provider.
        Question. What background and experience do you possess that
    qualify you to perform these duties?
        Answer. Beyond my experience commanding mobility units at multiple
    levels and staff experience at USTRANSCOM headquarters, I was the
    Director for Mobility Forces in CENTCOM, coordinating with the
    Combatant Command, Services, and USTRANSCOM, to ensure the Commander's
    operational scheme of maneuver was supported across the theater. My
    time on the Joint Staff as the Deputy Director for Europe, NATO, and
    Russia Plans and Policy, then subsequently the Vice Director of the
    Joint Staff, provided in-depth knowledge and experience with the
    National Defense Strategy, roles of the Services, Combatant Commanders,
    the Chairman, and the Secretary of Defense to create and execute
    globally integrated plans and comprehensive policies that achieve
    national interests.
        My subsequent time as the Director of the Air Staff provided the
    experience of balancing service responsibilities to organize, train and
    equip ready forces for today and tomorrow, with meeting the demands of
    the Combatant Commander as they fulfill National Defense Strategy
    requirements today. This position directly led to my selection as
    Commander, Air Mobility Command, the Air Component of USTRANSCOM.
        Question. Do you believe that there are any steps that you need to
    take to enhance your expertise to perform the duties of the Commander,
    U.S. Transportation Command?
        Answer. As the current USTRANSCOM Air Component Commander, I am
    aware of the breadth of USTRANSCOM's worldwide responsibilities. If
    confirmed, I will engage with all of USTRANSCOM's component commands,
    DOD agencies, and commercial partners to ensure I fully understand the
    range of challenges they face in order to accomplish USTRANSCOM's
    crucial mission.
                                 relationships
        Question. If confirmed, what will be your relationship with:
        The Secretary of Defense.
        Answer. The Commander, USTRANSCOM, performs his or her duties under
    the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense. The
    USTRANSCOM Commander is responsible directly to the Secretary of
    Defense to carry out the command's missions.
        Question. The Deputy Secretary of Defense
        Answer. The Deputy Secretary of Defense has the authority to act
    for the Secretary of Defense when serving as his designated
    representative in the Secretary's absence. As such, the USTRANSCOM
    Commander will report to and through the Deputy Secretary when serving
    in that capacity.
        6. Question. The Under Secretaries of Defense
        Answer. Under Secretaries of Defense coordinate and exchange
    information with DOD components, including Combatant Commands, which
    have collateral or related functions. In practice, this coordination
    and exchange is normally routed through the Chairman of the Joint
    Chiefs of Staff. Additionally, the Under Secretary of Defense for
    Acquisition and Sustainment provides logistics policy for the
    Department. If confirmed as a Combatant Commander, I look forward to
    continuing these relationships.
        Question. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
        Answer. As specified in Title 10, U.S.C., the Chairman is the
    principal military advisor to the President, the National Security
    Council, the Homeland Security Council, and Secretary of Defense. The
    Chairman is not, by law, in the chain of command, which runs from the
    President through the Secretary of Defense to each Combatant Commander.
    In his or her role as the Global Integrator, however, the CJCS plays an
    important role in a full range of security matters on behalf of the
    Secretary of Defense. If confirmed, I will keep the Chairman fully
    informed regarding USTRANSCOM matters.
        Question. The Service Secretaries and Service Chiefs
        Answer. Each Service Secretary is responsible for equipping,
    training, and maintaining ready forces belonging to that Military
    Department. Close coordination with each Service Secretary providing
    forces to USTRANSCOM is essential to ensure the Joint Deployment and
    Distribution Enterprise (JDDE) remains ready to meet national security
    requirements. In addition, USTRANSCOM is responsible to deliver
    service-provided forces to Combatant Commanders. If confirmed as the
    Commander USTRANSCOM, I will continue my predecessors' productive
    dialogue with the Service Chiefs and the Commandant of the U.S. Coast
    Guard.
        Question. The other Combatant Commanders
        Answer. As one of four UCP-designated Combatant Commands with
    Transregional responsibilities, USTRANSCOM's primary mission is to
    support each of the Combatant Commanders in accomplishing the
    responsibilities assigned to them in the UCP. Given the complexity of
    today's security environment, it is essential all the Combatant
    Commanders work together to execute U.S. national security policy. If
    confirmed, I will continue to build upon the trust and mutual support
    my predecessors have fostered with the other Combatant Commanders.
        Question. The Director of the Defense Logistics Agency
        Answer. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) manages the global
    supply chain for the DOD, other Federal agencies, and partner and
    allied nations. USTRANSCOM maintains a strong strategic partnership
    with DLA. USTRANSCOM includes the DLA Director in our periodic
    Component Commanders conferences, and if confirmed I have every
    intention of continuing to bolster this relationship. USTRANSCOM and
    DLA have ongoing transformational efforts to improve the JDDE
    operational outcomes and lay the groundwork for data-related
    initiatives.
                        major challenges and priorities
        Question. In your view, what are the major challenges confronting
    the next Commander, U.S. Transportation Command?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM is a warfighting combatant command that enables
    the projection and sustainment of combat power at a time and place of
    our Nation's choosing. As the character of logistics evolves, we
    increasingly face direct challenges across all domains, particularly in
    areas of previously unmatched superiority - including our global
    logistics capability. Accordingly, the Command's major challenges are
    maintaining warfighting readiness and modernizing the DOD's
    transportation assets. The sealift and aerial refueling fleets are
    aging, demanding recapitalized fleets capable of operating in contested
    environments. Additionally, we must maintain a competitive edge with
    our adversaries in the cyber domain. Command and control is an
    essential element of our warfighting framework, necessitating steady
    focus on cyber assurance and improved cyber security. If confirmed as
    the next USTRANSCOM Commander, I will ensure the JDDE remains capable
    of projecting decisive military power while preserving the ability to
    command and control global mobility operations.
        Question. If confirmed, what plans do you have for addressing these
    challenges?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will work with my fellow Combatant
    Commanders, Service Chiefs, Defense Agencies, Joint Staff and OSD
    partners to assess risks and collaboratively develop mitigation
    strategies. My near-term challenge will be dealing with the ever-
    growing number of cyber adversaries. I will continue the Command's
    efforts to pursue several initiatives in cyber resiliency and digital
    modernization, as well as partner with the commercial sector to improve
    JDDE cyber security. Fortunately, for sealift, there is a
    recapitalization plan in place to acquire used sealift vessels over the
    next 10 years; and I will ensure we continue partnering with the Navy
    to ensure we have the necessary Congressional authorities. As the Air
    Mobility Command Commander, I am familiar with the aerial refueling
    challenges, and I support the USAF's plan to release KC-46 interim
    capability for select missions, while carefully managing legacy tanker
    retirements and securing additional Reserve man-days to meet day-to-day
    and crisis requirements.
                        national defense strategy (nds)
        Question. The 2018 NDS prioritized the ``long-term, strategic
    competition'' with revisionist powers China and Russia as the primary
    challenge with which the United States must contend, while also
    recognizing the need to deter and counter rogue regimes like North
    Korea and Iran and move to a more resource sustainable approach to
    counterterrorism.
        In your view, what, if any, changes should be considered in
    reshaping the NDS, taking into account developments since 2018?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM has made recommendations to the team preparing
    the forthcoming NDS, and most of those inputs can only be shared in a
    classified environment. As Secretary Austin has written and spoken, the
    need for an integrated approach to deterrence should be an important
    concept shaping the future NDS and the Nation's approach to either
    potential near peer threats such as China or Russia or rogue regimes
    like North Korea and Iran. I recommend that even though the 2018 NDS
    specified Resilient and Agile Logistics as a key competitive advantage
    for the United States, the future NDS should more directly address the
    very real deterrent effect logistics formations and investments have
    through their demonstrated ability to project and sustain US power to
    any point on the globe at a time and place of our choosing. That can
    take the form of delivering a combat brigade or pallets of vaccine
    doses. Recent cyberattacks on the Colonial Pipeline or supply chain
    entities clearly demonstrate that our ability to project power can and
    (we expect) will be disrupted and contested. The future NDS should
    prioritize investments in strategic mobility assets, changes in
    operating concepts and investments in our allies and partners. Those
    investments speak directly to President Biden's Interim National
    Security Strategic Guidance requirement, ``to defend access to the
    global commons, including freedom of navigation and overflight rights,
    under international law.'' Therefore, to reiterate, the 2021 NDS should
    expand upon logistics, strategic mobility, and the access, basing and
    overflight agreements that are the foundation for our ability to
    achieve the Nation's security objectives. Consequently, we should
    ensure the NDS recognizes the importance of logistics requirements and
    challenges to the Department's ability to successfully achieve the
    objectives of the NDS.
        Question. What capabilities do you believe the Joint Force needs
    from the U.S. Transportation Command to prevail in competition with
    great power adversaries?
        Answer. Our ability to rapidly move forces transoceanic distances
    is a strategic comparative advantage, providing a wide range of options
    in support of the National Defense Strategy while creating multiple
    dilemmas for our adversaries. Should deterrence fail, USTRANSCOM
    delivers two capabilities for DOD:
        #1, an immediate force tonight, and
        #2, a decisive force when needed.
        USTRANSCOM's responsibility to the Secretary of Defense is global
    power projection and the ability to prioritize limited resources to the
    highest strategic priority, shifting temporally and spatially across
    the globe to meet the highest national security objective.
        The NDS's Global Operating Model and Dynamic Force Employment
    concepts emphasize sustaining capabilities for major combat, while
    ``providing options for proactive and scalable employment of the Joint
    Force.''
        Question. How do you intend to work with the services to implement
    these concepts while balancing the need to rebuild readiness?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM will continue to work with military Service
    Departments to address air refueling, airlift, and sealift readiness
    concerns, to provide the capabilities needed to support a modernized
    Global Operating Model while enabling concepts such as Dynamic Force
    Employment (DFE). We will continue to fully support and are actively
    engaged with the Joint Staff, fellow combatant commands, and the
    Services in developing the emerging Joint Warfighting Concept and its
    supporting concepts, especially the Joint Concept for Contested
    Logistics.
        USTRANSCOM's ability to project and sustain military forces is
    inextricably linked to commercial industry, which provides critical
    transportation capacity and access to global networks to meet
    requirements in both the competition phase and times of crisis. We can
    and do leverage commercial industry creating space for our organic
    capabilities to train and rebuild readiness, while maintaining our
    ability to support the Joint Force.
        As part of its focus on near peer competitors, the NDS disputes the
    decades-long assumption that the U.S. military will have uncontested
    access to international airspace and sea lanes. Given this new threat:
        Question. What areas of operations will be more challenging for the
    joint distribution and deployment enterprise, and what would you do, if
    confirmed, to mitigate those challenges?
        Answer. As accurately described in the NDS, the U.S. military no
    longer has assured access to international airspace and sea lanes.
    Beyond the physical challenges in our ``fight to get to the fight,''
    supply chains are neither robust nor resilient, presenting dilemmas
    across the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise in sustainment
    operations for all commodities, particularly with liquid energy.
    Additionally, USTRANSCOM's partnerships with commercial entities that
    use unclassified information systems add to the challenge of ensuring
    reliable communication, command, and control systems required to
    effectively lead global distribution and sustainment operations across
    the JDDE.
        I will work with DLA, the Services, fellow Combatant Commands, and
    commercial partners to attain the agreements and resolutions necessary
    to reduce these vulnerabilities while preserving our ability to project
    and sustain military power globally. I will leverage existing DOD
    forums to develop cross functional solutions and action plans, as well
    as engage in well-established associations with our air, sea, and
    surface industry partners to address specific challenges related to our
    commercial associates. Finally, I will work with the JDDE to ensure
    solutions are developed, scrutinized, and prioritized using all
    available tools at my disposal including, but not limited to, the Joint
    Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) and Integrated
    Priority List (IPL).
        Question. Do these challenges require the services to generate more
    capabilities to deal with anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environments,
    where we could face greater enemy mine or ISR capabilities?
        Answer. DOD is in the process of modifying the way we think about
    mobility operations to better understand the investment trades required
    to preserve our ability to project military power globally. All the
    Services are pursuing multiple different capabilities to combat
    persistent, multi-domain A2/AD challenges, to include adversary mine
    and ISR capabilities, within the future operating environment. If
    confirmed, I am fully committed to work across the Department and with
    the Services to continue this important effort.
                              contested logistics
        Question. Over the last several years, DOD and U.S. Indo-Pacific
    Command (INDOPACOM) have conducted or sponsored several studies on
    contested mobility and logistics which have resulted in more than 50
    recommendations. However, the GAO found that DOD has failed to
    implement many of these recommendations. As a result, DOD and INDOPACOM
    may be missing an opportunity to leverage existing knowledge on
    mobility challenges in contested environments and increase resilience
    for major conflicts as envisioned in the National Defense Strategy.
        In your opinion, what are the highest priorities and key challenges
    that DOD must address in a contested logistics environment in a
    potential conflict with China and Russia? Please identify which of
    those challenges are unique to either China or Russia and which are
    common to both.
        Answer. Long, contested lines of communications and the tyranny of
    distance in the Indo-Pacific region create dilemmas that will require
    the integration of logistics planning across all warfighting functions
    to support the Joint war fight. Common to both China and Russia, the
    growth in demand from increasingly dispersed operations, increasingly
    complex and lethal kinetic platforms, and extended adversary anti-
    access/area denial capabilities place immediate stressors on the Joint
    Deployment and Distribution Enterprise to support forward forces
    immediately, as we rapidly build capacity to deploy a decisive force.
        Strategic lift (sea and air) assets and the ability to dynamically
    command and control those assets remain critical when looking at both
    great power challenges. Strategic lift allows us to present a sizeable
    Joint Force at scale around the globe. Additionally, air refueling is a
    key enabler that allows this enterprise to rapidly deploy fighters and
    bombers, as well as support the employment of those combat aircraft
    across strategic distances.
        Ongoing recapitalization efforts remain crucial to this enterprise.
    We need to sustain efforts to recapitalize our sealift fleet to improve
    our readiness and capacity to project the Joint Force. The KC-46 is
    another key investment to recapitalize the aging AR fleet. However,
    even when the 179th KC-46 is delivered, there will still be 300 KC-135s
    at 67 plus years of age. Investments in air refueling will remain
    necessary. In addition to recapitalization efforts, we must also
    continue to invest in the readiness and maintenance of some of our
    older platforms. We have a great relationship with the Navy and the Air
    Force and are extremely appreciative of their efforts to enhance
    spending for readiness.
        Finally, intratheater lift (airlift and sealift) is also critical
    to sustain and support the force to meet volume and time-sensitive
    requirements for cargo, passengers, and fuel. This is especially the
    case in the Indo-Pacific region. As captured in both the Mobility
    Capability Requirements Study and Fuel Tanker Vessel Study recently
    provided to Congress, the Department must continue efforts to identify
    the types and mix of intratheater air and sealift assets needed to
    successfully support and sustain operations in the future operating
    environment.
        Question. What capability and/or capacity shortfalls in the current
    Joint Force present the most significant challenge to supporting U.S.
    Transportation Command operations in these contested environments?
        Answer. The full capacity of the JDDE relies upon timely access to
    the Reserve Components and emergency preparedness programs like the
    Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift
    Agreement (VISA) that leverage commercial industry augmentation. The
    Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA directed a Mobility Capability Requirements Study
    (MCRS) to assess the adequacy of the JDDE's capacity relative to the
    current NDS. The study assessed the demands associated with the
    National Defense Strategy and factored the implications of contested
    environments on degraded mobility outputs. I have reviewed the findings
    and recommendations of the recently released MCRS and Fuel Tanker
    Vessel Study, and if confirmed, I will work with the Joint community to
    implement appropriate recommendations from the study.
        Question. Which programs, in your assessment, are the highest
    priorities for mitigating current and emerging warfighting capability
    and/or capacity shortfalls in the Joint Force?
        Answer. The recently completed Mobility Capability Requirements
    Study (MCRS) and Fuel Tanker Vessel Studies provide a great roadmap for
    challenges facing USTRANSCOM as the Department looks at the future
    Joint Operating Environment. If confirmed, I'm committed to review and
    implement recommendations stemming from the studies while also
    conducting my own review and assessment of the JDDE to ensure the DOD
    mobility enterprise is prepared to meet current and future requirements
    consistent with the Joint Operating Environment described in the NDS.
    In my current role as the Commander, Air Mobility Command, I am aware
    these priorities may include enhanced cyber mission assurance,
    improving command and control capabilities, while also sustaining key
    ongoing recapitalization efforts, like air refueling and sealift
    recapitalization. Finally, as captured in both recently completed
    studies, the Department must work to identify the right type and mix of
    intra-theater (sea and air) capabilities for the future operating
    environment.
        Given the ``tyranny of distance'' in the Pacific, there are
    significant challenges specifically related to energy requirements in a
    contested environment, which could be mitigated by making targeted
    investments and operational energy improvements to both military
    platforms and installations.
        Question. If confirmed, what role would you take to reduce
    contested logistics vulnerabilities in INDOPACOM and elsewhere, and
    what specific operational energy improvements do you envision pursuing?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM recently completed the Fuel Tanker Vessel Study
    to address the department's ability to meet future combatant commander
    deployment and sustainment requirements. The study considered both U.S.
    flagged and foreign flagged capacity to ensure enough capacity exists
    to meet NDS requirements. The study also considered contested
    environment impacts likely to be encountered in future operations. The
    study concluded that there is insufficient US Flag tanker capacity to
    meet NDS requirements. DOD will have an enduring need for foreign flag
    tanker augmentation. However, the mission, location, and timing of some
    fuel delivery requirements drives the need for U.S. flag tankers.
    Though there is sufficient friendly foreign flag capacity, there is
    substantial risk to mission associated with a heavy reliance on foreign
    flag tankers, particularly for intra-theater missions within a
    contested environment. The analysis clearly demonstrated the need for a
    Tanker Security Program in addition to identifying several other
    solutions. These solutions, working together, are important steps
    toward a comprehensive strategy to increase U.S. flag tanker capacity,
    to reduce the risk of reliance on foreign flag tankers for the most
    important fuel missions, and to ensure the DOD has sufficient tanker
    capabilities to meet NDS objectives.
                  experience in managing logistics operations
        Question. You have most recently served as the Commander of the Air
    Mobility Command, the air component of the U.S. Transportation Command.
        What steps do you believe you need to take to achieve a more
    complete understanding of the logistics operations of the other
    component commands of U.S. Transportation Command?
        Answer. As the current Air Component Commander, and having served
    as a staff officer in USTRANSCOM, I am familiar with the logistics
    operations of the component commands and the capabilities they bring to
    bear to accomplish the global mission. If confirmed, I will engage with
    the USTRANSCOM components and subordinate command, as well as sister
    agencies and commercial partners to enhance my understanding of the
    capability and challenges they face in their execution of that global
    mission.
                            civil reserve air fleet
        Question. The military services rely heavily on the Civil Reserve
    Air Fleet (CRAF) to supplement organic airlift in order to meet the
    U.S. Transportation Command's wartime and peacetime transportation
    requirements.
        What is your assessment of the CRAF's ability to meet requirements
    to transport any equipment, materials, or commodities for U.S. military
    operations or to respond to a humanitarian disaster?
        Answer. Today, the CRAF program is fully subscribed with 26
    carriers to meet anticipated DOD needs by guaranteeing wartime
    commitment through assured peacetime business. They are well positioned
    to support humanitarian assistance, military operations, and peacetime
    missions. It should be noted, regardless of the mission profile,
    employment of CRAF capabilities requires a permissive environment. If
    confirmed, I will continue to work with our CRAF partners to ensure
    they remain committed and ready to support DOD requirements when
    needed.
        Question. How much should we be relying on CRAF to meet our
    peacetime and wartime airlift requirements?
        Answer. Consistent with our National Airlift Policy, CRAF is
    designed to leverage the commercial air carrier industry to provide
    capability beyond that available in the organic military airlift fleet.
    In peacetime, our reliance should be consistent with the requirement to
    maintain the proficiency and operational readiness of the organic
    military requirement, while ensuring the capability of our commercial
    partners to meet approved requirements for military airlift in wartime.
    I believe the DOD must strike a balance between commercial airlift and
    the organic fleet to ensure our military crews are trained, proficient
    and postured to meet the requirements outlined in the Mobility
    Capability Requirements Study for NDAA fiscal year 2020. This study
    provides DOD leadership with the analysis required to effectively
    manage the DOD's reliance on commercial augmentation without negatively
    impacting the military force.
        Question. What changes, if any, do you think need to be made to
    CRAF--authorities, requirements, composition--to ensure that CRAF can
    continue to meet our needs?
        Answer. I greatly appreciate how USTRANSCOM and Air Mobility
    Command continuously assess all facets of the CRAF program to ensure it
    meets our needs and supports the NDS. In doing so, USTRANSCOM recently
    concluded the Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study 2020 (MCRS
    20). Although MCRS 20 found current CRAF subscription levels provide
    sufficient capacity to meet passenger and cargo requirements above the
    capacity of the organic mobility fleet, it is worth exploring the
    potential to enhance the CONUS aeromedical evacuation component of CRAF
    to reduce stress on organic theater airlift and meet NDS requirements.
    If confirmed, I am committed to further exploring this essential
    capability.
                                    sealift
        Question. When the United States goes to war, U.S. Transportation
    Command moves approximately 90% of its cargo requirements with the
    strategic sealift fleet, which consists of government-owned ships
    augmented by the commercial U.S.-flagged fleet.
        What is your assessment of current and planned organic strategic
    sealift capacity?
        Answer. Department of Defense mobility studies over the past two
    decades have validated the requirement for approximately 20 million
    square feet of Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) sealift capacity. The U.S. Navy
    organic fleet provides approximately three-fourths of the capacity, and
    the remainder is sourced commercially through the Voluntary Intermodal
    Sealift Agreement (VISA). Over the next 10 years, 33 of 50 USN RO/RO
    vessels, which deliver the surge force, will retire. The readiness of
    this aging fleet is USTRANSCOM's number one readiness concern. I
    support OSD and Navy's plan to recapitalize the fleet by purchasing
    used commercial ships to improve readiness to meet the National Defense
    Strategy. A long-term, stable procurement strategy will ensure we
    maintain sufficient capacity to deploy the force.
        Question. What do you believe is the appropriate mix of new
    construction, used ship purchasing, and service life extensions that
    the Department should employ in the Ready Reserve Force
    recapitalization plan?
        Answer. I defer to the U.S. Navy within the context of their
    Service responsibilities to retain a viable surge sealift capacity to
    deliver the decisive force. The Navy's plan to purchase used ships is
    an appropriate, cost-effective approach for the organic fleet, and
    includes significant work for the U.S. industrial base to convert/
    upgrade the used ships in U.S. shipyards. The health of the ship
    construction and repair base is essential to our national interests,
    and the Navy must ensure its overall shipbuilding program is sufficient
    to maintain the U.S. shipyard capacity.
        Question. What is your view of the importance of maintaining U.S.-
    flagged vessels to participate in strategic sealift, including through
    the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement and Maritime Security
    Program?
        Answer. The U.S. has long been a maritime nation. I believe it is
    critically important to maintain a viable U.S. flagged sealift
    capability to support DOD needs. The vessels within the VISA provide
    the Department assured access to commercial capacity, providing
    approximately twenty-five percent of the Department's Joint Force
    deployment capacity, and the majority of its sustainment capacity.
    Additionally, the Maritime Security Program (MSP) provides a fleet that
    is actively plying our deep-sea international trades, supporting
    National Economic Prosperity, while meeting national defense and other
    security requirements. These U.S.-flagged commercial sealift programs
    employ a pool of trained and ready U.S. Merchant Mariners needed to
    crew the U.S. Navy organic fleet when it transitions from reduced
    operating status to fully operational status.
        Question. What is your assessment of the adequacy of the current
    and qualified, licensed merchant mariner population who would be
    available to crew strategic sealift vessels to meet surge and
    protracted U.S. Transportation Command requirements?
        Answer. In accordance with Presidential Directives and National
    Policy, USTRANSCOM relies on the Maritime Administration to determine
    whether adequate manpower is available to support the operation of
    reserve ships during a crisis. The current Department of
    Transportation/Maritime Administration estimates there are sufficient
    Mariners to activate the surge fleet but would be challenged to
    concurrently sustain both the organic and commercial fleets through a
    crew rotation. Any additional decrement to U.S. Merchant Mariner
    availability increases the risk to our ability to surge the fleet.
                        global household goods contract
        Question. For more than two years, U.S. Transportation Command has
    attempted to consolidate its Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) into
    a single prime contractor that would oversee close to 1,000
    subcontractors in charge of moving servicemembers and their families.
    U.S. Transportation Command contends this was done due to poor customer
    service and outcomes under the current model. In 2020, the GAO upheld
    numerous protests against U.S. Transportation Command awarding of the
    Global Household Goods contract citing that it violated federal
    procurement law. U.S. Transportation Command stated that the GHC would
    represent the ``best value'' for DOD and servicemembers when cost and
    performance are considered, yet according to reports, the winning bid
    was billions more over the life of the contract. The contract is now
    being re-competed with an award due in September of 2021.
        What is your current assessment of the existing household goods
    program? Do you believe a new system is needed, and do you believe U.S.
    Transportation Command approach is the best path forward?
        Answer. The Defense Personal Property Enterprise exists for one
    purpose and one purpose only: to provide quality moving and storage
    services to DOD and Coast Guard personnel and their families. As these
    families have correctly highlighted over the last several years, the
    Department faltered on this mission. I assess the existing household
    goods program as incapable of consistently generating the quality
    capacity DOD personnel and their families deserve or the accountability
    Congress demands.
        I believe change is required in order to keep faith with military
    families, I believe the Department of Defense has a thoughtful,
    deliberate strategy to improve the relocation process, and I believe
    the reform efforts USTRANSCOM is leading on behalf of DOD--to include
    the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC)--will deliver credible
    improvements to military families.
        In the existing household goods program, each of DOD's 39 Regional
    Shipping Offices award business to over 900 Transportation Service
    Providers on a shipment-by-shipment basis. The transactional nature of
    our relationship with a disparate confederation of suppliers prevents
    us from capitalizing on existing capacity, limits industry investment
    in generating additional capacity, and inhibits us from incorporating
    modern capabilities (to include the convenient technology we take for
    granted in every aspect of our personal lives) into the Defense
    Personal Property Program. And because DOD does not have a formal
    contract with any of these providers, the Department cannot hold them
    accountable for performance failures in a meaningful way. This
    fragmented approach generates the friction, frustration, and opacity
    many military families endure during the relocation process.
        The GHC is an opportunity to raise the standard for DOD families,
    attract additional quality capacity to the program, and introduce a
    level of accountability absent in today's program.
        I am confident in the approach because it has been transparent,
    involved broad collaboration across the Department's Personnel and
    Logistics communities, and incorporated industry input. Additionally, I
    appreciate that it is just as focused on improving the Department's own
    internal management framework as it is improving the level of service
    from commercial providers.
        What resonates with me most, though, is the Department's focus on
    relocating people and addressing perennial family pain-points and not
    simply focusing on moving their things.
        Question. If confirmed, would you continue the awarding of a new
    GHC prime contractor with the current scheduled September award date?
        Answer. Yes, but only after rigorous reviews are conducted to
    ensure the recommendations GAO made in its protest decision were
    implemented and (as was done ahead of the previous award) after
    receiving concurrence from the Services. I understand the earliest the
    contract will be awarded is October 2021.
        Changing the conditions within which industry operates is required:
    to improve access to and management of quality capacity to meet DOD's
    peak demand; to improve communication throughout the process; to
    deliver modern, digital management tools to DOD customers; to improve
    the claims process in the event of loss, damage, or inconvenience; and
    to enable the Department to affix the accountability and responsibility
    lacking in today's program. The Global Households Goods Contract
    delivers that change.
        I concur with the `Best Value' acquisition strategy rather than
    awarding to the lowest price, technically acceptable bidder. That said,
    I understand the reports referenced in the introductory paragraph to be
    incorrect. As directed by the 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act,
    USTRANSCOM submitted a cost report detailing the projected savings by
    Military Department to the Defense Committees on 22 April 2020. This
    cost report (based on rates submitted by the initial GHC awardee)
    projected savings of $210 million across the FYDP when compared to what
    DOD pays under the current program. I commit to updating this cost
    report and submitting it to the Defense Committees before awarding a
    new contract.
        Additionally, and just as GEN Lyons has done, I commit to
    continuing the transparency and close coordination with each of the
    Defense Committee staffs on the full range of issues involving the
    Defense Personal Property Program.
        Question. There have been press reports of shortages of movers in
    areas with a high military population. Families are getting their PCS
    orders cancelled at the last minute. Does this post-pandemic labor
    shortage change the way you would think about handling the GHC?
        Answer. I believe the labor shortages further highlight the
    inherent flaws in relying on a fractured, transactional process to
    manage the critical business of relocating military families around the
    globe. If anything, the impacts of the labor shortages (things like
    families being stranded at the curb or being served by an incompetent
    crew) underscore the necessity of entering in to a multi-year
    contractual relationship to 1) provide industry with the confidence and
    rationale to invest in capacity and relationships with trusted
    suppliers to meet DOD's demand and, 2) provide DOD with meaningful
    avenues of accountability, which is lacking in the existing program.
        Question. If confirmed, what will you do to provide transparency
    and information to families planning moves?
        Answer. Communication can make or break the relocation experience
    for DOD personnel and their families. The Department must deliver
    accurate and timely information directly to families planning moves.
    Simple, relevant, easily accessible products must clearly outline what
    customers can expect during the process and the business rules in place
    to protect them. We must be similarly clear on who they can call for
    help when things go wrong.
        Recent surveys highlight the need for more comprehensive
    information in a central location. I will continue the partnership
    USTRANSCOM established with OSD P&R to leverage the Military OneSource
    platform as the authoritative source for DP3-related information.
    Providing a `single source of truth' will reduce the likelihood of
    families finding out-of-date or conflicting instructions when searching
    for information and eliminate customer confusion on where to turn to
    find the requisite information to conduct successful moves.
        I will also prioritize the work to develop simple, standard
    products and deliver them directly to DP3 customers. The Department
    must evolve beyond static brochures and capitalize on modern
    communication channels to present customers with the `right'
    information when they need it. Recent surveys highlight the need for
    simple, modern tutorials explaining the relocation process.
        While each service has made improvements to their `Help Desks,' I
    do see value in establishing a Department-wide Help Desk staffed with
    professional customer service representatives that are available 24x7
    to address the full range of relocation issues (such as housing,
    reporting timelines, travel) as opposed to simply answering personal
    property questions.
        Further, I commit to publishing DP3 metrics on publicly-available
    websites. The Government Accountability Office's sensible
    recommendation to develop DP3-related metrics will provide DOD leaders
    with a clear assessment of the program's performance; making these
    metrics available to all DP3 stakeholders is a critical component in
    delivering on the Department's commitment to transparency.
        Finally, I will continue to invest time and resources into hosting
    the Personal Property Relocation Advisory Panel (PPRAP) and meeting
    with the Service-appointed Family Advocates to identify and solve
    relocation problems for military families.
                                 cybersecurity
        Question. Most of the critical communications and operations of the
    Defense Department can be conducted over the classified internet
    service of the Department, which is not connected to the public
    internet and is therefore much more protected against eavesdropping,
    espionage, and/or disruption by computer network attacks. U.S.
    Transportation Command, however, must communicate over the unclassified
    internet with many private-sector entities that are essential to the
    Defense Department's force generation and deployment operations in the
    transportation and shipping industries in particular.
        What actions do you plan to take, if confirmed, to ensure that the
    Department reduces the risk of cyber intrusions that would affect U.S.
    Transportation Command's operations?
        Answer. As the USTRANSCOM Air Component Commander, I know that
    USTRANSCOM has made significant advancements to reduce the risk of
    cyber intrusions. If confirmed, I will continue to make cyber mission
    assurance a top priority for the Command and ensure we make the
    appropriate investments to protect Command and Control / Information
    Technology systems and infrastructure that are most consequential to
    mission success. My focus areas will include adopting security best
    practices, increasing the emphasis on improving the cybersecurity
    posture of our most critical systems, and partnering with the
    Department to continue progress on implementing the new information
    security framework, known as Zero Trust. With USTRANSCOM's mission
    inextricably linked to our commercial industry partners, I will
    continue to evolve the Command's cybersecurity contract language, so it
    remains aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    (NIST) cybersecurity framework and Defense Federal Acquisition
    Regulation Supplement (DFARS) cybersecurity requirements. In addition,
    I will work with the Department to ensure USTRANSCOM has sufficient
    resiliency and capacity across the JDDE to operate in a contested cyber
    environment. If confirmed, I look forward to evolving the strong
    relationship USTRANSCOM already has with USCYBERCOM and other
    stakeholders to advance the Department's capabilities to reduce the
    risk of cyber intrusions to preserve USTRANSCOM's ability to meet our
    national security objectives.
        Question. Do you believe that the current posture of U.S.
    Transportation Command and the Department is sufficient to deal with
    adversaries in cyberspace?
        Answer. The posture of USTRANSCOM and the Department is likely
    insufficient to deal with a well-resourced, capable, and determined
    nation-state adversary. Therefore, we must continue to improve our
    ability to protect against, detect, and respond to increasingly
    sophisticated adversary actions that exploit vulnerabilities. The
    recent malicious cyber campaigns against the Nation's public and
    private sector highlight the increasing threat to U.S. national
    security. For USTRANSCOM, cyber vulnerabilities present risk to
    strategic logistics as adversaries continue to demonstrate the
    willingness and capability to target both military and associated
    commercial industry partners. In this rapidly changing environment, the
    Department continues to improve the resilience of military networks and
    implement defensive measures that make it harder for malicious cyber
    actors to successfully compromise networks. If confirmed, I will
    continue the focus on cyber mission assurance and look forward to
    building upon existing relationships with USCYBERCOM, DHS, and other
    key stakeholders to mitigate the operational impact of any adversary
    actions.
        Question. What do you believe are the critical needs of U.S.
    Transportation Command for operating in the presence of cybersecurity
    threats?
        Answer. Cyberspace is a warfighting domain in which capable
    adversaries continuously attempt to degrade our Nation's ability to
    project the Joint Force globally. The JDDE, which includes a wide range
    of commercial dependencies, represents a large cyber-attack surface for
    potential adversaries. For USTRANSCOM to operate in the presence of
    cybersecurity threats, it must continue efforts to develop a deeper
    understanding of adversary capabilities and intentions, as well as an
    understanding of the cyber terrain most consequential to mission
    success and the associated vulnerabilities. I'm aware that over the
    past year the Command has significantly improved its understanding of
    both the threat and key cyber terrain, and if confirmed I'll continue
    to focus on advancing these efforts. USTRANSCOM must also continue to
    invest in technologies and the right cyber talent to modernize
    Information Technology capabilities and defend critical cyber
    infrastructure, that will in turn enable mission execution in the face
    of a persistent cyber threat. With USTRANSCOM's mission inextricably
    linked to our commercial industry partners, it's also critical that the
    Command continue to revise existing cybersecurity contract language to
    remain aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    (NIST) cybersecurity framework and Defense Federal Acquisition
    Regulation Supplement (DFARS) cybersecurity requirements. Furthermore,
    the Command needs to ensure it retains sufficient operational
    resiliency across the JDDE to enable continued operations in a
    contested cyber environment. If confirmed, I will continuously work to
    ensure these needs are met.
        Question. How important is it that U.S. Transportation Command be
    aware of cyber intrusions by advanced persistent threat (APT) actors
    into the networks of airlines, shippers, and other defense contractors
    that enable the Command's operations?
        Answer. Commercial industry partners make up a significant portion
    of USTRANSCOM's capacity. As such, it is extremely important to be
    aware of APT intrusions into their networks so the command can rapidly
    assess potential impacts to global operations and take response actions
    to mitigate the risk to mission. It is also important for us to examine
    what occurred during the intrusion so we're able to apply lessons
    learned.
        Question. When U.S. Transportation Command becomes aware of an APT
    intrusion into an operationally critical contractor, what steps should
    the Command take to determine whether operational plans should be
    adjusted to mitigate the risk of the intrusion affecting military
    operations?
        Answer. Prior to changing an operational plan, USTRANSCOM would
    execute a mission risk assessment process to consider appropriate
    operational and technical mitigation actions based on the threat,
    vulnerabilities, and potential mission impact. That risk assessment
    involves identification (step 1), assessment (step 2), risk management
    and monitoring (step 3), and reporting (step 4). The outcome of the
    assessment is to determine the impact or potential impact to the
    Command's mission, identify mitigation actions, determine whether
    operational plans should be adjusted, and then take the appropriate
    actions to implement and increase opportunity for mission success. The
    mitigation steps are generally a broad-scope, collaborative effort
    across government, industry, and the international community in some
    situations. The Defense Transportation System has enough modal and
    nodal resiliency that often we do not need to adjust operational plans.
    If confirmed, I will work to ensure USTRANSCOM continues to maintain
    sufficient resiliency and capacity across the JDDE to mitigate risks.
                   relationship with the military departments
        Question. U.S. Transportation Command relies on the services to
    make strategic acquisition planning decisions, such as the KC-46 tanker
    for refueling and the Rough Terrain Container Handler for port loading.
        How is U.S. Transportation Command involved in this process, and do
    you believe the Command's needs are sufficiently taken into account?
        Answer. Yes, Department processes provide multiple venues for
    USTRANSCOM to voice Joint Force requirements and identify challenges
    facing this enterprise in relation to the National Defense Strategy. As
    a Combatant Command, USTRANSCOM is responsible to define the joint
    deployment capability and capacity requirements to meet the National
    Defense Strategy. The Mobility Capability Requirements Study and Fuel
    Tanker Vessel Study are recently completed products that inform the
    Department and Congress on how well postured the Joint Deployment and
    Distribution Enterprise is with respect to meeting global demands.
        The Services are responsible to provide a trained and ready
    capability consistent with war plans. If confirmed, I am committed to
    working closely with the military departments to ensure there is a
    common understanding of capability requirements and potential risk
    associated with investments or lack thereof.
        Question. Should the service force providers change their equipment
    or units to field better capability to conduct logistics operations in
    contested environments? If so, how?
        Answer. Yes, and I believe the Services are on the path to
    modifying their equipment and force constructs in recognition of the
    challenges of the changing contested battlespace. USTRANSCOM has worked
    diligently with the Joint Staff and the Services to highlight the
    impact of rising operational demands on a historically underfunded
    logistics enterprise. For example, it has been an active partner with
    the Joint Staff and the Services in developing the Joint Warfighting
    Concept (JWC) and associated Supporting Concepts, specifically the
    Joint Concept for Contested Logistics (JCCL). These family of concepts
    will guide investment and divestment decisions for the Department to
    design and develop a more lethal future Joint Force, capable of
    conducting assured logistics operations across persistently contested
    environments.
        Additionally, emerging Service-level concepts like the Air Force's
    ``Agile Combat Employment,'' the Army's ``Multi-Domain Operations,''
    and the Navy/Marine Corps' emphasis on distributed maritime operations
    are providing the impetus for relooking at how we would organize and
    fight against capable peer adversaries. These new concepts all envision
    a future Joint Force able to employ more lean and agile units in a
    distributed construct, reducing target profiles and providing dilemmas
    to adversary targeting efforts. I should point out; however, these
    concepts levy increased requirements on the JDDE. It is also widely
    understood adversaries continue to study, and plan against our
    comparative advantage in logistics and mobility operations. Recent
    global war-games and simulations are increasingly highlighting
    adversary abilities to degrade our power projection capabilities under
    persistent, all-domain attack. If confirmed, I will continue to
    leverage the Command's technology transfer authorities, and research
    and development funding to assist the Services and fellow Combatant
    Commands in exploring, testing, and transitioning advanced capabilities
    that will enhance global deployment, distribution, and sustainment
    operations to meet these challenges.
        It is widely understood logistics underpins the success of the
    Joint Force. If confirmed, I will continue to collaborate, as the
    coordinator of the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise, with
    the Services, other Combatant Commands and the Department to address
    capability gaps and prioritize investments to enable future logistics
    and transportation functions, supporting Joint Force operations in
    contested environments.
        U.S. Transportation Command is the only Combatant Command that sets
    aircraft requirements by total aircraft instead of via primary mission
    aircraft inventory (PMAI).
        Question. Do you believe that the Combatant Commanders should
    determine total fleet sizes for the services or should they advocate
    for specific requirements for their assigned and apportioned forces?
    Why or why not?
        Answer. I support the department's current budget process, which is
    designed to balance risk and resources with involvement of all relevant
    stakeholders - to include the Combatant Commands. It is true that for
    USTRANSCOM, global transportation capacity is a critical element of our
    warfighting framework and directly impacts the success of our power
    projection capability; from a Program Review perspective, I think it is
    most prudent for our command to think in terms of total fleet
    inventories, as I believe that allows us to most rapidly respond within
    an ever-changing global environment. It also allows force providers the
    flexibility to best manage their respective fleets to meet global
    requirements.
                     peacetime-wartime logistics management
        Question. Our transportation and logistics systems have been
    significantly altered over time to reduce organic military air and
    sealift capacity and to rely instead on commercial aircraft and sealift
    as well as commercial supply chains to deliver spare parts to deployed
    forces. This was done to reduce costs and increase buying power and
    flexibility for the military.
        Is there increased risk from this approach? If so, what is the
    nature of that increased risk?
        Answer. Our commercial providers are both a strength and potential
    vulnerability. There is inherent risk regarding the level of
    responsiveness in relying on U.S. industry partners to meet wartime
    deployment and sustainment requirements when these companies are
    engaged daily in domestic and international commerce moving people and
    goods across the globe. That risk is mitigated by maintaining a balance
    of organic and commercial capabilities within the portfolio.
    Additionally, commercial providers help mitigate geographic access
    challenges by leveraging existing intermodal networks to deliver
    military materiel.
        Question. How should U.S. Transportation Command plan for dealing
    with the risk inherent in such operations (e.g., providing equipment
    and logistics to deployed forces thousands of miles away in potential
    combat zones)?
        Answer. The recently completed Mobility Capability Requirements
    Study 2020 (MCRS-20) and Fuel Tanker Vessel Study addressed the
    department's ability to meet future combatant commander deployment and
    sustainment requirements. As in past studies, these two studies
    considered both organic and commercial capabilities to ensure outside
    capacity exists to meet war plan requirements. These studies also
    considered the impact of contested environments on the mobility
    enterprise.
        USTRANSCOM's warfighting framework outlines the overarching
    elements USTRANSCOM constantly assesses in reviewing plans and the
    global strategic environment. First, our global posture, which includes
    the nodes and routes critical to the execution of mobility operations
    is foundational to be able to deliver the Joint Force around the globe.
    Second, our transportation (organic and commercial) and air refueling
    capacity, to include the readiness of those forces, enables the
    deployment of a winning force at the time of need. Finally, the ability
    to command and control those forces around the globe and integrate with
    other commands and key warfighting elements is essential to the
    successful execution of this Command's mission. In sum, by maintaining
    favorable global posture, sufficient transportation capacity, and the
    ability to C2 global mobility operations, DOD retains the ability to
    project immediate and surge forces required to compete, deter, respond
    and win in order to meet U.S. strategic objectives.
        USTRANSCOM will continue to work with OSD, the Joint Staff,
    Services, and the Combatant Commands to assess operating environments
    and the ability of the enterprise (organic and commercial) to meet
    Joint Force demands.
        Question. How would the nature of the relationship between U.S.
    Transportation Command and commercial partners change in a wartime
    environment?
        Answer. TRANSCOM is inextricably linked to our commercial partners,
    they are an integral part of providing global assets and capability to
    support military operations anywhere in the world. The relationships
    with commercial partners are nurtured by regular engagements in
    peacetime to ensure lasting support in wartime. As history has shown,
    the relationship with our commercial partners strengthens in wartime.
    In the buildups for both Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, our
    airlift partners in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program answered the
    call to activate and provide additional capacity to meet defense
    requirements. Similarly, commercial sealift capacity in support of
    operations in Iraq and Afghanistan overwhelmingly provided the vast
    majority of sustainment cargo capability during those conflicts. If
    confirmed, I will continue to work with our commercial partners to
    ensure the business relationships remain solid and continue to support
    DOD requirements.
        Question. If confirmed, how do you plan to find the appropriate
    balance for logistics capacity between commercial and military
    logistics systems?
        Answer. Today, our ability to project military power is
    inextricably linked to commercial industry. It is important to strike
    the right balance between commercial capabilities such that DOD is not
    overly dependent on commercial capability for mission success. The
    Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA Mobility Capability and Requirements Study (MCRS-
    20) includes an assessment of the reliance on commercial transportation
    capacity in support of joint deployment requirements. Future operations
    in contested environments will require greater effort to ensure we
    minimize the threats our commercial providers face when transporting
    military cargo and personnel in non-permissive (wartime) environments.
    If confirmed, I will work with commercial industry, Department of
    Transportation, and other stakeholders to ensure commercial capacity is
    sufficient and appropriate to meet future demands.
        The military relies on an extensive network of logistics facilities
    overseas to support our deployed forces. These overseas depots enable
    our deployed forces to remain on station longer without having to be
    supported directly from CONUS. These depots are in host nations, which
    are U.S. friends and allies.
        Question. What is your assessment of the resiliency of these
    overseas depots, particularly in places near ongoing political
    instability?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM does not own or operate overseas depots.
    However, as lead for the JDDE, USTRANSCOM does collaborate closely with
    Geographic Combatant Commands, Military Services, DLA, and other
    strategic partners to develop and maintain an agile, secure and
    resilient distribution network to support and sustain overseas depots.
    We constantly monitor the operational environment and respond to
    challenges, as appropriate, with the use of alternate distribution
    routes and logistics nodes to ensure the continued viability of those
    depots.
                              emerging technology
        Question. U.S. Transportation Command's uniquely complex and data-
    heavy mission could present an opportunity to take greater advantage of
    emerging technology like data analytics or machine learning.
        How do you believe U.S. Transportation Command can most effectively
    leverage emerging technology for improved performance?
        Answer. I am aware that USTRANSCOM is working towards better
    leveraging today's advanced computing power through incremental steps
    with key data initiatives. Acknowledging the criticality of data, a key
    USTRANSCOM initiative is to develop and implement a cloud-based data
    architecture to ingest, manage, and govern JDDE data. This will provide
    the required data foundation to exploit advanced analytics, artificial
    intelligence, and machine learning. If confirmed, I will continue to
    support future efforts such as this to enable USTRANSCOM to advance
    decision making in support of the warfighter throughout the spectrum of
    conflict.
                     sexual assault prevention and response
        Question. The Department of Defense has developed comprehensive
    policies and procedures to improve the prevention of and response to
    incidents of sexual assaults, including providing appropriate resources
    and care for victims of sexual assault.
        What is your view of the steps taken to prevent and respond to
    sexual assaults in U.S. Transportation Command, including assaults by
    and against U.S. civilian and contractor personnel?
        Answer. Sexual assault is destructive and undercuts our ability to
    keep a mission-focused, ready force. We are committed to preventing
    this crime, encouraging increased reporting, caring for victims, and
    holding offenders appropriately accountable. From what I understand,
    the steps taken by the U.S. Transportation Command have been thorough
    and successful. I further believe U.S. Transportation Command has
    policies, structures, and leadership committed to upholding an
    environment of respect, trust, and dignity to maintain a safe and
    healthy Command. If confirmed, I will continuously review the program
    to ensure it remains effective.
        Question. What is your view of the adequacy of U.S. Transportation
    Command policies and procedures to protect victims of sexual assault
    from retaliation for reporting the assault?
        Answer. Retaliation is an offense under the Uniform Code of
    Military Justice and should not be tolerated. I believe USTRANSCOM has
    been following Department of Defense sexual assault prevention and
    response policies, procedures and applicable laws. However, I know more
    work remains to be done to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and
    sexual assault, including retaliation against individuals who report
    sexual assault, within the DOD and I remain committed to this
    improvement journey.
        Question. What is your view of the adequacy of the training and
    resources in place in U.S. Transportation Command to investigate and
    respond to allegations of sexual assault?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM and their partners work together to investigate
    and respond to allegations of sexual assault. They also train the
    entire force annually in the concept of bystander intervention. This
    training reinforces to all servicemembers that they owe their fellow
    servicemembers a duty to step in and stop situations that could
    escalate into unwelcome sexual activity. However, more work remains to
    be done to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual assault
    within the DOD. If confirmed, I will continue to focus on all aspects
    of sexual assault and harassment, including training, education and
    accountability, to ensure that all U.S. Transportation Command members
    serve in a climate of dignity, respect, and inclusion.
        Question. What is your view of the willingness and ability of
    military leaders to hold servicemembers accountable for sexual
    misconduct?
        Answer. In my personal experience, commanders demonstrated a
    willingness to hold servicemembers accountable for sexual misconduct.
    Having had the privilege of serving in the United States Air Force for
    more than 30 years, at many duty stations, and with the Joint Force, I
    have been able to observe many different military leaders of all
    services with varied backgrounds. Over the course of those years, we
    have made significant progress in building and maintaining a fighting
    force that is representative of all Americans. The key to maintaining
    the strength of that force is providing an environment where those who
    engage in wrongdoing, no matter the offense, are held accountable. A
    military leader's responsibility is not only to ensure the health and
    safety of those under their command, but also to hold accountable those
    who commit misconduct, including sexual misconduct. Military leaders
    must understand both ends of this spectrum and remain equally committed
    to undertaking actions that ensure success.
        Question. What is your understanding of the adequacy of the
    resources and programs in U.S. Transportation Command to provide
    victims of sexual assault the medical, psychological, and legal help
    they need?
        Answer. The health and welfare of the victim is and will continue
    to be the foremost priority. U.S. Transportation Command teams with
    partner commands to provide preventive training and the full spectrum
    of response, medical services, and legal support to victims of sexual
    assault. While I cannot judge the adequacy of care and legal support in
    every case, if concerns are brought to my attention, I will take
    immediate action to address, if confirmed.
        Question. What is your view about the role of the chain of command
    in providing necessary support to the victims of sexual assault?
        Answer. Prevention, response and support of military members who
    are a victim of sexual assault or harassment is a leadership issue. A
    military leader is responsible for the health and safety of those under
    their command. Anyone who is the victim of sexual assault must have the
    full support of their chain of command and feel safe in coming forward,
    not only to seek justice but to seek any care they may need. If
    confirmed, I will continue to hold leaders and commanders accountable
    for prevention, response and support to victims of sexual assault.
        Question. What is your view about the role of the chain of command
    in changing the military culture in which these sexual assaults have
    occurred?
        Answer. Sexual assault prevention and response programs are
    Commander's programs, thus the chain of command is vital to creating an
    inclusive and supportive command culture. It is the role of the chain
    of command to make it clear, not just in words but in actions, that
    crimes including sexual assault will not be tolerated and to establish
    a safe environment for victims. Current authority granted to commanders
    allows them to hold accountable not only those who are the perpetrators
    of sexual assault but also those who engage in other crimes and
    misconduct that we often see when allegations of sexual assault are
    reported. If confirmed, I am fully committed to creating an inclusive
    command culture where members are treated with value, dignity and
    respect.
        Question. What is your assessment of the potential impact, if any,
    of proposals to remove disposition authority from military commanders
    over felony-level violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice,
    including sexual assault?
        Answer. The Uniform Code of Military Justice exists to provide
    justice and to maintain good order and discipline, both of which
    directly contribute to unit cohesion and military effectiveness in
    combat. I have not studied in-depth the implications of removing all
    disposition authorities from the military commanders over felony-level
    violations to clearly understand impacts, positive or negative. Given
    the criticality of Commander authority on and off the battlefield, we
    must thoughtfully understand the effects these changes would have on
    readiness, mission accomplishment, good order and discipline, and
    trust.
        The Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military
    recommended, and Secretary Austin endorsed, that an independent
    prosecution authority, rather than military commanders, should decide
    whether to pursue criminal charges in sexual assault and related cases.
    I am supportive of effective solutions to combatting the scourge of
    sexual assault, and I am looking forward to reviewing the Secretary's
    implementation plan.
        Question. Do you consider the current sexual assault policies and
    procedures, particularly those on restricted reporting, to be
    effective?
        Answer. Several years ago, the Department instituted restricted and
    unrestricted reporting options for victims of sexual assault. These
    options allowed victims to choose when to report and whether to pursue
    a criminal investigation. I believe that the reporting options, if
    properly implemented and followed, are effective and allow the victims
    to get needed and deserved support services in any case.
        Question. If confirmed, what actions will you take to reassess
    current policies, procedures, and programs and to ensure senior level
    direction and oversight of efforts to prevent and respond to sexual
    assaults in U.S. Transportation Command?
        Answer. If confirmed, I am committed to take all actions necessary
    to ensure current policies, procedures and programs as well as senior
    level direction and oversight efforts are complied with, and effective
    to prevent and respond to sexual assaults in U.S. Transportation
    Command. In my current assignment and in past assignments, I have met
    with the military experts and those charged with special
    responsibilities in these areas including the Inspector General, Sexual
    Assault Response Coordinator, Victims' Advocates, Judge Advocates, and
    others. If given the privilege to serve as Commander, U.S.
    Transportation Command, I will continue to rely upon these experts and
    ensure they have unfettered access to myself and all senior leaders to
    continuously strive towards a workplace safe from the scourge of sexual
    assault.
        Question. What methods for monitoring overall trends and gauging
    the sufficiency of component commanders' efforts in preventing and
    responding to incidents of sexual assault do you consider appropriate
    and intend to implement as U.S. Transportation Command Commander?
        Answer. Component Commanders, as commanders do at every level, set
    the standards and require our Joint Force professionals to meet them,
    including establishing the foundation of military discipline, while
    ensuring victims receive care, and holding perpetrators accountable. If
    confirmed, I will work with each of the Component Commanders to gain
    feedback on sexual assault and harassment trends, and program
    performance and effectiveness, to gauge the sufficiency of their
    efforts.
                            relations with congress
        Question. What are your views on the state of U.S. Transportation
    Command's relationship with the Senate Armed Services Committee in
    particular, and with Congress in general?
        Answer. USTRANSCOM has established a good working relationship with
    the Committee and Congress in general. I am confident the command is
    responsive to Congress' requests and aggressively works to meet any
    suspense set by Congress, whether it be for requests for information,
    briefings, office calls, or hearings.
        Question. If confirmed, what actions would you take to sustain a
    productive and mutually beneficial relationship between Congress and
    U.S. Transportation Command?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will continue the current working
    relationships already maintained by USTRANSCOM. I will make myself
    available to Congress, provide my personal view when asked, and ensure
    we continue to strive to meet any and all deadlines established by
    Congress on requests to USTRANSCOM.
                            congressional oversight
        Question. In order to exercise its legislative and oversight
    responsibilities, it is important that this Committee and other
    appropriate committees of Congress are able to receive testimony,
    briefings, reports, records (including documents and electronic
    communications) and other information from the Department.
        Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, and on request,
    to appear and testify before this committee, its subcommittees, and
    other appropriate committees of Congress? Please answer with a simple
    yes or no.
        Answer. Yes.
        Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, to
    provide this committee, its subcommittees, other appropriate committees
    of Congress, and their respective staffs such witnesses and briefers,
    briefings, reports, records (including documents and electronic
    communications), and other information as may be requested of you, and
    to do so in a timely manner? Please answer with a simple yes or no.
        Answer. Yes.
        Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, to
    consult with this committee, its subcommittees, other appropriate
    committees of Congress, and their respective staffs, regarding your
    basis for any delay or denial in providing testimony, briefings,
    reports, records--including documents and electronic communications,
    and other information requested of you? Please answer with a simple yes
    or no.
        Answer. Yes.
        Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, to
    keep this committee, its subcommittees, other appropriate committees of
    Congress, and their respective staffs apprised of new information that
    materially impacts the accuracy of testimony, briefings, reports,
    records--including documents and electronic communications, and other
    information you or your organization previously provided? Please answer
    with a simple yes or no.
        Answer. Yes.
        Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, and on
    request, to provide this committee and its subcommittees with records
    and other information within their oversight jurisdiction, even absent
    a formal Committee request? Please answer with a simple yes or no.
        Answer. Yes.
        Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, to
    respond timely to letters to, and/or inquiries and other requests of
    you or your organization from individual Senators who are members of
    this committee? Please answer with a simple yes or no.
        Answer. Yes.
        Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, to
    ensure that you and other members of your organization protect from
    retaliation any military member, federal employee, or contractor
    employee who testifies before, or communicates with this committee, its
    subcommittees, and any other appropriate committee of Congress? Please
    answer with a simple yes or no.
        Answer. Yes.
                                     ______

        [Questions for the record with answers supplied follow:]

                 Questions Submitted by Senator Jeanne Shaheen
              pease air national guard aerial pavement evaluation
        1. Senator Shaheen. General Van Ovost, 11 of 12 apron sections
    evaluated at Pease Airbase are owned by the Air National Guard (ANG).
    The North Apron accounts for 24 percent (683,709 sf) of ANG pavement.
    Overall, the ANG portion of the North Apron (A01C1) is the lowest-rated
    apron and is in serious condition. Can U.S. Transportation Command
    (TRANSCOM) identify and report the impact this degradation has to
    future dynamic global operations such as supporting alternate strategic
    assets outside of KC-46 and KC-135?
        General Van Ovost. On an annual basis the posture plans for both
    NORTHCOM and TRANSCOM are evaluated over the FYDP to ensure adequate
    infrastructure exists both in and outside the United States to support
    operational plans and contingency missions. Pease ANGB is a critical
    location that is consistently evaluated against those requirements.

        2. Senator Shaheen. General Van Ovost, in accordance with the 2016
    Aerial Pavement Evaluation, all aprons at Pease can support assigned
    KC-135 and future KC-46 aircraft with no Allowable Gross Load
    restrictions. Can TRANSCOM coordinate with Air National Guard to report
    and specify what domestic and international assets are restricted at
    the deteriorated aprons such as North Apron and Nose Dock Apron which
    are both in very poor to serious condition?
        General Van Ovost. The 2016 Aerial Pavement Evaluation does confirm
    all aprons at Pease can support assigned KC-135 and future KC-46
    aircraft with no Allowable Gross Load restrictions. Those responsible
    authorities for aircraft operations to include domestic and
    international assets are provided airfield suitability information,
    including apron conditions, from which they can make accurate risk
    informed decisions on operating their aircraft on the Pease ramps.

        3. Senator Shaheen. General Van Ovost, can you share how you intend
    to remain committed to continue engagement with the New Hampshire
    National Guard on the deterioration of the Pease parking ramp and the
    impact assessment on Pease's ability to host strategic assets?
        General Van Ovost. Senator Shaheen, if confirmed, I commit to
    engaging and working with my staff and the committee to ensure
    sufficient and accessible mobility infrastructure exists, not only in
    the Northeast, but globally, to meet the National Defense Strategy now
    and in the future. I will ensure Pease ANGB and its capacity and
    capabilities are properly evaluated against mobility requirements in
    TRANSCOM's annual posture plan review. Our Air Force staffs to include
    the National Guard Bureau, Air Mobility Command, and the Air Force
    Civil Engineer Center are manned with subject matter experts who will
    maintain visibility of the Pease parking ramp conditions. The staffs
    work together to ensure commanders are aware of pavement conditions and
    ability to support assigned missions.

        4. Senator Shaheen. General Van Ovost, if TRANSCOM finds that
    restoration of the parking ramp is in the best interest of supporting
    global requirements, how do you intend to ensure that the funding to
    facilitate the restoration of the parking apron is executed in a timely
    manner to mitigate future operational limitations for Pease?
        General Van Ovost. If current or future mission requirements are
    identified requiring funding, TRANSCOM will work with the Department of
    the Air Force and the National Guard Bureau through the MILCON working
    group process for project prioritization and funding allocation.
    Parking apron restoration would be prioritized with all Air Force
    facility restoration, modernization, and repair projects. Air Force
    staffs review, prioritize, fund, and execute these projects on an
    annual basis. Pavement evaluations, mission requirements and field
    commanders will help inform prioritization of any future Pease ANGB
    apron restoration projects.
                                   __________

                 Questions Submitted by Senator Mazie K. Hirono
                               sexual harassment
        5. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, as part of my responsibility
    as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and to ensure
    the fitness of nominees for appointment to senior positions within the
    Department of Defense, I will be asking the same two questions that I
    ask nominees to all of the committees on which I serve. Since you
    became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual
    favors, or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a
    sexual nature?
        General Van Ovost. No

        6. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, have you ever faced
    discipline, or entered into a settlement related to this kind of
    conduct?
        General Van Ovost. No
                             afghanistan evacuation
        7. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, I want to thank you and your
    team at Air Mobility Command for your extraordinary work executing the
    around-the-clock, historic airlift operation to evacuate over 124,000
    U.S. citizens and Afghan partners under extremely dangerous conditions.
    What are your initial thoughts on the airlift, and are there any
    lessons learned you have identified up front you can discuss with us
    today?
        General Van Ovost. Our Airmen executed this historic NEO mission
    with extraordinary skill both in the air and on the ground. Our
    aircrew, maintainers, logisticians, medical personnel and others
    continuously amazed the AMC leadership team with their resourcefulness
    and skill as they tackled new problems daily. Although this was a
    relatively short operation, the Airmen and our aircraft operated at a
    significant level of stress and we are in the process of reconstituting
    the force, regaining readiness, and planning for the future.
        The AMC and USTRANSCOM teams are involved in an extensive effort to
    collect lessons and move out on actionable items to improve our ability
    to meet mission requirements. However, there are a number of things
    that are immediately apparent from my perspective. First, this
    operation confirmed that our ability to project and sustain the joint
    force is inextricably linked to our commercial industry partners.
    Second, we need to improve our data systems to provide the information
    our military commanders, Federal departments, commercial partners, and
    allies and partners need to make decisions at the speed of relevance.
    Next USTRANSCOM and AMC C2 systems need to be more flexible when
    responding to rapidly changing conditions and scenarios. Finally, we
    need to pursue a refined common operating picture and better tools to
    increase situational awareness.

        8. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, if confirmed, will TRANSCOM
    conduct an after-action report sharable with Congress so we can
    understand in more detail what went right and what went wrong during
    the operation to inform future missions of this sort?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, USTRANSCOM is conducting an after-action
    report and if confirmed, I will share the report with Congress.
                            sealift recapitalization
        9. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, in General Stephen Lyons'
    statement to the Committee at the TRANSCOM posture hearing earlier this
    year, he pointed out that 33 of our 50 Roll on/Roll off sealift ships
    are scheduled for retirement in the next 10 years. In last year's
    National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress took steps to
    bolster the Government's ability to purchase additional used, foreign
    vessels currently on the market to augment the ready reserve force. How
    do you assess the progress of recapitalizing our sealift fleet?
        General Van Ovost. I am grateful for Congress' continued support of
    the U.S. Navy's plan to recapitalize the fleet. Although vessel
    acquisitions were delayed in FY21, a vessel acquisition manager is now
    in place. Accordingly, the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Administration
    expect to survey candidate vessels in the October 2021 timeframe, and
    they expect used ship purchases in calendar year 2022, to begin the
    recapitalization process. If funding for ship purchases continues
    beyond 2022, I assess that our recapitalization efforts will remain
    satisfactory.

        10. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, do the current sealift
    recapitalization plans sufficiently address the potential for attrition
    during a conflict with a near-peer competitor like China or Russia?
        General Van Ovost. The FY20 NDAA directed a Mobility Capability
    Requirements Study (MCRS) to assess the adequacy of the Joint
    Deployment and Distribution Enterprise's capacity relative to the
    current National Defense Strategy (NDS). The study assessed the demands
    associated with the NDS and factored in the implications of contested
    environments and their impact on mobility forces. I have reviewed the
    findings and recommendations of the recently released MCRS and Fuel
    Tanker Vessel Study, and if confirmed, I will work with the Joint
    community to implement appropriate recommendations from these studies.

        11. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, section 3511 of last year's
    NDAA provided authority to establish a Tanker Security Program, subject
    to the results of a TRANSCOM Mobility Requirements Study. Do you have
    sufficient results from that study to determine whether the Tanker
    Security Program needs to be implemented?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM recently completed the Fuel Tanker
    Vessel Study to address the Department's ability to meet future
    combatant commander deployment and sustainment requirements. This
    comprehensive and thorough study concluded insufficient U.S. flag
    tanker capacity exists to meet NDS requirements. DOD will have an
    enduring need for foreign flag tanker augmentation. The study's
    analysis clearly demonstrated the need for a Tanker Security Program in
    addition to identifying several other solutions. These solutions,
    working together, are important steps toward a comprehensive strategy
    to increase U.S. flag tanker capacity, to reduce the risk of reliance
    on foreign flag tankers for the most important fuel missions, and to
    ensure the DOD has sufficient tanker capabilities to meet NDS
    objectives.
                                 space mobility
        12. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, General Lyons confirmed with
    me in April that TRANSCOM is working closely with industry partners
    like SpaceX on the viability of using space-based vehicles to rapidly
    deliver time-sensitive logistics anywhere in the world. This technology
    is a potential game-changer, especially in the Indo-Pacific, where
    commanders are confronted with the tyranny of distance and time when
    moving people and parts from one location to another. Can you provide
    us a brief progress update on space mobility?
        General Van Ovost. With the recent high-profile successes of
    commercial rocket launches, the possibility of rocket cargo point-to-
    point intra-planetary transportation is closer to reality than at any
    other time in the Space Age. USTRANSCOM continues to investigate rocket
    cargo transportation, from the end user's perspective, as a potentially
    disruptive fourth mode of transportation in the Joint Deployment and
    Distribution Enterprise portfolio. The capabilities of space
    transportation appear to offer enhanced supply chain responsiveness as
    well as improved global access. USTRANSCOM is continuing its
    investigation of space transportation opportunities through cooperative
    research, with an expanding variety of industry partners. The command's
    preference is to encourage the development of a competitive field of
    space transportation sources, offering a spectrum of capabilities from
    which to choose for urgent lift supporting future operations. Even in
    these early stages of inquiry, we have learned that more concept
    development is needed to make space transportation not just feasible,
    but practical. Integration with existing supply chain equipment,
    materiel handling and packaging concepts, reliable return of reusable
    space vehicles from their destinations, and requirements for the
    supporting infrastructure remain fundamental, to-be-answered questions.
    We are still in the early stages of adding partners, learning
    feasibility, and planning concept demonstrations. USTRANSCOM is also in
    close communication with the DOD's science and technology community,
    including U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory, to
    learn from their own deep dives on the status of enabling space
    transportation technologies. If confirmed, I plan to continue the
    collaborative work with Government and industry to understand the
    maturity, uses, limitations, and value of this new transportation
    opportunity, which is still emerging from industry sources.

        13. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, if confirmed, do you plan to
    prioritize this capability as the next TRANSCOM Commander?
        General Van Ovost. In strategic competition, perpetuation of the
    Nation's unparalleled global transportation capabilities in the sea,
    air, and land domains must succeed. At the same time, the opportunities
    to enhance our response to global transportation needs through the
    emerging dimension of space transportation, must be explored to
    determine its reach, speed, and reliability, and feasibility. If
    confirmed, I will ensure USTRANSCOM remains a proponent of advancing
    rocket cargo as a potentially disruptive transportation capability.
                                aerial refueling
        14. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, in last year's NDAA,
    Congress set limits on the number of KC-135 and KC-10 tanker aircraft
    the Air Force could retire over the next couple years as a result of
    delays in fielding the new KC-46 aircraft. I think this year's final
    bill will also have some limitations as well, although that's subject
    to change. Are you concerned about the pace of retirements of the Air
    Force's legacy tanker fleet?
        General Van Ovost. I am not concerned with the pace of retirements
    for KC-10 and KC-135 aircraft, and I support the retirement profile
    outlined by the DOD legislative proposal submitted for congressional
    review for the FY22 NDAA. USTRANSCOM currently has sufficient capacity
    to meet steady State and crisis response demands. With exceptional
    collaboration between the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and USTRANSCOM, four
    positive developments occurred over the last year that allowed
    USTRANSCOM to arrive at a workable solution with the USAF. First,
    Boeing accepted responsibility to fix the KC-46 contract's ``Category
    1'' deficiencies, enabling the USAF to present a KC-46 Interim
    Capability Release. Second, the USAF agreed to lower the KC-10
    divestiture profile. Third, the USAF funded additional MPA to increase
    the Reserve and Guard air refueling capacity and contributions.
    Finally, we are seeing a reduction in air refueling demand in the
    USCENTCOM AOR.

        15. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, what changes to the limits
    of retirements, if any, do you recommend Congress make in this year's
    NDAA?
        General Van Ovost. I support the retirement profile outlined by the
    DOD Legislative Proposal. The exceptional collaboration between the
    USAF and USTRANSCOM resulted in an agreed-upon retirement profile for
    FY22: 36 KC-10 (divest 14 in FY22) and 376 KC-135 (divest 18 in FY22).

        16. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, is the current and projected
    future tanker fleet size sufficient to address the potential for
    attrition during a conflict with a near-peer competitor like China or
    Russia?
        General Van Ovost. The recently completed Mobility Capability and
    Requirements Study 2020 (MCRS-20), directed by the FY20 NDAA, goes into
    detail on the sufficiency of this force element. While all the
    specifics cannot be detailed here, the air refueling fleet is
    sufficient, but will certainly be stressed by the various NDS wartime
    missions associated with great power competitors.

        17. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, this year's version of the
    Senate NDAA would prohibit the Air Force from developing a follow-on to
    the KC-46 aerial tanker--how do you view that issue?
        General Van Ovost. We cannot delay the acquisition process of a
    follow-on tanker if the Air Force is to meet the required timelines and
    budgetary actions necessary to continue this vital recapitalization
    effort. When the final KC-46 is delivered by the current program of
    record, the remaining KC-135 fleet will be approximately 70 years of
    age. The air refueling fleet is and will remain critical to this
    country's ability to deploy and employ combat aircraft, intelligence,
    surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, and command and control
    aircraft during contingency operations. Continued recapitalization of
    the aging KC-135 is critical to maintain a ready and capable air
    refueling fleet postured to respond and execute National Defense
    Strategy wartime mission sets.
                                 cybersecurity
        18. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, there are benefits to
    partnering with civilian carriers to meet TRANSCOM's missions, but also
    the risks that come from partnering with companies who primarily use
    unclassified networks. What is your understanding of the current status
    of TRANSCOM's efforts to harden its networks to defend against
    cyberattacks?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM has made, and continues to make,
    significant efforts to harden its networks from cyberattacks. Cyber
    mission assurance is a top priority for USTRANSCOM, and USTRANSCOM is
    making investments to protect command, control, information technology
    systems, and infrastructure that are most consequential to mission
    success. This includes continued investment in cloud services, which
    has led to a more robust infrastructure, increased security posture,
    and improved resiliency of mobility systems. USTRANSCOM is also
    adopting security best practices, increasing emphasis on improving the
    cybersecurity posture of its most critical systems, and partnering with
    organizations within the DOD to continue implementing a new information
    security framework, known as Zero Trust, to harden its networks.

        19. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, if confirmed, will you
    continue coordinating with CYBERCOM on this effort?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM has a strong relationship with
    USCYBERCOM. If confirmed, I will continue to coordinate with USCYBERCOM
    and strengthen this relationship.
                                 military moves
        20. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, last November, the
    Government Accountability Office (GAO) overturned the Department of
    Defense's (DOD) multi-billion dollar contract award to move service
    members' household goods around the world because of pervasive errors
    in the contracting process. I don't believe to date TRANSCOM has re-
    awarded that contract, so if confirmed, that decision will fall to you,
    General. What is your understanding of the status of re-awarding that
    contract?
        General Van Ovost. I anticipate award of the Global Household Goods
    Contract (GHC) to occur in late October 2021. USTRANSCOM anticipates
    additional protests will follow the re-award, which will delay start of
    the 9-month contract transition period approximately March 2022,
    presuming USTRANSCOM prevails in the protest. Following transition, we
    will begin a 7-month phase-in of moves and will avoid significant
    changes during the 2023 peak PCS season. We expect GHC will be at full
    performance by December 2023.
        After GAO's recommendations sustaining some of the protest
    allegations, and in accordance with GAO's recommendations, the
    USTRANSCOM Acquisition Directorate initiated corrective actions and
    invited the offerors in the competitive range to submit new proposals.
    The source selection team, which includes members from USTRANSCOM, each
    of the Military Departments and the Coast Guard, evaluated those
    proposals from December 2020 through September 2021.
        After conducting these proposal evaluations from a ``clean slate,''
    the evaluation team completed multiple iterations of ``discussions''
    (negotiations) with the offerors and the Source Selection Advisory
    Council (SSAC), inclusive of USTRANSCOM senior leaders, each of the
    Military Departments, and the Coast Guard, who unanimously made an
    award recommendation to the Source Selection Authority. The SSAC's
    recommendation and associated documentation currently is undergoing
    multiple levels of review, to include third party reviews by Defense
    Pricing and Contracting professionals and the U.S. Air Force Judge
    Advocate General's Acquisition, Fiscal Law, and Litigation Directorate.

        21. Senator Hirono. General Van Ovost, do you plan to take into
    consideration the timing of any implementation of that contract to
    avoid, to the extent possible, negative effects it might have on
    military service member and family household good movements, especially
    during the summer peak season?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, I do. Improving the ``at the curb''
    experience for service members and families is the North Star.
    USTRANSCOM undertook this massive effort because of their concern for
    Service members and their families. To minimize transition impact on
    service members and families, USTRANSCOM instructed offerors to avoid
    volume phase-in during peak season. The Performance Work Statement
    (Appendix A, Para A.1) states: ``Offerors must plan to accommodate work
    interruptions should protests warrant, and shift Volume Phase-In
    Periods as necessary so that a significant phase-in volume does not
    occur during peak relocation season (15 May through 31 August).''
                                   __________

                 Questions Submitted by Senator Joe Manchin III
                                regional threats
        22. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, in April we heard from
    General Stephen Lyons that the success of the DOD's power projection
    capability was contingent on three critical elements which were: global
    mobility posture, global transport capacity, and global command and
    control integration. Do you believe there are any shortfalls in our
    allies' capabilities to support these critical requirements if TRANSCOM
    is called to respond in support of the North Atlantic Treaty
    Organization (NATO)?
        General Van Ovost. Deep relationships with our allies and partners
    are essential to deterrence and to the access, basing, and overflight
    capability that underpin USTRANSCOM operations worldwide. If USTRANSCOM
    is called upon to respond in support of NATO in Europe, we would rely
    on--and we would expect to receive--NATO host nation support to provide
    needed access to airfields and port facilities in Europe and road and
    rail movement across multiple countries without restrictive border
    crossing requirements. While we enjoy excellent access, basing, and
    overflight cooperation with allies and partners currently, future
    operations will demand more distributed operating locations given the
    improved range and precision of our adversaries' fires.

        23. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, what shortfalls have you
    experienced in your career with interoperability within our own
    Services, commercial partners, and allied nations, and how do you
    intend to solve them at TRANSCOM?
        General Van Ovost. Interoperability is key to operate in today's
    security environment. If confirmed, I intend to advocate to pursue
    developing common systems to share data with other services, our
    commercial partners, allies, and most importantly other Federal
    departments. DOD's ability to decide and act effectively is critical to
    our ability to compete, deter and win. Within the framework of Joint
    All Domain Command and Control (JADC2), the Air Force's Advanced Battle
    Management System (ABMS) is the cornerstone of our C2 structure for
    enabling connectivity to the data to empower rapid decisionmaking. In
    addition, while USTRANSCOM does not ``Command and Control'' the Civil
    Reserve Air Fleet aircraft, communication between Air Mobility
    Command's Air Operations Center and the airline operations centers is
    critical to being able to effectively utilize the capabilities they
    bring to bear.. Specifically, we need to eliminate policies which
    unnecessarily slow or inhibit classified or unclassified communication
    with our industry partners, while training and equipping those partners
    to communicate with us to enable USTRANSCOM and its components to
    effectively execute their missions in the time of need.
                cyber vulnerabilities of transportation command
        24. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, cyber threats continue to
    be a growing concern and threat to our Nation's security and
    infrastructure. General Lyons told us back in April that TRANSCOM was
    moving forward with a third-party verification process to ensure the
    companies TRANSCOM works with are up to snuff in their cybersecurity
    measures. Are you aware of this program, and if so, can you give us an
    update?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, I am aware of this program. USTRANSCOM has
    awarded a proof-of-principle contract to have a third party assess our
    commercial partners' compliance with Cyber Maturity Model Certification
    (CMMC) Level 3 requirements. USTRANSCOM is now coordinating with two
    commercial partners to identify dates for the third party to conduct
    the assessment, which will provide indications of compliance with NIST
    security controls and identify gaps.

        25. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, if not, do you commit to
    ensuring all contractor meet the Cybersecurity Maturity Model
    Certification if you are confirmed?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, if confirmed, I commit to incorporating
    CMMC language into USTRANSCOM contracts in line with DOD timelines and
    ensuring all contractors meet the CMMC requirements.

        26. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, on the topic of increased
    cybersecurity, I've been hearing for years that the Department of
    Defense is working toward implementation of a zero-trust network to
    ensure our systems are as secure as they can be, but I haven't seen
    much progress. Are you familiar with zero-trust concepts, and can you
    ensure their implementation will be a priority for you as TRANSCOM
    Commander?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, I'm familiar with Zero Trust concepts and
    know that USTRANSCOM, in partnership with USCYBERCOM, is implementing a
    Zero Trust security model on its classified network that will enhance
    network traffic visibility and better position the command to secure
    sensitive data, systems, and services. USTRANSCOM will achieve the
    baseline Zero Trust maturity level, as outlined in the Department's
    Zero Trust Reference Architecture, by the end of this calendar year. If
    confirmed, I will make advancing the Zero Trust security model beyond
    the baseline maturity level a priority.
                              worldwide logistics
        27. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, the level of coordination,
    fleet readiness, and response to the combatant commanders in light of
    the COVID pandemic that TRANSCOM provided is nothing short of amazing.
    The global threat from rational and irrational states and actors is
    ongoing and the rise of humanitarian support and crisis mitigation is
    enduring. As a nation ready to support humanity, TRANSCOM has a
    critical role in the success of these missions. However, the age of our
    surface connectors, computer based systems, and the increasing threat
    of precision fires concerns me. What are your concerns if called today
    to support an armed conflict in a contested environment while also
    potentially called to support a humanitarian mission on opposite sides
    of the world?
        General Van Ovost. The NDS delineates a shift to great power
    competition and potential conflict that will challenge the ability to
    deploy and sustain the Joint Force in every segment of mobility
    operations, especially in divergent geographic locations. In the
    homeland, adversary actions in the cyber domain, particularly against
    USTRANSCOM's command and control centers for air refueling, airlift,
    and sealift, is a priority concern in terms of consequence to support
    wartime missions.
        Another concern is maintaining and improving our global
    transportation nodes. Our mobility posture provides access, basing, and
    overflight, which are critical in wartime, but also essential in any
    global response as recently demonstrated in the Afghan NEO. Our allies
    and partners provide the nodes and networks necessary to connect the
    globe and provide options that we must protect against malign actions
    of our adversaries.
        I am also concerned by the long, contested lines of communications
    against both China and Russia, and the tyranny of distance in the Indo-
    Pacific region. This requires the integration of logistics planning
    across all warfighting functions to support the joint warfight. The
    growth in demand from increasingly dispersed operations, increasingly
    complex and lethal kinetic platforms, and extended adversary anti-
    access and area denial capabilities place immediate stressors on the
    Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise to support forward forces
    immediately, as we rapidly build capacity to deploy a decisive force.
        Finally, the core mobility assets of strategic and intra-theater
    sea and airlift, as well as air refueling capabilities, in sufficient
    numbers and readiness, remain critical in supporting national
    objectives for humanitarian operations and wartime output. Both the
    Mobility Capability and Requirements Study 2020 (MCRS)-20 and POL
    Tanker Study submitted to Congress in June 2021, provide greater detail
    in these areas.

        28. Senator Manchin. General Van Ovost, if you are confirmed, how
    do you intend to ensure your command review makes sure you're
    prioritizing capabilities that can succeed in a global conflict against
    near-peer adversaries?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM's priorities are synchronized with
    and support the National Defense Strategy. In terms of access, our
    regional posture enhances the flexibility and warfighting effectiveness
    of USTRANSCOM assets. If confirmed, I will continue to ensure
    USTRANSCOM invests in partnerships that expand access and support
    adaptive basing initiatives critical for success. Checking the malign
    influence of Russia and China will be a cooperative effort with the
    Geographic Combatant Commands, and our ability to identify critical en-
    route infrastructure is a major element of USTRANSCOM's posture plan.
    Within the United States, our domestic road, rail, and seaport
    infrastructure is also a key component of power projection. I will
    leverage our National Defense Programs in partnership with the
    Department of Transportation to ensure these remain capable of
    supporting national defense objectives.
                                   __________

                 Questions Submitted by Senator Tammy Duckworth
                     joint transportation management system
        29. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, I understand TRANSCOM
    seeks to procure and implement a single integrated system for logistics
    services known as the Joint Transportation Management System (JTMS) to
    ensure our service members have access to data faster to make sound
    decisions. What is the timeline for JTMS procurement and fielding?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM has been working with the Office of
    the Secretary of Defense on the Joint Transportation Management System
    (JTMS) as part of a broad, department-wide transportation business
    reform effort. The final recommendation to the department on JTMS is
    pending solution analysis that is currently underway. The purpose of
    JTMS is to leverage commercial transportation and financial software to
    integrate financial management and transportation business operations
    at the transactional level to improve the department's ability to
    record and provide timely reconciliation of transportation and
    financial management transactions accurately, which have resulted in
    long-standing financial management deficiencies. JTMS is intended to
    contribute to the department's efforts to close auditability gaps and
    meet the statutory requirements identified in Section 103, Audit of the
    Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2018, in the 2014 National Defense
    Authorization Act.
        JTMS feasibility analysis currently is in progress so a final
    timeline for procurement and fielding has not been finalized.
    USTRANSCOM is actively working with the Office of the Secretary of
    Defense, Military Departments, and other stakeholders to ensure, should
    the department proceed, that JTMS will meet the intended business
    reform requirements.

        30. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, is there a plan to test
    and evaluate such a system?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM worked with Department stakeholders
    on several efforts to test and evaluate the feasibility and
    applicability of commercial software to meet Department-wide
    transportation and financial management business reforms requirements
    to include conducting a limited prototyping effort from 2018 to 2020.
    While initial results were encouraging, additional analysis and
    stakeholder input was needed based on the limited scope of the
    prototype.

        31. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, if testing occurred, what
    were the lessons learned?
        General Van Ovost. While the JTMS prototype effort showed
    commercial transportation and financial software has a degree of
    applicability and could assist USTRANSCOM and the Department of Defense
    achieve a level of business reforms, commercial software alone cannot
    solve all desired reforms, and meet all operational requirements.
    Additionally, the prototype was of limited scope and duration that
    necessitated further analysis. Like any large-scale information
    technology project, JTMS will require department wide policy changes, a
    significant business process reengineering effort, integration into the
    existing department IT portfolio, and a comprehensive change management
    strategy should the department proceed. Additionally, USTRANSCOM and
    the department conduct unique, DOD-specific operations where no
    commercial software solution exists.

        32. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, finally, when do you
    anticipate JTMS to be fully operationally capable?
        General Van Ovost. A fully operational date has not been
    established. Should JTMS go forward, however, based on the size, scale,
    and diverse nature of USTRANSCOM and the Department's global
    transportation mission, roll-out will be a multi-year endeavor.
                                 cybersecurity
        33. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, we must maintain a
    competitive edge in the cyber domain as our global command and control
    underpin our logistics capabilities. TRANSCOM must be prepared to
    operate in a contested logistics and persistent multi-domain attack
    environment. Could you please provide the progress made through
    TRANSCOM's partnership with U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) to implement
    a proof of principle using ``Zero Trust'' security?
        General Van Ovost. In partnership with USCYBERCOM, USTRANSCOM has
    made significant progress toward implementing a Zero Trust security
    model on its classified network. USTRANSCOM is on track to achieve the
    baseline Zero Trust maturity level, as outlined in the Department's
    Zero Trust Reference Architecture, by the end of this calendar year. If
    confirmed, I will make advancing the Zero Trust security model beyond
    the baseline maturity level a priority.

        34. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, when will the results
    become available?
        General Van Ovost. USCYBERCOM will conduct a Zero Trust validation
    event on USTRANSCOM's classified network no later than mid-January
    2022, which will assess whether USTRANSCOM successfully achieved the
    baseline Zero Trust maturity level.

        35. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, in addition to cyber
    hygiene and third-party inspections, what efforts is TRANSCOM pursuing
    to build cybersecurity and resilience with commercial partners?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM incorporates Defense Federal
    Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) cyber language into its
    contracts. In addition, USTRANSCOM contracts require Transportation
    Service Providers (TSPs) to perform annual cybersecurity self-
    assessment of the 110 National Institute of Standards and Technology
    (NIST) security controls outlined in NIST SP 800-171. During meetings
    with TSPs to discuss their self-assessments, and in several other
    forums, USTRANSCOM shares information and collaborates with the TSPs,
    enabling them to advance their cybersecurity posture and better manage
    risk. USTRANSCOM also has a Cyber Working Group that is assessing
    requirements needed above NIST to ensure cybersecurity. If confirmed, I
    will continue to strengthen the relationships with commercial partners
    to ensure we maintain a shared understanding of threats so we can be
    agile enough to combat these threats as they arise.

        36. Senator Duckworth. General Van Ovost, what resources are
    required to ensure the security of our data in cyber-contested
    environments?
        General Van Ovost. Given USTRANSCOM's unique mission, ensuring data
    security in a cyber-contested environment is paramount. The resources
    required include investment in cloud services, implementation of
    advanced detection and response solutions, and Zero Trust security
    capabilities. It also requires investment in technologies such as
    machine learning and artificial intelligence to both secure the data
    and assure data is available at the speed of need. We must also take
    advantage of the significant advances in commercial technology and
    integrate it into military technologies, especially when it comes to
    using data to make better decisions.
                                   __________

                   Questions Submitted by Senator Jacky Rosen
                                cyber intrusions
        37. Senator Rosen. General Van Ovost, what are the steps you will
    take as the head of TRANSCOM to improve the cybersecurity posture of
    our most critical systems?
        General Van Ovost. If confirmed, I will continue to make
    cybersecurity posture and cyber mission assurance a priority for
    USTRANSCOM and ensure we make the appropriate investments to protect
    command and control and information technology systems and
    infrastructure most consequential to mission success. My focus areas
    will include adopting security best practices and continued investment
    in cloud services that lead to a more robust infrastructure, increased
    security posture, and improved resiliency for our mobility systems. I
    will also ensure we continue progress implementing Zero Trust security
    capabilities.

        38. Senator Rosen. General Van Ovost, how will you work with
    CYBERCOM and key stakeholders to mitigate the operational impact of any
    malicious cyber campaigns?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM is already aligned closely with
    USCYBERCOM and key stakeholders on a wide array of cybersecurity
    initiatives designed to counter the impact of any malicious cyber
    campaign. USTRANSCOM also works with USCYBERCOM to execute joint
    defensive cyber operations in response to emerging threats and named
    operations to mitigate known cyber vulnerabilities. If confirmed, I
    will continue to ensure USTRANSCOM remains aligned closely with
    USCYBERCOM and key stakeholders on all initiatives and operations.
                                cloud migration
        39. Senator Rosen. General Van Ovost, can you discuss the key
    benefits of migrating TRANSCOM's cyber domain to a commercial cloud and
    how, if confirmed, will you share lessons and best practices with other
    parts of DOD--including how to move older DOD technologies to a
    commercial cloud?
        General Van Ovost. The key benefits of migrating USTRANSCOM's cyber
    domain to a commercial cloud are the ability to make use of the data,
    security, resiliency, and application advantages that cloud technology
    offers. If confirmed, I will ensure USTRANSCOM continues to share
    lessons learned and best practices with other parts of the Department
    through the existing groups the Command already participates in, such
    as the DOD Digital Modernization Executive Committee and DOD Chief
    Information Officer Cloud Community of Interest.
                                 rapid mobility
        40. Senator Rosen. General Van Ovost, can you discuss how you will
    use your current experience to build off of the Joint Warfighting
    Concept to ensure TRANSCOM can deliver in future mobility operations
    through better use of data?
        General Van Ovost. My experience as the AMC Commander, as well as
    our collective experience, tells us that logistics holds the potential
    to be a pathfinder for better interoperability, security, and
    visibility of data across the Joint Force. The need for defined,
    secure, and shared logistics data is ubiquitous across all elements of
    the Joint Force, and with our industry partners and allies. Competitive
    advantage against adversaries through information dominance is a key
    element of the Joint Warfighting Concept, and in the supporting Joint
    Concept for Contested Logistics. Unlocking the latent potential of
    trusted, reliable logistics data will not only enhance mobility
    operations, but more importantly, inform joint planning to ensure
    operational plans are logistically feasible.
        USTRANSCOM remains a strong advocate for, and supporter of, the
    Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative, which is intrinsically
    linked to the Joint Warfighting Concept. This overarching effort will
    help enable more localized data management improvement efforts, such as
    the Aerial Port of the Future Joint Capability Technical Demonstration.
    The Aerial Port of the Future may radically change how we collect,
    process, and use data within and across aerial ports on a global scale.
    Finally, if confirmed, I will continue to advocate for prioritized
    Department-wide investments in those data management solutions that
    enhance global command and control, mobility capability and capacity,
    and commercial industry and allied partner data interoperability.
                                    covid-19
        41. Senator Rosen. General Van Ovost, if confirmed, what is your
    strategy for continuing to deliver on TRANSCOM's promise to support the
    Department of Defense's operations during the ongoing pandemic,
    including collaborating with our allies?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM has and will continue to implement
    OSD guidance on force health protection for our uniformed personnel,
    Government civilians, contractors, and our work centers. For our
    patient movement mission, we will continue to provide safe transport of
    COVID-19 positive patients in our biocontainment units for both our C-
    17s and C-130's, using specially trained aeromedical evacuation teams
    and critical care air transport teams. USTRANSCOM will also continue to
    provide force health protection measures for individuals traveling on
    USTRANSCOM aircraft, to include 72-hour pre-departure COVID-19 testing
    for those who are unvaccinated or for those heading to destinations
    where our partner nations require a negative 72-hour pre-departure test
    before entry into their country. If confirmed, I will enforce this
    guidance until OSD and the Geographic Combatant Commands provide new
    guidance.

        42. Senator Rosen. General Van Ovost, can you discuss how you will
    mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on TRANSCOM's long-term operations?
        General Van Ovost. In coordination with OSD, we will implement the
    Executive Orders mandating vaccination of our uniformed personnel,
    Government civilians, and contractors. For our Component Commands,
    implementation of the OSD guidance on force health protection will be
    executed through Military Department channels. USTRANSCOM has provided
    guidance to the workforce on telework, virtual meetings, use of face
    coverings in accordance with OSD guidance, reinforced regular cleaning
    and disinfecting of work and common spaces, and emphasized good
    personal hygiene to include frequent handwashing. USTRANSCOM will also
    continue to provide force health protection measures for individuals
    traveling on USTRANSCOM aircraft. For our patient movement mission, we
    will continue to provide safe transport of COVID-19 positive patients
    in our biocontainment units for both our C-17s and C-130's. Finally, we
    will share best practices with the department, industry, the inter-
    agency, and our allies.
                                   __________

                   Questions Submitted by Senator Thom Tillis
                     aerial refueling operations/platforms
        43. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, the Air Force and TRANSCOM
    have previously stated that more than 25,000 hours of aerial refueling
    missions are not being supported annually. Given that the KC-46 is
    still not fully operational, and the Air Force has already begun
    retiring some of the legacy tanker fleet, I assume that there is still
    a significant shortfall in TRANSCOM's aerial refueling capacity. What
    is the current shortfall?
        General Van Ovost. TRANSCOM currently has sufficient capacity to
    meet steady State and crisis response air refueling demands according
    to the most important priorities articulated by the Joint Staff and
    NDS.
        In April 2020, the Secretary of the Air Force provided Congress
    with a report titled ``FY20 NDAA Contractor-Operated Aerial Refueling
    Aircraft,'' which assessed the Joint Force's request for air refueling
    to support missions and operations. Requests for air refueling
    capability vary in criticality and are often unconstrained by
    resources. While the air refueling fleet remains stressed, USTRANSCOM
    manages the tension between available resources and requests for
    capability in order to ensure warfighting readiness and operational
    mission support.
        With exceptional collaboration between the USAF and TRANSCOM, four
    positive developments occurred over the last year, which allowed
    TRANSCOM to arrive at a workable solution with the USAF on meeting air
    refueling demand. First, Boeing accepted responsibility to fix the KC-
    46 contract's ``Category 1'' deficiencies, enabling the USAF to present
    a KC-46 Interim Capability Release plan to add needed air refueling
    capacity before final discrepancy fixes are implemented. Second, the
    USAF agreed to lower the KC-10 divestiture profile from initial
    planning efforts. Third, the USAF funded additional MPA to increase the
    Reserve/National Guard air refueling capacity and contributions.
    Finally, AMC is seeing a reduction in air refueling demand in the
    CENTCOM AOR as witnessed by a drop from 70 deployed air refueling
    aircraft on a daily basis in 2017 to less than 30 projected for FY22.

        44. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, if the shortfall has been
    reduced or eliminated, please explain.
        General Van Ovost. While we currently have sufficient capacity to
    meet steady State and crisis response air refueling demands, the
    transition to a new tanker naturally creates a temporary reduction in
    available aircraft. A significant improvement to air refueling capacity
    projections was the 2021 release of the KC-46 Interim Capability
    Release plan and additional support provided by the Air Reserve
    Component tanker force. The Joint Force has an insatiable appetite for
    air refueling and global demands will likely continue to put pressure
    on the air refueling mission. The needed air refueling capacity is
    captured in the recently completed Mobility Capability Requirements
    Study and USTRANSCOM will continue to manage available air refueling
    assets according to the most important priorities articulated by the
    Joint Staff and NDS.

        45. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, has the overall aerial
    refueling requirement changed or is the shortfall now being measured
    differently?
        General Van Ovost. Air refueling requirements have changed for both
    steady State demands and when projecting the need to scale for
    conflict. The Mobility Capability Requirements Study completed in June
    2021 details the changes in these scenarios. In daily competition, the
    changes have been the most significant with a substantial reduction in
    CENTCOM requirements. Looking forward, air refueling demand as
    proscribed by the Joint Staff and NDS appears balanced with expected
    capacity, especially with the KC-46 interim capability release plan
    that began meeting USTRANSCOM operational air refueling requirements in
    2021.

        46. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, I have serious concerns
    regarding the Air Force's desire to retire a significant number of
    legacy tankers prior to the KC-46 becoming fully operational. I am
    particularly concerned by the potential loss of the KC-10, which
    provides significantly more fuel offload than both the KC-135 and the
    KC-46. I understand that the KC-10 fleet has many more years left in
    terms of potential service life and am concerned that prematurely
    retiring such a strategic asset would result in a loss of warfighter
    capability that cannot be regained for many years to come. Please
    describe the importance of the KC-10 to TRANSCOM's aerial refueling
    capability, and the potential impact to missions for Air Force, Navy,
    and Marine Corps pilots and aircrews if we cut additional KC-10's.
        General Van Ovost. The KC-10 delivers necessary and relevant
    capability for all Joint Staff and NDS wartime missions. Unfortunately,
    the KC-10 is increasingly expensive to maintain. I concur with the USAF
    and USTRANSCOM decision to divest the KC-10. This divestiture is the
    best air refueling value assessment that incorporates current utility,
    future capability and cost, as well as facilitation of operational
    fielding of the KC-46. Through a deliberate interim capability release
    plan, the USAF has made the KC-46 available for USTRANSCOM missions, in
    combination with KC-10 and KC-135 aircraft, to ensure sufficient
    capacity to meet global air refueling requirements is maintained. In
    addition, the aircrews and maintainers needed to field and operate the
    KC-46 as aircraft are delivered to the USAF rely on the manpower that
    will be freed up with KC-10 retirements.

        47. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, I understand that, although
    the KC-46 has been cleared to conduct some aerial refueling missions,
    the aircraft will not be considered to be fully operational until major
    deficiencies such as the Remote Visual System are resolved, which
    likely won't be until 2023 at the earliest. I was surprised to learn
    that, despite this non-or semi-operational status, the KC-46s being
    delivered are being coded into the Primary Mission Aircraft Inventory
    (PMAI). Please explain why these aircraft are given the same inventory
    status as fully operational KC-10's or KC-135s.
        General Van Ovost. PMAI aircraft are coded as such to ensure the
    airframe has the resources to support flying operations that includes
    maintenance and flying crews, weapon system sustainment and support,
    and programmed flying hours. Following established PMAI guidelines, it
    is necessary to code the KC-46 as a PMAI weapon system to generate the
    flying, maintenance and mission support personnel, and equipment
    required to support it. With USTRANSCOM utilizing KC-46 capacity now
    for operational missions, it is important the weapon system has the
    resourcing to sustain and grow operational capacity over time. A
    trained crew force allows the growth of the KC 46 capacity that will be
    needed to execute additional taskings to support the Joint Force in the
    future. Utilizing the KC-46 now frees up unrestricted KC-135 and KC-10
    aircraft for other operational taskings or readiness building
    activities, thereby adding air refueling capacity for our Joint Force
    requirements.

        48. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, I understand that there have
    been conversations regarding possible uses for KC-10 aircraft prior to
    being fully retired and sent to the boneyard. I understand that one
    option is to provide the aircraft to industry, either through sale or
    as Government Furnished Equipment, for use in a commercial air
    refueling program. I understand that the Navy and Marine Corps have
    been successfully utilizing a commercial air refueling program for the
    last 20+ years. What is the status of those discussions?
        General Van Ovost. Discussions regarding commercial air refueling
    as a viable means of support to USTRANSCOM's mission are ongoing. The
    U.S. Air Force is conducting further study of the commercial refueling
    option, which will be key to determining its merits.

        49. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, shouldn't KC-10 retirements
    be halted until a decision is made on commercial air refueling?
        General Van Ovost. No, through coordination between the U.S. Air
    Force and USTRANSCOM, we have developed a sustainable way forward that
    maintains sufficient air refueling capacity to meet requirements as we
    bridge to the KC-46. The U.S. Air Force Interim Capability Release
    (ICR) process that makes KC-46 capacity available for limited
    USTRANSCOM tasking is a key step forward that will help with the
    transition to that platform. In addition, the aircrews and maintainers
    needed to field and operate the KC-46 as aircraft are delivered to the
    Air Force rely on the manpower that will be freed up with KC-10
    retirements. I support the KC-10 divestment profile agreed to by the
    U.S. Air Force and USTRANSCOM, and which has been submitted by the
    Department of Defense

        50. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, do you believe TRANSCOM and
    the Air Force should be pursuing a commercial air refueling program to
    address current and future aerial refueling shortfalls?
        General Van Ovost. Commercial air refueling should certainly be
    considered. The U.S. Air Force, as the force provider, continually
    assesses the air refueling enterprise to determine cost-effective,
    legal, and operationally credible alternatives to meet air refueling
    requirements. The U.S. Air Force is conducting further study to assess
    the commercial option.
                             contested environment
        51. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, the Mobility Capabilities
    and Requirements Study 2018 Executive Summary identified the need to
    mitigate mobility impacts of operating in a contested environment. In
    your view, how well is TRANSCOM prepared for strategic lift in a
    potentially contested operating environment?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM is postured to operate on a global
    scale in contested environments; however, adversary capability and
    capacity to directly or indirectly disrupt, degrade, or deny our
    ability to operate is growing.
        In the homeland, adversary actions in the cyber domain,
    particularly against USTRANSCOM's command and control centers for air
    refueling, airlift, and sealift is a significant concern in terms of
    consequence to support wartime missions. Within the United States,
    USTRANSCOM relies on resilient road, rail, seaport, and airport
    critical infrastructure to provide unimpeded power projection with the
    ability to fight through disruptions by employing insightful command
    and control capabilities and tightly coordinated interagency support to
    deploy and sustain the Joint Force.
        Long, contested lines of communications against both China and
    Russia, and the tyranny of distance in the Indo-Pacific region creates
    dilemmas that will require the integration of logistics planning across
    all warfighting functions to support the joint war fight. The growth in
    demand from increasingly dispersed operations, increasingly complex and
    lethal kinetic platforms, and extended adversary anti-access and area
    denial capabilities place immediate stressors on the Joint Deployment
    and Distribution Enterprise to support forward forces immediately, as
    we rapidly build capacity to deploy a decisive force. Our allies and
    partners provide the nodes and networks necessary to connect the globe
    and provide options that we must ensure are not at risk due to malign
    actions of our adversaries.
        Finally, the core mobility assets must be able to operate
    successfully in the face of persistent multi-domain attack to achieve
    wartime output. The support of our full range of operations during
    wartime is designed so that our commercial air and sea transportation
    partners operate in a permissive environment, whose viability must be
    maintained by DOD. Intra-theater sea and air lift is also critical to
    sustain and support the force across great distances to meet volume and
    time-sensitive requirements for cargo, passengers, and fuel. Both the
    Mobility Capability and Requirements Study 2020 (MCRS)-20 and POL
    Tanker Study submitted to Congress in June 2021 provide details in
    these areas.

        52. Senator Tillis. General Van Ovost, to the best of your
    knowledge, has TRANSCOM conducted attrition analyses of major
    operations plans using assumptions of contested sea lanes, limited
    ability to degrade anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities, etc.?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, in the last several years USTRANSCOM has
    developed and incorporated contested environment impact considerations
    into the mobility analysis based on Intelligence Community threat
    assessments of adversary abilities and intent to target mobility and
    logistics operations. Attrition of mobility assets, as well as combat
    power lost because of an attack on mobility targets, are included in
    this contested environment analysis.
                                   __________

                  Questions Submitted by Senator Dan Sullivan
                     great power competition in the arctic
        53. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, Russia's and China's rapid
    development of capabilities in the Arctic has made the region an
    emerging front-line for great power competition. Given the National
    Defense Strategy's (NDS) focus on great power competition--if
    confirmed--will you commit to visiting Alaska with me in your first
    year to see first-hand the opportunities Alaska offers TRANSCOM?
        General Van Ovost. I welcome the opportunity to visit Alaska and
    see first-hand the incredible Joint Force team executing the multitude
    of missions necessary to support the NDS.

        54. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, in your personal opinion,
    what makes Alaska strategically important for the United States and why
    would our adversaries want to limit our presence and power projection
    capabilities in the Arctic region? Please elaborate.
        General Van Ovost. From a national security perspective, Alaska's
    location on the North Pacific rim and proximity to Russia makes Alaska
    strategically important. I defer to the USNORTHCOM and USINDOPACOM
    Commanders for a more nuanced discussion of Alaska's strategic
    importance. Among U.S. adversaries, Russia in particular considers the
    Arctic a priority area of strategic interest and fundamental to its
    national security. Russia is especially sensitive to U.S. military
    presence and power projection capabilities in the Arctic because Moscow
    views the Arctic as a strategic vector through which the United States
    may attack Russia, to include nuclear attack.
                             arctic capability gaps
        55. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, over the years senior
    defense officials have identified military logistics and mobility gaps
    within the Arctic region. These requirements have varied from the need
    for fuel north of Dutch Harbor, a strategic Arctic port, polar
    communications, and additional aerial refueling. Unfortunately, we
    haven't made consistent progress on each of these requirements and
    other known capability gaps. That is one of the reasons why I secured
    in this year's NDAA--alongside my SASC colleagues--the need for U.S.
    Northern Command (NORTHCOM) to produce an independent assessment that
    identifies the activities and resources required to implement the NDS
    and service Arctic strategies in the Arctic region. Can I get your
    commitment to closely coordinate and collaborate with NORTHCOM on this
    assessment so that TRANSCOM equities--like a Strategic Arctic port--are
    captured in the final deliverable?
        General Van Ovost. If confirmed, you have my commitment, to closely
    coordinate and collaborate with NORTHCOM on USTRANSCOM equities in the
    Arctic.

        56. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, can I also get your
    commitment to review TRANSCOM capability requirement gaps within the
    Arctic region within 60 days of your confirmation and sit down with me
    to discuss how you will work with the service components to close these
    gaps?
        General Van Ovost. If confirmed, you have my commitment to assess
    USTRANSCOM capabilities in the Arctic region, and to discuss necessary
    approaches to close any identified gaps.
                                  kc-46 basing
        57. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, the previous Senate-
    confirmed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper acknowledged that collocation
    of 100 5th-generation fighters with KC-46 tankers would provide our
    Nation with ``extreme strategic reach.'' The current TRANSCOM
    Commander, General Stephen Lyons, USA, noted that ``[t]he aerial
    refueling fleet continues to underpin the Joint Force's ability to
    deploy an immediate force across all NDS mission areas . . . '' Given
    Alaska's bed-down of F-35s, access to expansive training ranges, and
    proximity to several high-priority regions, would you agree with former
    Secretary of Defense Mark Esper that collocation of 100 5th-generation
    fighters with KC-46 tankers in Alaska would provide extreme strategic
    reach to the United States? Please elaborate on how that kind of air
    power could affect our power projection posture, strengthen our
    alliances, and message to our adversaries.
        General Van Ovost. Air refueling aircraft, by their intended
    design, provide extreme strategic reach for our other air assets daily
    around the globe. The home station of our air refueling aircraft is but
    one component of global responsiveness. Across the broad spans of the
    Indo-Pacific region, the elements of access, basing, and overflight to
    en-route and forward locations are essential to position and employ
    combat capability, and as important, if not more so, to where we home
    station mobility assets. The ability of USTRANSCOM to control and
    rapidly shift assets anywhere in the world to address emerging and high
    priority needs is also foundational to global responsiveness and
    executing strategic reach. In this context, using the notion of
    ``extreme strategic reach,'' mobility assets must operate not only
    across broad regions such as USINDOPACOM, but globally with the
    responsiveness to leverage the Department's combat power fully when and
    where it is needed, which USTRANSCOM is uniquely capable of performing.
    I will defer to the U.S. Air Force and its Title 10 basing
    responsibilities for determination of where to base aircraft.
              logistics and sustainment in a contested environment
        58. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, China has the capability
    and capacity to employ thousands of missiles within the first and
    second island chains. Similarly, Russia boasts an immense quantity of
    missiles that easily range all of Europe. Both countries are likely to
    expand their missile arsenals over the next several years. With that in
    mind, what concerns do you have regarding TRANSCOM's ability to conduct
    logistics and sustainment activities in an increasingly robust anti-
    access/area denial (A2/AD) environment?
        General Van Ovost. The nature of conflict against either China or
    Russia will challenge the ability to deploy and sustain the Joint Force
    in every segment of mobility operations. USTRANSCOM is postured to
    operate on a global scale in contested environments; however, adversary
    capability and capacity to disrupt, degrade, or deny our ability to
    operate directly or indirectly is growing.
        In the homeland, I am concerned about a cyber-attack against our
    command and control centers for air refueling, airlift, and sealift in
    terms of consequence to support wartime missions. Our operations
    centers and the ability to conduct command and control operations are
    the centers of gravity for mobility operations. USTRANSCOM, in
    conjunction with USCYBERCOM, is taking actions to mitigate this risk
    both at the system level and within the DOD Information Networks that
    support these operations centers.
        I am also concerned with ensuring our constellation of allies and
    partners provides the nodes and networks necessary to connect the globe
    and that we must ensure are not at risk due to malign actions of our
    adversaries. Access, basing, and overflight are not guaranteed in the
    emerging complex and intertwined geopolitical structure. Loss of key
    nodes under wartime conditions significantly would complicate our
    ability to rapidly deploy and sustain the Joint Force. This is not
    limited to wartime; during contingency operations, our allies and
    partners are critical to access, basing and overflight as recently
    demonstrated by the Afghan NEO effort.
        Finally, core mobility assets must be able to operate successfully
    in the face of persistent multi-domain attack. Our commercial
    transportation partners, for both airlift and sealift, will operate in
    permissive environments, which USTRANSCOM must assure for their
    viability to support the full range of operations. USTRANSCOM must work
    in concert with other elements of the Joint Force to ensure we can set
    conditions to protect key nodes and lines of communication, and
    interdict adversaries before they can strike vulnerable transportation
    and logistics targets. Intra-theater sea and airlift is also critical
    to sustain and support the force across great distances. Both the
    Mobility Capability and Requirements Study 2020 (MCRS)-20 and POL
    Tanker Study submitted to Congress in June 2021 provide details in
    these areas.

        59. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, how is TRANSCOM preparing
    for strategic lift in a potentially contested operating environment?
        General Van Ovost. The National Defense Strategy depicts a shift to
    great power competition and potential conflict that will challenge the
    ability to deploy and sustain the Joint Force in every segment of
    mobility operations. USTRANSCOM is postured to operate on a global
    scale in contested environments; however, adversary capability and
    capacity to directly or indirectly disrupt, degrade, or deny our
    ability to operate is growing.
        In the homeland, I am concerned about adversary actions in the
    cyber domain, particularly against USTRANSCOM's command and control
    centers for air refueling, airlift, and sealift, in terms of
    consequence to support wartime missions. Our operations centers and the
    ability to conduct C2 is the center of gravity for mobility operations.
    USTRANSCOM, in conjunction with USCYBERCOM, is taking actions to
    mitigate this risk at the system level and in the DOD Information
    Networks that support these operations centers. Within the United
    States, we rely on resilient road, rail, seaport, and airport critical
    infrastructure to provide unimpeded power projection with the ability
    to fight through disruptions by employing insightful C2 capabilities
    and tightly coordinated interagency support to deploy and sustain the
    Joint Force.
        Long, contested lines of communications against both China and
    Russia, and the tyranny of distance in the Indo-Pacific region, require
    the integration of logistics planning across all warfighting functions.
    The growth in demand from increasingly dispersed operations,
    increasingly complex and lethal kinetic platforms, and extended
    adversary anti-access/area denial capabilities place immediate
    stressors on the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise to
    support forward forces immediately. Our allies and partners provide the
    nodes and networks necessary to connect the globe and provide options
    that we must ensure are not at risk.
        Finally, the core mobility assets must be able to operate
    successfully in the face of persistent multi-domain attack. Our
    commercial transportation partners, for both airlift and sealift, will
    operate in permissive environments which USTRANSCOM must assure for
    their viability to support the full range of operations. USTRANSCOM
    must work in concert with other elements of the Joint Force to protect
    key nodes and lines of communication, and interdict adversaries before
    they can strike vulnerable transportation and logistics targets. The
    Mobility Capability and Requirements Study 2020 (MCRS)-20 and POL
    Tanker Study submitted to Congress in June 2021 provide details in
    these areas.

        60. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, how is a contested
    environment expected to affect TRANSCOM's ability to use the Civil
    Reserve Air Fleet and Ready Reserve Force, as well as commercial
    contracted logistics partners?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM inextricably is linked to our
    commercial partners, whether it be those in the Civil Reserve Air
    Fleet, the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, or the merchant
    mariners manning the Ready Reserve Force ships. These partnerships
    enhance our ability to support military operations anywhere in the
    world. Historically, relationships with commercial partners strengthen
    in wartime situations and scenarios. Contested environments pose unique
    challenges for global logistics, and if confirmed, I will continue to
    work with our commercial partners and all stakeholders in the Joint
    Deployment and Distribution Enterprise to mitigate risk to these high
    value assets and personnel.
                                military sealift
        61. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, when the United States
    goes to war, TRANSCOM moves approximately 90 percent of its cargo
    requirements with the strategic sealift fleet, which consists of
    government-owned ships augmented by the commercial U.S.-flagged fleet.
    In your responses to the advance policy questions, you said that over
    the next decade, 33 of 50 Navy roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessels, which
    deliver the surge force, will retire and that the readiness of this
    aging fleet is TRANSCOM's No. 1 readiness concern. I understand that a
    2019 exercise showed only 40 percent of the sealift fleet would be
    ready in a crisis and that the average age of these ships is 45 years.
    What plans and associated timelines are in place to mitigate this
    looming shortfall?
        General Van Ovost. I support the OSD and U.S. Navy plan to
    recapitalize the fleet by purchasing used commercial ships to improve
    readiness to meet the National Defense Strategy. The U.S. Navy's plan
    is an appropriate, cost-effective approach for the organic fleet.
    Currently, a vessel acquisition manager is in place, market surveys of
    available used vessels are nearing completion, and ship surveys are
    planned for the October 2021 timeframe. USTRANSCOM expects the U.S.
    Navy to purchase used ships in calendar year 2022 in order to begin the
    recapitalization process.
                     strategic highway network improvements
        62. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, during an office call I
    had earlier this year, General Stephen Lyons, the current TRANSCOM
    Commander, brought up the need for a Military Strategic Transportation
    Program (MSTP) that would seek to improve our Strategic Highway
    Networks (STRAHNET). Why is this initiative necessary?
        General Van Ovost. From the inception of the National InterState
    and Defense Highway System in the 1950's, national defense has been a
    statutory consideration in promoting the Nation's highways. Over time,
    expansion of the National Highway System (NHS) has reduced this
    national defense focus. Since established, the NHS has grown by over
    300 percent compared to only about 50 percent growth in the STRAHNET.
    With the STRAHNET making up a smaller proportion of the NHS over time
    (now only about 29 percent), investment in highways important to the
    DOD has become diluted, affecting national defense interests. The DOD
    relies on each individual State's Departments of Transportation (DOTs)
    and local Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to operate and
    maintain the STRAHNET to ensure military readiness and protect national
    security. State DOTs and MPOs, however, currently are not required to
    consider national defense needs in project funding decisions using
    Federal funds. The MSTP proposal, developed in coordination with the
    Federal Highway Administration, would provide the necessary incentives
    and guidance to State DOTs and MPOs to address national defense
    requirements. In addition to DOD benefits, the proposed MSTP would also
    provide appreciable benefits to freight commerce, manufacturing supply
    chains, and local communities.

        63. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, what strategic risks is
    the United States accepting if we don't make these improvements,
    particularly improvements to critical Power Projection Platform (PPP)
    routes?
        General Van Ovost. The expeditious movement of military equipment
    on the National Highway System (NHS) is central to the DOD's enduring
    mission of providing military forces needed to deter war and to protect
    the security of the Nation. USTRANSCOM has identified 5,000 miles of
    the most critical highway corridors in 19 states that support the
    movement of equipment from designated installations to seaports during
    national emergencies. These routes must be capable (e.g., be of
    adequate road/bridge design and condition) of supporting the rapid
    movement of military equipment, including oversized and overweight
    vehicles. Although no single Power Projection Platform route deficiency
    presents a significant risk to the safe and rapid movement of
    equipment, increased congestion, unaddressed deficient roadway
    characteristics, and continued highway infrastructure degradation in
    the aggregate will challenge our ability to meet sealift loading
    timelines at our strategic seaports.

        64. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, can you give me some
    examples of how Strategic Highway Networks would be beneficial in a
    national emergency?
        General Van Ovost. A healthy STRAHNET benefits not only military
    needs, but also improves highway safety for the traveling public and
    benefits the freight transport industry to further advance the
    country's economic productivity. It also represents a capable and
    resilient network of roadways to support the safe and rapid movement of
    DOD personnel, equipment, and relief materials in response to a variety
    of plausible national emergencies from Defense Support of Civil
    Authorities to large-scale wartime deployments. The STRAHNET traverses
    all U.S. states and passes through or near all major metropolitan
    areas. Any projects on STRAHNET that address vertical clearance, bridge
    structural condition and functionality, pavement condition, and roadway
    configuration would similarly enhance transportation-related responses
    to virtually any national emergency.
                       defense personal property program
        65. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, availability of
    transportation service provider capacity in the Defense Personal
    Property Program (DP3) hit all-time lows during the 2021 peak season.
    Plagued with labor shortages and reduced third party partner options
    transportation service providers struggled to meet the demands of DOD
    relocations. According to an industry study 98 percent of companies
    experienced a reduction in qualified labor and associated labor costs
    rose 20-40 percent. How is TRANSCOM addressing and planning for these
    capacity problems in the 2022 peak season?
        General Van Ovost. The USTRANSCOM staff has heard from our industry
    partners about their challenges in securing labor in previous years,
    and this has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic in
    2020 and during the 2021 peak season. Based on current economic trends,
    we anticipate capacity constraints to persist through the 2022 moving
    season. While USTRANSCOM cannot alleviate the labor shortages
    nationwide, we remain committed to working with our industry partners
    to address capacity constraints. Moving into 2022, we will continue our
    collaborative approach with industry.
        Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, USTRANSCOM has worked
    closely with industry to adjust program rules in recognition of the
    impacts of the pandemic on the supply chain and labor pool. These
    changes included extensions to our transit times, the addition of
    surcharges to account for stop movement impacts during the start of the
    pandemic (e.g., canceled moves and changed pickups), and other
    additional actions to account for supply chain disruptions. In 2021, we
    increased crating compensation due to lumber price increases, reduced
    containerized bookings to help with lumber costs, added long delivery
    compensation for delivery from storage, and allowed the use of
    commercial best non-DoD approved storage. USTRANSCOM made these
    adjustments in partnership with our transportation service providers
    without losing our focus on program improvements to better serve our
    customers.
        In addition to the above efforts with industry partners, USTRANSCOM
    is taking active steps within DOD to mitigate the effect on service
    members and their families. We are engaging with the Military
    Departments to reduce the number of families moved during peak season,
    which would reduce the surge demand of transportation service providers
    during peak season.

        66. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, are you committed to
    working with industry providers to provide flexibility within the
    program in response to these challenges?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, if confirmed, I am and will remain
    committed to working with our industry partners to deliver the quality
    capacity and accountability that our service members and their families
    deserve.

        67. Senator Sullivan. General Van Ovost, in August, TRANSCOM
    released a proposal to require electronic inventories for all DOD
    shipments starting in April 2022. A recent industry study shows that 65
    percent of current DP3 participants do not utilize the technology and
    that 54 percent of those individuals State it would take them a year or
    more to purchase and implement the technology. Most concerning is that
    76 percent of survey participants stated they would reduce their
    capacity within the DP3 program if this timeline is enacted. In light
    of the severe capacity problems within the program and concerns over
    losing a significant portion of the limited remaining capacity, is
    TRANSCOM still supporting a mandate of 100 percent electronic
    inventories starting in April 2022?
        General Van Ovost. For 2022, USTRANSCOM is not making electronic
    inventories mandatory. USTRANSCOM will not mandate the use of
    electronic inventories until the 2023 moving season, giving our
    industry partners well over a year to prepare. Currently, USTRANSCOM is
    strongly encouraging transportation service providers to use them.
        USTRANSCOM has had extensive dialog on electronic inventories with
    industry partners for the past 3 years. Many have been supportive, as
    indicated by their collaboration on the establishment of an
    International Organization for Standards number specific to the
    electronic inventories (ISO Standard 17451). Some industry partners,
    however, have expressed their concerns regarding the challenges you
    mentioned. USTRANSCOM will continue to encourage these partners to
    replace the legacy process with a more modernized customer service
    standard.
        USTRANSCOM strives to provide our service members and their
    families with the best service possible, and view electronic
    inventories as a major customer service issue. Hard copy inventories
    are consistently illegible and can negatively affect a customer's
    ability to account for their property and preexisting damage.
    Electronic inventories provide our service members, their families, and
    moving companies the ability to read legible inventories and reduce
    claims disputes. Electronic inventories also enable electronic
    transmission and storage by providing an email that is easily
    retrievable by service members and their families while in geographic
    transition.
                                   __________

                Questions Submitted by Senator Marsha Blackburn
                                  afghanistan
        68. Senator Blackburn. General Van Ovost, in light of the
    TRANSCOM's role in Operation Allies Refuge, what examples of both
    organizational successes and perceived gaps or areas for improvement
    will inform your perspective as the TRANSCOM commander?
        General Van Ovost. Authorities inherent to the USTRANSCOM Commander
    allowed USTRANSCOM to react, mass forces, and streamline
    communications, which enabled USTRANSCOM to concentrate airlift
    capacity and enabler personnel at the point of need. Some examples
    include: Task Force Gryphon from the 43d Air Mobility Operations Group
    deployed to Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, to support the
    launch of the 82d Airborne Division; the use of a Contingency Response
    Group at Kabul to run airfield operations and the insertion of Joint
    Enabling Capabilities Command forces to USCENTCOM and Department of
    State to facilitate interagency coordination and NEO movement.
    Additionally, due to the heightened demand signal and the expediency
    required, the temporary relaxing of the use of both detailed systems of
    record and normal manifesting procedures drastically increased the
    speed of operations; however, this expedited throughput caused a
    significant degradation of In-Transit Visibility resulting in a lack of
    real-time awareness at multiple levels. This is an area for
    improvement.

        69. Senator Blackburn. General Van Ovost, please share shortcomings
    that you noticed outside of TRANSCOM's control including, but not
    limited to, an authority or permission that could allow TRANSCOM to be
    more efficient, a particular platform or capability that could have
    saved more Afghans, or a strategic airlift relationship with a partner
    nation that the United States needs to pursue?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM possessed the authorities and
    capabilities needed to successfully execute Operation Allies Refuge.
    Additionally, partner nations supplied essential support throughout the
    operation, especially in area of access, basing, and overflight.
    USTRANSCOM is in the process of conducting an after-action report which
    may identify shortcomings to address for future operations.
             u.s. transportation command in great power competition
        70. Senator Blackburn. General Van Ovost, how do you envision
    TRANSCOM's role either complimenting or guiding the efforts of Pacific
    Movement and Coordination Center (PMCC)?
        General Van Ovost. Over the past 3 years, USTRANSCOM has been
    engaged in the efforts of Indo-Pacific Command to develop the Movement
    Coordination Center Pacific (MCCP). The MCCP provides an opportunity to
    increase interoperability, expand training opportunities, leads to
    greater regional cooperation, and increases lift sharing options for
    the U.S. and its Allies and Partner Nations. MCCP is modeling much of
    their efforts after the successful Movement Coordination Center Europe
    (MCCE). These centers reinforce our global posture while enhancing
    access, basing and overflight opportunities.

        71. Senator Blackburn. General Van Ovost, does an equivalent center
    exist within other Geographical Combatant Commands?
        General Van Ovost. Yes. USTRANSCOM has been involved with the
    Movement Coordination Center Europe (MCCE) for the past 13 years.
    Utilizing the Air Transport & Air-to-Air Refueling and other Exchanges
    of Services (ATARES) system, 27 countries currently are MCEE members.
    United States European Command is the Executive Agent for MCCE. A
    similar capability exists within CENTCOM. Although structured somewhat
    differently, the CENTCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center
    (CDDOC) performs roughly the same functions as the MCCE in the CENTCOM
    AOR.
              impact of fuel prices on u.s. transportation command
        72. Senator Blackburn. General Van Ovost, how much of an impact do
    you anticipate fuel price volatility will have on TRANSCOM's ability to
    operate over the course of the next fiscal year?
        General Van Ovost. Fuel price volatility will not prevent
    USTRANSCOM from completing its mission. Fuel accounts for approximately
    12 percent of the USTRANSCOM budget; therefore, fuel pricing changes
    can drive significant changes in operating costs. Transportation
    operations are funded through a Working Capital Fund, which is designed
    to absorb this cost volatility.

        73. Senator Blackburn. General Van Ovost, what kind of impact do
    you anticipate fuel price volatility will have on TRANSCOM's Defense
    Working Capital Fund?
        General Van Ovost. Working Capital Funds are designed to absorb
    price uncertainties, with financial losses passed on to the Military
    Departments through higher future rates. If fuel prices rise
    substantially, however, USTRANSCOM could seek immediate relief through
    a cash recovery charge to the Military Departments. USTRANSCOM last
    used this cash recovery mechanism for a fuel price increase in FY14.
                                   __________
                   Questions Submitted by Senator Josh Hawley
                             fait accompli timeline
        74. Senator Hawley. General Van Ovost, former U.S. Indo-Pacific
    Command (INDOPACOM) Commander Admiral Philip Davidson testified that
    the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan ``is manifest during this
    decade, in fact in the next 6 years.'' Current INDOPACOM Commander
    Admiral John Aquilino testified similarly that the threat of a Chinese
    invasion of Taiwan ``is much closer than most of us think'' and could
    occur well before 2035. When asked if he agreed with Admiral Davidson's
    testimony, Commandant of the Marine Corps General David Berger
    testified, ``I do.'' Likewise, when asked about Admiral Davidson's
    testimony, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday stated, ``I
    don't think we should ignore that possibility.'' Do you agree that the
    threat of a Chinese invasion against Taiwan is something we need to be
    worried about in this decade, not just in the 2030's or afterward?
        General Van Ovost. Yes, I concur with the assessments of Admiral
    Davidson and Admiral Aquilino.
                 importance of partner exercises in the pacific
        75. Senator Hawley. General Van Ovost, partner exercises across the
    Pacific are critical to strengthening our relationships in the region
    and gaining access to key logistical nodes. How do these kinds of
    activities help us prepare for logistics and basing of transportation
    assets?
        General Van Ovost. Multinational exercises across the Pacific
    bolster relationships with our allies and partners and are critical
    events to enabling information sharing, promoting interoperability,
    ensuring resiliency, and providing credible deterrence. Through
    exercises and wargaming, partner nations gain a better understanding of
    our deployment and distribution requirements and are more willing to
    permit access to mobility nodes. Additionally, these engagements help
    identify opportunities to address construction of common use
    infrastructure.

        76. Senator Hawley. General Van Ovost, how do you see the Pacific
    Deterrence Initiative supporting these kinds of critical activities?
        General Van Ovost. The Pacific Deterrence Initiative reinforces the
    U.S. role as a trusted ally and effective competitor in the region.
    Investments in the Indo-Pacific region help to establish new
    relationships and strengthen partnerships in geo-politically sensitive
    areas. The initiative also enables our ability to potentially gain
    access to, or protect, lines of communication, while supporting
    transportation and infrastructure requirements of the Joint Deployment
    and Distribution Enterprise.
                  support to air force agile combat employment
        77. Senator Hawley. General Van Ovost, how is TRANSCOM working with
    the Air Force to support the operational concept of Agile Combat
    Employment (ACE), since it appears that TRANSCOM would play a
    significant role in ACE?
        General Van Ovost. USTRANSCOM engages with all the Military
    Departments on their emerging operational concepts, to include the Air
    Force's Agile Combat Employment (ACE). In particular, USTRANSCOM, as
    synchronizer for the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise
    (JDDE), supports the geographical COCOMs and enables concepts like ACE
    by helping set global posture (infrastructure, equipment, and forces),
    as well as advocate for access, basing, and overflight (ABO)
    permissions from partner nations. If confirmed, I will continue to
    collaborate with the U.S. Air Force and work to incorporate the
    concepts articulated in ACE into our global posture priorities,
    operations, exercises, wargames, and studies.
                                     ______

        [The nomination reference of General Jacqueline D. Van
    Ovost, USAF follows:]

        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                     ______

        [The biographical sketch of General Jacqueline D. Van
    Ovost, USAF, which was transmitted to the Committee at the time
    the nomination was referred, follows:]

        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                     ______

        [The Committee on Armed Services requires certain senior
    military officers nominated by the President to positions
    requiring the advice and consent of the Senate to complete a
    form that details the biographical, financial, and other
    information of the nominee. The form executed by General
    Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, USAF in connection with her nomination
    follows:]

        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                     ______

        [The nominee responded to Parts B-E of the committee
    questionnaire. The text of the questionnaire is set forth in
    the Appendix to this volume. The nominee's answers to Parts B-E
    are contained in the committee's executive files.]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                    ------

        [The nomination of General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, USAF A
    was reported to the Senate by Chairman Reed on September 28,
    2021, with the recommendation that the nomination be confirmed.
    The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on October 1, 2021.]

                                     [all]