[Senate Hearing 119-294]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-294
THE NOMINATION OF MR. DANIEL P. DRISCOLL
TO BE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
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HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
JANUARY 30, 2025
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Printed for the use of the Committee on Armed Services
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via: http: // www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
62-891 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
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COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi, Chairman
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska JACK REED, Rhode Island
TOM COTTON, Arkansas JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
MIKE ROUNDS, South Dakota KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, New York
JONI ERNST, Iowa RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii
KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota TIM KAINE, Virginia
RICK SCOTT, Florida ANGUS S. KING, Jr., Maine
TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts
MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Oklahoma GARY C. PETERS, Michigan
TED BUDD, North Carolina TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
ERIC SCHMITT, Missouri JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
JIM BANKS, INDIANA MARK KELLY, Arizona
TIM SHEEHY, MONTANA ELISSA SLOTKIN, MICHIGAN
John P. Keast, Staff Director
Elizabeth L. King, Minority Staff Director
(ii)
C O N T E N T S
_________________________________________________________________
january 30, 2025
Page
The Nomination of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll to be Secretary of the 1
Army.
Members Statements
Wicker, Senator Roger............................................ 1
Reed, Senator Jack............................................... 3
Witness Statements
Driscoll, Daniel P., to be Secretary of the Army................. 8
Advance Policy Questions....................................... 44
Questions for the Record....................................... 65
Nomination Reference and Report................................ 96
Biographical Sketch............................................ 96
Committee on Armed Services Questionnaire...................... 97
Signature Page................................................. 102
(iii)
THE NOMINATION OF MR. DANIEL P. DRISCOLL TO BE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025
United States Senate,
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m. in room
SD-G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Senator Roger Wicker
(Chairman of the Committee) presiding.
Committee Members present: Senators Wicker, Fischer, Ernst,
Sullivan, Cramer, Scott, Tuberville, Budd, Schmitt, Banks,
Reed, Shaheen, Gillibrand, Hirono, Kaine, Warren, Peters,
Duckworth, Rosen, and Slotkin.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR ROGER WICKER
Chairman Wicker. The hearing will come to order. We thank
the witnesses for being here, and those in attendance.
Certainly, all of us are concerned and saddened by the
tragedy which occurred near Reagan National Airport last night,
and I ask that the committee observe a moment of silence before
we begin the hearing.
[Pause.]
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much.
The Committee on Armed Services has convened this hearing
to consider the pending nomination of Mr. Dan Driscoll to be
the 26th Secretary of the Army. In support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom, Mr. Driscoll served our country in Iraq, spending 4
years with the Army. So we thank him and the entire Driscoll
family: his wife, Dr. Cassie Driscoll, and their two children,
Daniel and Lila, who could not be with us today, for their
willingness to serve this country again, by accepting this new
assignment.
After his Military Service, Mr. Driscoll received his law
degree from Yale and has worked in private equity and venture
capital, all the while he has retained many ties to his former
service.
The Army faces a complex array of challenges. Recruitment
and retention improved last year, but the Army still has more
than 10,000 fewer recruits than it did in 2023. Since the
beginning of the Biden administration, the service is down
36,000 soldiers. On top of that, the Army is not taking full
advantage of opportunities to nurture interest in Military
Service. Almost 300 high schools sit on a waiting list to get
their own Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)
unit. These units mean more than potential individual recruits.
They represent communities where the Department of Defense
(DOD) can put down roots, developing the Army of leaders for
tomorrow, as well as excellent citizens for our entire society.
As the service catches up on recruitment, it must also
ensure that those who do enlist are equipped for the mission.
The nature of large-scale combat operations is changing. The
world sees this every week in Ukraine. To be ready for
potential combat in the Western Pacific, the Army must expedite
modernization efforts.
On top of recruitment and modernization projects, the next
Secretary of the Army must address the servicemember quality of
life issues that afflict this, the largest service. In the
fiscal year 2025 budget, the Army increased funding for
barracks maintenance problems, but the effects of decades of
neglect cannot be fixed overnight. The Army has a facility
backlog of more than $100 billion. I offered an amendment which
passed the most recent NDAA [National Defense Authorization
Act], requiring all of the services to adopt minimum annual
facility sustainment levels. My colleagues and I need to see
evidence that this change has been embraced within the service.
I believe Mr. Driscoll's record, his Army service, his
legal background, and financial experience have prepared him to
handle the myriad responsibilities of Army Secretary. If he is
confirmed, Mr. Driscoll will face the challenges I have already
outlined.
He will be handed a budget that has not kept pace with
inflation. He will also take the helm at a time of increasing
danger around the world.
The Army is playing a largely quiet but crucial role in the
Western Pacific. It is deepening partnerships with our allies
and partners in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the service is
helping us maintain deterrence against the Chinese Communist
Party, and it ensures that our South Korean allies are postured
to prevent North Korean aggression.
Soldiers from across the United States remain stationed in
Europe. Their presence helps deter Russia and helps assure our
NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] allies.
In the Middle East, the Army continues to play a lead role
in combating Iranian aggression.
Clearly, the Army's work has been instrumental in these
theaters. It must choose to remain relevant in today's complex
threat environment. The Army should accelerate its
transformation efforts and focus on new portions of the defense
industrial base. It should expand its work on small unmanned
aerial systems, or UAS, and counter-UAS. I say that even as I
recognize and appreciate the chief of staff of the Army's focus
in this area.
In the Western Pacific theater, the Army's contribution to
sensing and shooting remains in its infancy. The service has
the chance to realize its key logistics role for the joint
force in contested areas, but it can do so with significant
investment and focus.
So I look forward to this hearing on how Mr. Driscoll will
work to change the culture around the issues I have listed, as
well as other pressing matters.
I now recognize my friend, the Ranking Member of the
Committee, Senator Jack Reed for any opening remarks he may
offer.
STATEMENT OF SENATOR JACK REED
Senator Reed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much.
Before I begin I want to take a moment to express my profound
sorrow for those involved in the crash at National Airport last
evening. This is a tragedy beyond words, and my thoughts are
with the families both on board both aircraft as well as the
entire Army community. I am grateful to the hundreds of brave
first responders who worked throughout the night, and this
Committee will do everything we can to assist, and I thank the
Chairman for recognizing it with a moment of silence. Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Driscoll, welcome to this morning's hearing. We were
expecting to see Cassie and Daniel and Lila, but they are
working or otherwise occupied, but give them our greeting,
please.
Let me take this opportunity to also thank you for your
military service. Mr. Driscoll is a third-generation soldier.
He follows his father, who served in the infantry during
Vietnam, and his grandfather, who was a decoder during World
War II. The Committee is grateful to your family's military
service and for your willingness to continue serving your
country.
Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed as the Secretary of the Army you
will oversee the manning, training, and equipping functions of
the United States Army. This is no small task. The Army is in
the midst of a generational modernization effort, currently
overhauling many of its major weapon systems. Simultaneously,
the Army is seeking to transform the structure and organization
of its brigade combat teams, equipping them with cutting-edge
technology in order to be more mobile and lethal. The service
is experimenting with rapidly evolving technology such as
unmanned system, drone defenses, and communications
technologies, among other.
However, the Army continues to face a multiyear trend of
flat budgets, which has forced Army leaders to fund the highest
priority programs by reducing procurement of modern
capabilities. With a smaller and more continental base force,
maintaining readiness must be one of your top priorities. The
Army has continuous deployment requirements around the globe,
to include supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion,
defending our interests and allies in the Middle East, and
maintaining a forward presence in the Indo-Pacific.
I am concerned that the Administration's orders to
significantly increase military support to domestic law
enforcement, particularly on the southwest border, will harm
the Army's readiness. This is a role for DHS [Department of
Homeland Security], and I am a consistent supporter of a big
increase in DHS budget in the appropriations process as part of
a bipartisan border bill. That is the way to address the
border. In my personal engagements with commanders at all
levels, they have made clear that fully readying their
formations requires extensive time, training, and opportunities
to innovate, and border missions will not build these
warfighting skills.
Mr. Driscoll, I would like to know how would you plan to
ensure soldiers' time, training, and capabilities are not spent
on the border, rather than on readiness issues.
Of course, the Army's success also depends on its soldiers
and civilians. Recently the Army has been challenged to meet
recruiting goals. The Army has worked hard to improve its
recruiting activities, and it has enjoyed success with new
programs like the Future Soldier Preparatory Course. But it
should continue to improve efforts to reach all who are willing
and qualified to serve.
Mr. Driscoll, in your advanced policy questions you State
your intention to, quote, ``review the Army recruiting strategy
to ensure it effectively conveys a strong value proposition to
young people across the Nation.'' In addition to the Army's
strategy, I am concerned that comments from the Secretary of
Defense about women in combat and the President's Executive
Order banning transgender troops may have a chilling effect on
recruiting, and I am interested in your thoughts on this issue.
During our meeting early this month we discussed the
importance of maintaining a professional and apolitical Army. I
am also concerned by reports that the Administration may
implement a so-called ``warrior board'' to screen senior
military officers for supposed unfitness to lead. This raises
the chilling possibility that the Administration may fire
officers who are deemed to have the wrong political views or
have served effectively in military assignments that are
disagreeable to President Trump. In fact, we have already seen
this happen with Admiral Linda Fagan, who was unceremoniously
fired from her position as the Commandant of the Coast Guard,
and I am troubled that this firing was not based on her
performance.
Furthermore, I am alarmed that this week Secretary Hegseth
stripped retired Army General Mark Milley, former Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs and former Chief of Staff of the Army, of the
protective security detail that he had because of credible
security threats from Iran, and revoked General Milley's
security clearance. Secretary Hegseth has also directed the
Defense Department's acting inspector general--acting because
the inspector general was fired Monday--to look into the facts
and circumstances surrounding General Milley's conduct, so the
Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his
military grade review determination.
President Trump seems to be fulfilling his longtime threat
to fire military leaders as a political loyalty test. I would
point out, however, that our servicemembers swear an oath to
the Constitution rather than a party or a leader. This is what
makes our Army the finest in the world.
Mr. Driscoll, I am interested in your view on military
officers' obligation to provide their best military advice,
even if that advice contradicts the views of a political
appointee. I would also like to hear your thoughts on how
military officers can be expected to provide their best
military advice if they are subject to loyalty screens or purge
boards and whether you think we are moving members to military
for the views or positions will have a chilling effect within
the military ranks.
Mr. Driscoll, you face complex challenges and will require
all of your skills. Thank you for your willingness to continue
your service and lead the Army at this very critical time, and
I look forward to your testimony.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much, Senator Reed. Before
Mr. Driscoll makes his opening remarks he will be introduced by
two of our distinguished colleagues, first Senator Mullin and
then Senator Blumenthal.
Senator Mullin, you are recognized.
Senator Mullin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I will say,
you guys are much more intimidating from this side. I do not
think I have ever really been intimidated by you all until I am
looking at you now, so this is really scary.
I am so privileged and pleased to be able to introduce my
good friend, Dan Driscoll. You know, we got to know each other,
and it has been quite an honor, because I will say, right off
the bat, what you see is what you get. I think everybody
sitting up here has had the opportunity to sit down personally
with him, and his personality, no matter what we were dealing
with, no matter what pressure was facing us, was the same
personality you received 24/7. I do not care if I was talking
to him at 3 in the morning, 4 in the morning, 5 in the morning,
or at 11 at night, which we did multiple times, he always this
same type of personality, which is exactly what we need in our
Army today.
We need consistency. We need a leader that our warfighters
and those that are supporting our warfighters can rally behind.
We need someone that brings positive attention to the real
challenges that the Army is facing. As has been pointed out by
our Ranking Member Reed, he is also the third generation in the
family that has served, proudly and honorably, in the Army, and
currently has a nephew that is stationed in Korea. He is
heavily invested in it.
So I want to go through and read what he has accomplished,
because it honestly makes me sometimes feel intimidated by
sitting beside him when you start thinking about it.
First of all, he graduated in 3 years at UNC Chapel Hill
with the highest distinction. I am still trying to figure out
how to graduate from college. He used his 9/11 G.I. Bill to
attend Yale Law School, worked at Yale's Veteran Legal Service
Clinic. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in North
Carolina's 11th District in 2020. He lost, but I want to show
that he was willing to serve, and when that happened it just
got him more involved in public service.
He did not go away. He still stayed involved, which
sometimes defeat shows the biggest character, and that is when
we first started getting to know each other, and his character
shined true in that. He was not upset, he was not bitter, and
we all know individuals that have lost elections that get very
bitter. Instead, he dug down and still wanted to know how he
could be involved in public service. It spoke highly of his
character.
He worked at the 100 watt investment firm, was chief
operating officer at a $200 million venture capital fund, a
member of the North Carolina State Bar Rotary Club, VFW Post
1137, and the IAVA [Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America].
Just to go through some of the stuff he did in the
military, basic service training at Fort Jackson, OCS
commissioned to U.S. Army as an armor officer. Completed Army
Ranger School, stationed at Fort Drum New York with the 10th
Mountain Light Infantry Division as a Cavalry Scout Platoon
Leader. Deployed in 2009 to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of
Operation Freedom, earned the rank of first lieutenant.
Awards include the Army Accommodation Medal, Combat Action
Badge, Ranger Tab, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq
Campaign Medal and a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service
Ribbon.
I think the things if you ask him that he is most proud
about is his wife and his two kids though. His personal life is
something that guides him each day, and I know this personally
because we have had deep conversations about our family and
about how we balance the work life and how it can be done.
We have had conversations about how you center your life
and make sure your priorities are right because I believe
wholeheartedly if your priorities are straight with God,
family, and everything else, that everything else you will be
highly successful at. This is why Dan has been highly
successful in everything that he has put his hands upon.
For us to have someone like himself that is willing to step
away from his family for a short period of time, because you
all know the challenges that he is going to face, to be willing
to still serve when he does not have to is exactly what we
need. We need a selfless server that is going to be willing to
take on the task of the United States Army, and as Secretary of
Army, we have got a winner here.
So I really hope that all my colleagues, that this could
possibly be a unanimous support of someone that is exactly what
the United States needs today. With that, I will yield back.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much, Senator Mullin.
Senator Blumenthal, I do not know about you, but I did not
know until this morning that Senator Mullin could be
intimidated, so this is a revelation to us. You are now
recognized.
Senator Blumenthal. Thanks, Mr. Chairman, and I join
Senator Mullin in observing how impressive this panel looks
from this vantage point. More impressive without us being up
there, I may say.
I want to join my colleagues in expressing my deep
heartbreak at the tragic loss on American Airlines Flight 5342
and the soldiers lost on PAT25. My heart goes out to the
families, especially of the servicemen who were lost. My heart
breaks for their loved ones, and I want to thank the first
responders for swiftly delivering their critical assistance at
the scene.
As we await further updates, I hope that we will all pledge
to redouble our efforts to ensure that the Federal agencies
that make the Nation's skies safe, the FAA [Federal Aviation
Administration], the NTSB [National Transportation Safety
Board], the DOT [Department Of Transportation] and others, have
the tools, the funding, the resources, support from the
Congress to prevent future tragedies like this one. We all fly
in and out of that airport, and I must say I often look out the
window, as perhaps you do, with planes taking off and landing
and wondering how this dangerous dance is done safely day in
and day out. But we have to invest in the technology as well as
the people to make it safe.
I have the great honor to introduce Dan Driscoll, and I
want to thank his family, his wife Cassie, son Daniel and
daughter Lila. We all know that families serve along with
public officials, especially in our military and Department of
Defense (DOD). I join the Chairman and the Ranking Member in
observing that the Army stands at a pivotal juncture. Ongoing
global conflicts and nascent threats demand that the Army
remains the strongest, best fighting land force in the world,
and that we assure that they never have a fair fight, that they
always have superiority in every space and sphere.
This nomination comes at a time when leadership and
accountability in the Department of Defense require the highest
standards of integrity, judgment, and capability. The next
Secretary of the Army will be faced with training and equipping
that land force in a way that reflects our Nation's values and
commitments.
Now, this introduction is personal for me. As many of you
know, Dan Driscoll was a classmate of the Vice President at
Yale Law School, also my alma mater. He came to know, at Yale
Law School, Jake Sullivan, who has just finished serving as
National Security Advisor for President Biden, and Matt
Blumenthal, my son, who is a United States Marine Corps veteran
of Afghanistan.
Once Dan's nomination became public, I quickly heard from
both Jake and Matt. Both shared stories of their friendship
with Dan and recounted his strong intellect, his powerful work
ethic, and his willingness to find solutions to difficult
problems based on the facts, whatever those solutions might be.
As a lawyer, we follow the facts and the law, and that is what
Dan Driscoll will do as Secretary of the Army. hey assured me
that he is a person willing to listen, to learn, and to work in
a bipartisan way to put our soldiers first.
I am confident that his prior service in the Army will
serve him well, and he will remember that the Army's strength
comes not just from its technological prowess but from the
Americans who proudly wear the uniform he once wore.
I spoke to Dan a number of times in the course of his
preparing for his appearance here today, and those
conversations convinced me that he is willing to work on the
basis of collegiality, be transparent and open with this panel,
with the Congress and our colleagues. I welcome this
opportunity to introduce him perhaps as a sign of not just the
collegiality but the bipartisanship that has characterized this
Committee so clearly and consistently.
So I am proud to introduce him today, and I hope that my
colleagues will ask him tough questions, because he has
indicated to me that he is not only confident in his ability to
serve, but also in his ability to learn and do it with an open
mind and a willingness to listen to Members of this Committee
when we have views that he has to hear.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield the floor.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Blumenthal, and to both
Senator Blumenthal and Senator Mullin, I do not want either of
you to feel anxious. So if you would like to return to your
seats up here, you may do so.
Mr. Driscoll, you are now recognized for your opening
statement. We appreciate you being here.
STATEMENT OF DANIEL P. DRISCOLL, TO BE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
Mr. Driscoll. Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed,
distinguished Members of the Committee, good morning. Thank you
for the opportunity to appear before you today as the nominee
to serve as Secretary of the United States Army. It is an honor
to be considered for this role. To Senator Mullin and Senator
Blumenthal, I am sincerely thankful for the introductions, and
I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me
by President Trump.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in last
night's tragedy, which occurred a few miles away from this
hearing room. If confirmed, I commit to working with this
Committee to ensure that this never happens again.
Returning to my prepared remarks, I would like to begin by
acknowledging my family who could not join me here because of
the rescheduled hearing, but I know are watching. To my wife
Cassie, who manages to keep us afloat despite being an
accomplished surgeon, and children, Daniel and Lila, it is your
unwavering support that has made my service possible, and I
will be forever grateful. I also want to thank the men and
women of the United States Army, past and present, whose
courage and dedication inspire all of us every day.
My commitment to this role is rooted in my family's long
lineage of military service. My grandfather served in the Army
during World War II as a decoder. My father served as an
infantryman in Vietnam. I served as a cavalry scout in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and, in as much as you can trust
the plans of an 8-year-old, my son, Daniel plans to join too.
We are a family that is grateful to have had the privilege
of wearing the uniform of the United States Army. We are a
family that understands the gravity of leading soldiers in and
out of combat. We are a family that has chosen for generations
to serve alongside our brothers and sisters in arms.
I joined the Army as a middle-class public school kid from
the mountains of North Carolina. The values and experiences I
gained through military service molded me into the man I am
today, and they opened up ways for opportunities I could
scarcely have imagined when I enlisted. In my experience, the
transformative power of military service is open to those who
are willing and able to shoulder the task.
During my time in the Army, I was fortunate to serve and
deploy to combat alongside soldiers who represent the very best
of America. The American soldier's professionalism, ingenuity,
and dedication are unmatched. Whether in garrison at Fort Drum,
New York, on the training grounds of Yuma, Arizona, or on the
battlefield in Baghdad, Iraq, I saw firsthand the immense
sacrifices they and their families make to uphold the freedoms
we hold dear. The world is changing rapidly, and we must ensure
the Army is prepared to operate in new, complex, and contested
environments. From advancing our capabilities in multi-domain
operations to cutting-edge technologies, my sacred duty to our
Army is to ensure our soldiers have the world's finest
training, equipment, and leadership to accomplish any mission,
and to be as lethal a force as it can be.
If confirmed, I intend to be the soldiers' Secretary of the
Army. This is why I believe President Trump has nominated me.
America's soldiers and their families will be my mission.
Last, I recognize the importance of working closely with
Congress, and in particular with this Committee. Chairman
Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and Members of the Committee, it
is the honor of my life to be given the opportunity to earn
your trust and continue my service to our great nation. I look
forward to responding to your questions and discussing how we
can work together to support the soldiers, civilians, and
families who make up the United States Army. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll follows:]
Prepared Statement by Mr. Dan Driscoll
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, distinguished Members of the
Committee, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before
you today as the nominee to serve as Secretary of the United States
Army. It is an honor to be considered for this role. To Senator Mullin
and Senator Blumenthal, I'm sincerely thankful for the introductions. I
am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by
President Trump.
I would like to begin by acknowledging my family who have joined me
here today. To my wife, Cassie, who manages to keep us afloat despite
being an accomplished surgeon, and children, Daniel and Lila--your
unwavering support has made my service possible, and I will be forever
grateful. I also want to thank the men and women of the United States
Army, past and present, whose courage and dedication inspire all of us
every day.
My commitment to this role is rooted in my family's long lineage of
military service. My grandfather served in the Army during World War II
as a decoder. My father served during Vietnam as an infantryman. I
served as a cavalry scout in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In as
much as you can trust the plans of an 8-year old, my son, Daniel is
planning to join the Army too.
We are a family that is grateful to have had the privilege of
wearing the uniform of the United States Army. We are a family that
understands the gravity of leading soldiers in, and out of combat. We
are a family that has chosen to serve alongside our brothers and
sisters in Arms for generations.
I joined the Army as a middle class public school kid from the
mountains of North Carolina. The values and experiences I gained
through military service molded me into the man I am today and opened
the way for opportunities I could scarcely have imagined when I
enlisted. In my experience, the transformative power of military
service is open to all those who are willing and able to shoulder the
task.
If confirmed, I will continue my family's lineage of service. I
will be accountable to the President, the Congress, and the American
people for the judicious and effective use of an approximately $200
billion budget and leadership of over a million soldiers and civilians.
Most important, I intend to be the soldiers' Secretary of the Army,
not of the Generals or of the Bureaucracy. It is the American Soldier
to whom our national defense and prosperity are entrusted. This is why
I believe President Trump has nominated me. These are serious
obligations that I will enter into with humility and determination.
During my time in the Army, I was fortunate to serve, and deploy to
combat, alongside soldiers who represent the very best of America. The
American soldier's professionalism, ingenuity, and dedication are
unmatched. Whether in garrison at Fort Drum, NY, on the training
grounds of Yuma, Arizona or on the battlefield in Baghdad, Iraq, I saw
firsthand the immense sacrifices they and their families make to uphold
the freedoms we hold dear. This service and sacrifice by soldiers is
what will drive my commitment to ensuring the Army has the resources,
leadership, and support it needs to remain the world's premier land
force. I also saw firsthand how the decisions their leaders made
affected the lives of our soldiers, many times decisions which just
didn't make sense. We must do better, and we will do better for our
soldiers.
The Army's purpose is simple. To protect and advance our national
interests by deterring our adversaries. If deterrence fails, to win
wars with overwhelming dominance. If confirmed, I will prioritize the
readiness and modernization of the service to realize that purpose. The
world is changing rapidly, and we must ensure the Army is prepared to
operate in new, complex and contested environments. From advancing our
capabilities in multi-domain operations to cutting-edge technologies,
my sacred duty to our Army is to ensure our soldiers have the world's
finest training, equipment, and leadership to accomplish any mission,
and to be as lethal a force as it can be.
One of my top priorities will be reinvigorating the defense
industrial base. New battlefields are teaching us important lessons.
These conflicts have demonstrated that the innovation, production, and
fielding of some of our new weapons and capabilities must be done in
weeks and months rather than years or decades. I believe our Nations'
innovators and their companies stand ready for this challenge. We must
empower them and hold them accountable for achieving these new goals as
it is our warfighters who will ultimately pay the price.
If confirmed, America's soldiers will be my mission. Recruitment
and retention challenges demand innovative solutions and a renewed
focus on quality of life for our troops and their families. The Army
has a rich history filled with American heroes in both war and peace.
With the Army's 250th anniversary this year, we have a unique
opportunity to tell those stories to a generation of future soldiers,
who may not yet know that service is their path.
On retention, I want to take a moment to thank this Committee for
passing the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA. Your hard work to improve the pay,
housing and access to childcare is appreciated by our soldiers and
their families. We ask so much of them, and you have helped us take an
important step in supporting them. If confirmed, your efforts will have
made my job easier and I will strive to ensure you see a return on that
investment through increased retention of our most capable personnel
who will comprise the Army's future leaders.
Last, I recognize the importance of working closely with Congress
and in particular with this Committee. Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member
Reed, and Members of the Committee, it is the honor of my life to be
given the opportunity to earn your trust and continue my service to our
great Nation. I look forward to responding to your questions and
discussing how we can work together to support the soldiers, civilians,
and families who make up the United States Army. Thank you.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much, Mr. Driscoll. Before
I begin my questions, there are a few routine questions which
we ask all civilian nominees that appear before this Committee,
so if you would answer these questions. Have you adhered to
applicable laws and regulations governing conflicts of
interest?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
Chairman Wicker. Have you assumed any duties or taken any
actions that would appear to presume the outcome of the
confirmation process?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
Chairman Wicker. 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?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
Chairman Wicker. 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 requester
regarding the basis for any good faith delay or denial in
providing such records?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
Chairman Wicker. Will you ensure that your staff complies
with deadlines established by this Committee for the production
of reports, records and other information including timely
responding to hearing questions for the record?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
Chairman Wicker. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses
and briefers and response to congressional requests?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
Chairman Wicker. Will those witnesses and briefers be
protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very, very much. Let me begin
then my line of questioning by getting back to something I
mentioned in my opening statement, and that is Junior ROTC.
This Committee is serious about building Junior ROTC. It is a
matter of scholarly study that Junior ROTC, whether Army or the
other branches, is a citizenship builder. Students who
volunteer for Junior ROTC, and they only take volunteers. They
have better attendance records, they have higher graduation
records, they attend post-secondary education at a higher rate,
and in general, they are better students. This is without
question based on peer-reviewed studies.
We have increased the minimum number of Junior ROTC units
by 200 in our legislation, yet there are today only 15 more
units across the DOD than there were 2 years ago.
Now, as Chairman of this Committee, and I think I speak for
the Committee, we intend for the statute to be followed. This
is not a ceiling that we have created. It is a floor, and we
intend for the Department of Defense and the Department of the
Army to follow the statute as passed by the House and Senate
and signed by the President of the United States. So it
troubles me that only 15 units across the country have actually
been opened in spite of our statute.
Meanwhile, there are 300 schools around the country that
are on a waiting list. If you ask a principal, any principal in
any State of the Union, would they like a Junior ROTC, they say
yes. If you ask the school board or the superintendent, they
say, ``We would love to have a Junior ROTC.'' This is a winner.
The data are clear and a RAND Corporation study supports this.
So Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, how would you plan to
improve the situation that I have described and to reduce the
Army Junior ROTC waiting list?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I appreciate the question, and thank
you for taking the time in your office to dive into this with
me. This is actually a personal issue. My nephew, who is now
stationed in Korea, did JROTC in Lexington, Virginia. It was
one of the most powerful experiences in his life, and I think
that this is a topic that requires focus from the top. I
commit, if confirmed, to looking at this, working with the
team, because these are the kind of lineages and relationships
and chains that we can build into communities that can get us
not just one future soldier but get us generations of soldiers.
So I would love to work with your office, if confirmed.
Chairman Wicker. Even those who do not go into military
service are better citizens. So I appreciate that. So how are
we going to tackle the overall issue of Army recruiting?
Mr. Driscoll. I think we have an incredible opportunity
this year, Senator. It is the 250th anniversary of the Army.
The Army has an incredible history that can be told of the men
and women that have served and the amazing deeds they have done
both in and out of uniform. This year, we can take that
momentum and build a backlog and a pipeline of soldiers that
can hopefully fill up for the next couple of years. The Army
has been actually taking some reasonably good steps, it seems
from the outside. The Future Soldier Corps out of Fort Jackson
that has been helping with ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery] prep and a lot of the physical fitness prep
seems to be working.
If confirmed, I would want to look and see if that can be
scaled even further. There are a lot of technology tools that
have been integrated into the recruiting process. Some of them
have had great benefits. Some of them like digitizing young
people's medical records have had unintended consequences where
now we are starting to find all sorts of things we would not
have been able to see before. I think we need to take a deep
dive on what are those unintended consequences to some of the
things we are doing and try to create pathways and mechanisms
for more waivers or whatever it is to continue to strengthen
the Army's recruiting pipeline.
Chairman Wicker. I agree with that. Thank you very much.
Senator Reed, you are recognized.
Senator Reed. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr.
Driscoll, you bring integrity, intelligence, and the experience
as a young officer leading soldiers, which is the greatest
privilege an American can have, so thank you for that.
In one of your advanced policy questions you said that the
current promotion system does not necessarily select senior
officers for their institutional knowledge or strategic acumen,
which are increasingly desirable. Could you elaborate on that?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I think contrasting my experience in
the military with my experience in the private sector, the
private sector does recruiting a little bit differently where
it is often the best woman or a man for the job. Time in a
specific role is less correlated with promotion, and there are
all sorts of things that would be a larger mosaic of traits
that you would look at. I think the Army could take a similar
view of promotion and mechanize it.
Senator Reed. How would you describe the current sort of
metric for promotion in the Army? My assumption is that it is
principally based on performance and merit.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, my understanding is that is a
component of it with a heavy weighting toward time in service
or time in your role.
Senator Reed. Now, will you look at this promotion system
with the idea you are making appropriate changes?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, Senator.
Senator Reed. Thank you. In the acquisition process we
have, as you suggest in your answers, barriers to doing
business from your perspective and particularly those in the
1980's that were designed to ensure fair competition. Could you
generally describe these barriers and what you think you can do
to eliminate them?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I think the first thing we need to
do is improve the Army as a customer. The current model the
Army uses to acquire things rewards entities that are enormous.
The big five primes are the case study in who can currently
survive such a hard relationship with a customer. The Army's
ability to project what it is going to need in the future
limits the ability for companies to buildup the infrastructure
to provide that support and to price things knowing how long
the Army will remain in its life. I think that a hard focus on
improving the Army's ability to project what it needs and
empowering the defense base to expand from, call it, 5 to 7 to
25 to 50 would be powerful first steps.
Senator Reed. One of the issues that you will face is the
apparent increased deployments to the border for immigration
activities. Back in June 2020, before the Appropriations
Committee, General Hokanson, who is the previous commander of
the National Guard, said, and I will quote, ``As I have
expressed within the building as well, there is no military
training value for what we do. This is a law enforcement
mission under the Department of Homeland Security.'' He also
emphasizes stress on families of such missions.
What is your assessment of the training value and
consequently the readiness status of the forces?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I think border security is national
security. We have had soldiers at the border for a number of
years. I think the Army stands ready to execute on any mission
from the President of the United States and Secretary of
Defense up to and including helping to secure our border.
Senator Reed. But is there a cost in terms of readiness?
Readiness to conduct military operations against a military
opponent, not an immigrant?
Mr. Driscoll. I think the Army has a long 249-year history,
Senator, of balancing multiple objectives, and if this is
important to our commander in chief the Army will execute on
it.
Senator Reed. I guess the question would be how do you
account then for General Hokanson's observation after serving
as the Commander of the National Guard and looking closely at
many National Guard deployments?
Mr. Driscoll. I think, Senator, the burden borne by our
National Guard is something when I was in, when we deployed,
the stress on their families is incredible. They were doing
many deployments back to back. They have to manage jobs outside
of their military roles. I think it adds a stress level that a
lot of times is forgotten or just set aside by leaders.
My commitment to this Committee is, if confirmed, I would
want to, anytime we work with National Guard, make sure we are
considering and taking into account this stress on their jobs
back home and on their families.
Senator Reed. Well, thank you very, very much, Mr. Driscoll
and thank you for your family's service.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Reed. Senator Fischer.
Senator Fischer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome, Mr.
Driscoll. It is good to see you. Thank you for your service and
really the sacrifice, service, commitment of your family as
well.
The last several years from the war in Ukraine and the
United States response to Iranian and Houthi attacks in the
Middle East, it really has demonstrated just how quickly
munitions are expended in modern conflicts. If confirmed, will
you commit to reviewing our current stockpile requirements for
Army munitions to ensure our stockpiles are right-sized for
modern conflicts, especially for potential conflicts that would
last more than a few weeks?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely, Senator, and this is a topic that
you and I have talked about. I think what we have learned in
Ukraine and with some of the other conflicts is it is no longer
sufficient to buildup a munition supply, put it on the shelf
over 20 years, and hope that we guessed the right amount that
we or our allies or our friends would need. We have got to have
an industrial base that is able to scale with us. I thank the
Committee for this work on 155 munitions and getting it going
again, but we have to do more, and if confirmed, I would want
to work with this Committee and your office, Senator, to do a
deep dive on this.
Senator Fischer. Since the cold war, we have, I think, seen
this pattern of feast and famine. When there is conflict, the
first couple years we boost up production and then we let it
slide, and I do not believe we can continue to have that kind
of pattern there. You said you would work with Congress, that
you would work with the Committee on that.
Just what do you think, off the top of your head, since we
had the discussion, what do you believe is a path forward that
you would suggest to this Committee? Do we have the necessary
resources available to be able to accomplish that currently, do
you think?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, to the resource question, I would
need to take a deeper dive once briefed, if confirmed, to what
we could do. I think the United States has an incredible
history of agile and innovative manufacturing. It has decayed
as a nation over the last couple of decades, but it is still
there. The American people will be with us if we include them.
I think if you look at the private sector and the innovation
loop, we do have some case studies of being able to create
things with soldiers, having coders with them in the field, and
actually updating products and getting it back to the
manufacturing floor with a much tighter innovation loop. I
think we can do that working together and it could make an
incredible difference.
Senator Fischer. Do we have the authorities to be able to
accomplish that now, or do you think that you would need more
authority to be able to move us quickly forward?
Mr. Driscoll. I think we do have the authorities, Senator.
Senator Fischer. Thank you. Mr. Driscoll, small drones and
the UAS, they are undoubtedly going to play a key role in
future conflicts, but where do you see opportunities to expand
the Army's use of those drones and unmanned systems?
Mr. Driscoll. I think, Senator, and it was incredibly great
talking to you about this, it has changed how warfare has
fought. When I did armor school, the way we have designed much
of our equipment, our tanks in particular, our tanks are built
to receive fire from the front or indirect fire from the top.
They are not built to receive it from the rear or the back
corners. So there are soft spots all over our tanks, which are
some of our most dependable fighting machines, that very cheap
drones rigged with very cheap explosives can exploit. I think
we saw this with the Russian invasion in Ukraine, that a lot of
the way that we have thought about how to fight will have to
change because of drones, both large and small with swarms. We
can no longer shoot $4 million missiles to take down a $400
drone. That just simple math does not add up. We are going to
have to find solutions, whether it is directed energy or
whatever it is, that can have a cost-effective way to provide
security.
Senator Fischer. You answered my second part of the
question on how we are going to make sure it is cost-effective
because right now it is not.
Okay, recruiting. We see tremendous challenges with
recruiting in the Army across all services. What is your
current assessment right now of the Army's recruiting
challenges, and how would you address them?
Mr. Driscoll. My sense is for the last 3 or 4 years, we
have missed our goals. I believe even the goals we hit from the
outside, it seems as if the Army lowered their goals. The best
analogy that I heard is the Army threw the dart at the
dartboard and then drew the bullseye around where the dart
landed. That is not a great way to staff an army. We have the
fewest number of Active Duty soldiers that we have had since
World War II right now. Conflict is erupting around the world.
I think there is a story to tell of the United States Army
that young people want to hear, and I think we have complicated
that story a bit over the last couple of years. I actually do
not think it is throwing more money at the problem. I think it
is nice to get things like the GI Bill, I got to use the GI
Bill but I did not enlist for that. I enlisted because I wanted
to go serve my country, and I think young people stand by ready
for us to tell that story again in a compelling way. If
confirmed, I look forward to working with you to tell that
story.
Senator Fischer. Thank you. I look forward to working with
you.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Fischer. Senator
Shaheen.
Senator Shaheen. Mr. Driscoll, congratulations on your
nomination. Thank you for your past service and for the
willingness of you and your family to continue to serve this
country.
I want to start by expressing my condolences, as the Chair
and Ranking Member, on the loss of lives last night, those
members of the military who were lost as well as everyone lost
in that air tragedy.
According to the Army's fiscal year 2024 accident or mishap
assessment that was just released this month, 2024 had the most
Class A flight mishap rates per 100,000 hours since 2007. So
what will your strategy be to try and keep training flights out
of harm's way?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, to echo your remarks, it is an
absolute tragedy. I have seen the same thing I believe you are
on television. So it is an accident that seems to be
preventable from what we can tell today. That should not
happen. I think a focus from the top-down on a culture of
safety. There are appropriate times to take risk and there are
inappropriate times to take risk. I do not know the details
around this one. But after doing it, if confirmed, and working
with this committee to figure out the facts, I think we might
need to look at where is an appropriate time to take training
risk and it may not be near an airport like Reagan.
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you. As I am sure you know,
historically the Secretary of the Army has unique Homeland
defense responsibilities and it is especially critical in times
of crises. So at the direction of the Army Secretary, you could
direct that the National Guard be available to coordinate with
civilian authorities on airspace. Is this something that you
will be willing to consider and to work with civilian
authorities?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely, Senator.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you. I want to followup on your
conversation with Senator Fischer because, as you know, most of
the capabilities that we have provided to Ukraine come from
Army stock or Army programs, Abrams tanks, anti-air and anti-
armor weapons, long-range strike and guided multiple rocket
launchers. The National Security Supplemental that Congress
passed last year is providing real relief to the U.S.
industrial base, including in New Hampshire where we have a
significant defense industrial base.
If confirmed, will you ensure that Army stockpiles can meet
our national security requirements and will you include in your
budget and supplemental requests to Congress enough funding to
replenish the defense industrial base?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, as I told your colleague, I think
this is one of the great problems facing our time in getting
our munition and getting our magazines back up to where they
need to be. I think we need to use this moment to figure out
how do we create sustainable, scalable solutions so that if in
the future we need to tap back into those stockpiles, how do we
get them to scale even faster?
I commit to working with your office to both get us to
where we need to be to replace what we have used in Ukraine, or
to what we have had our friends using in Ukraine. But then also
to get lessons learned from that, that we can record, so that
we are ready to go if we need to for a threat like China.
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you. One of the things we
talked about when we met in my office was some of the
challenges, those exact challenges. One of the companies I
mentioned was L3 and their development of ENVG-Bs, the night
vision goggles that have been so important to the Army. You
talked about improving the Army's ability to project what it
needs over the long term. One of the challenges that we have
had with the ENVG-Bs is that the Army budget requests have been
up and down over the years. They have not been consistent
despite positive feedback from our warfighters.
How will we commit to dealing with that kind of budget
inconsistency and how will you address it? What kinds of
things, strategies are you thinking to address it?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I think this is the perfect kind of
topic where, if confirmed, working with this committee to find
solutions for funding. This is a problem that includes a lot of
different parties, and I think a level of transparency and
inclusion and planning will be helpful. As the Army does things
like IVAS [Integrated Visual Augmentation System], it may be
expanding away from some of the previous technologies that it
used. I think we have to keep our eye on what has worked in the
past and keep a hybrid of maintaining and refurbishing some of
the old technologies to kind of smooth out the transition to
the new ones, and I look forward to working with your office on
these kinds of topics, if confirmed.
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you very much. As you point
out, we are not going to be able to replenish the stockpiles
that we are losing if we do not have a strategy for how to deal
with this long-term and ensure that our companies that are so
critical to that replenishment are engaged in that
conversation.
So thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you for that excellent point,
Senator Shaheen. Senator Sullivan.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Driscoll,
congratulations. I appreciated our meeting. I look forward to
supporting you, in spite of your Yale law degree, which I think
generally is disqualifying, but I will overlook that this time.
Ten years ago I was in this position. I was a brand new
U.S. Senator, been here for a month, and the Obama
administration announced, as part of its gutting of our U.S.
Military, they were going to cut 40,000 Active Duty Army troops
including the 425 at JBER [Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson] in
Alaska, the only airborne brigade combat team in the entire
Indo-Pacific, strategic national security suicide in my view. I
was a brand new Senator. I fought that with everything I had. I
put a hold on the Chief of Staff of the Army's confirmation. I
put a hold on the Secretary of the Army's confirmation for
several weeks until we got the Army to see the light, okay?
Obama ended up cutting 35,000 troops, and he kept the 425 in
Alaska, 5,000 airborne army troopers, which became the
cornerstone of the 11th Airborne Division, as we built up the
Army in Alaska.
Are you aware that the Army now has two Active Duty
airborne divisions?
Mr. Driscoll. I am, Senator.
Senator Sullivan. The 82d, which we all love, but the 11th
Airborne Division, which is in Alaska, the Arctic Angels. Are
you aware of that?
Mr. Driscoll. I am, Senator.
Senator Sullivan. Great. So imagine my surprise, there have
been some recent articles in the paper saying certain leaders
in policy roles in the Trump Pentagon have passed ideas in the
debate about shifting resources to the Indo-Pacific, which I
support, but passed ideas on how we can do that.
One was a report, an idea from a report from 2021, that
would deactivate four striker brigade combat teams, 6 infantry
brigade combat teams, two National Guard aviation brigades,
more than 10 percent of the Army's Active Duty combat power. If
this idea ever saw its head in the Pentagon from a non-Senate-
confirmed DAS [Deputy Assistant Secretary], I need your
commitment to me and this Committee right now that you would
kill it.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I commit, if confirmed, to fight as
hard as I can for the Army. As I said to your colleague, the
Army is at its lowest staffing since World War II.
Senator Sullivan. Right, and do you think cutting 12
brigade combat teams worth of combat power is a good idea?
Mr. Driscoll. Without knowing the specifics Senator, no.
Senator Sullivan. Well, come on. Just I need your answer to
say no.
Mr. Driscoll. No.
Senator Sullivan. Do you think cutting 12 brigade combats--
this is Obama 2.0, right? Do you think cutting 12 brigade
combat teams from the Army would implement President Trump and
Secretary Hegseth's policies of peace through strength?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
Senator Sullivan. No, it would not. Do you think it would
deter Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin if this idea, and maybe
this idea has been discarded by this DAS who is there right
now, cutting 12 brigade combat teams would help with
deterrence?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
Senator Sullivan. I do not think so either. Well, thank you
on that, because very disturbing when I read that, and I am
glad you agree with me that we are not doing Obama 2.0. We are
doing Reagan and Trump 1-2.0, peace through strength, and ideas
of gutting the Army's act of duty force, that is what I fought
when I came here. If there is anyone who is trying to do that,
we will fight it. I will fight it.
Okay, let me go to another question. In addition to the
11th Airborne Division in Alaska, we have the 49th Missile
Defense Battalion at Fort Greeley. A lot of people do not know
this but the cornerstone of missile defense for America is in
Alaska, and it is led by the U.S. Army. The President put out
his Iron Dome Executive Order recently for layered missile
defense. I fully support that.
Will you work with me and this Committee, Senator Cramer,
we are going to be introducing legislation to bolster what the
President's trying to do, but a lot of it will involve the
Army. A lot of people do not know that. The 49th Missile
Defense Battalion at Fort Greeley, they like to call themselves
the 300 protecting the 300 million, because they protect the
whole country. Will you commit to working with this Committee
and me on bolstering our missile defenses, particularly as it
relates to Fort Greeley and our brave soldiers who are doing a
great job defending our Nation, and come to Alaska with me to
see them in the 11th Airborne Division?
Mr. Driscoll. It would be an honor, Senator. As we talked
about in your office, I was stationed with 10th Mountain
Division in Fort Drum, New York.
Senator Sullivan. Where there are no mountains.
Mr. Driscoll. When you get there you assume 10th Mountain
Division would have mountains around and I think the highest
elevation on the entire base is 50 feet. So I would be honored,
Senator.
Chairman Wicker. Great, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Driscoll.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much. Senator Warren.
Senator Warren. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Congratulations on
your nomination, Mr. Driscoll.
What I would like to do is continue the conversation that
we started in my office. The Army buys a lot of stuff, from
tanks to helicopters. They buy a lot of stuff from big defense
contractors. But those giant companies often sneak restrictions
into the contracts. They hog up the software rights or the
technical data all to prevent servicemembers from being able to
repair their own equipment.
So today I would like to talk through an example so we can
see the difference it makes when the Army is not hamstrung by
right-to-repair restrictions. Last year the Army needed a new
cover for a safety clip, but the contractor told the Army they
could not have it for months and the safety clips would cost
$20 a pop. Now thankfully, the Army had managed to keep right-
to-repair restrictions out of this contract and was able to 3D
print the part in less than an hour for a total cost of 16
cents.
Now, Mr. Driscoll, does being able to get the parts we need
in hours, maybe minutes instead of months, and for nickels
instead of dollars, help U.S. readiness and national security?
Mr. Driscoll. Unequivocally, Senator.
Senator Warren. Good. When right-to-repair restrictions are
in place, it is bigger profits for giant defense contractors,
but also higher prices for DOD and longer wait times for
servicemembers who need to get their equipment repaired so they
are ready to go. Chairman Wicker has an Acquisition Reform
Agenda which calls for a complete review of data rights across
the Department of Defense. I think that is exactly right
because it would help put the Army fully in command of the
equipment that it has paid so much for.
Mr. Driscoll, let me ask you, if confirmed, will you work
with this Committee to identify more opportunities where the
Army can save money and time by making their own parts and
fixing their own equipment?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, unequivocally, Senator.
Senator Warren. Would you like to expand on that at all?
Mr. Driscoll. This type of innovation that is happening in
the private sector at scale in a lot of ways seems to have not
trickled into the Army as much. If we think about engagement
with a peer like China, being able to repair our parts in areas
around the world will be crucial to that. If we are having 6-
month delays in CONUS [Continental United States] and paying
100x the rate, that is not scalable in an actual conflict. So I
am totally supportive, Senator.
Senator Warren. Good.
Chairman Wicker. That was a very good answer, Mr. Driscoll.
Senator Warren. It was an excellent answer. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Right-to-repair restrictions have truly gotten out of
control and they threaten our national security. In some cases,
the Army cannot even write its own training manual without a
sign-off from the contractor. My Service Member Right-to-Repair
Act would help fix this problem.
But a root cause of this defense contractor profiteering is
the revolving door between senior Pentagon officials and big
defense contractors. Last year I released a report that found
700 instances of top-20 DOD contractors hiring former high-
ranking officials. Do you think this is a problem, Mr.
Driscoll?
Mr. Driscoll. I do, Senator.
Senator Warren. When government officials cash in on their
public service by lobbying, advising, or serving as board
members and executives for the companies that they used to
regulate, it undermines public officials' integrity and it
casts doubt on the fairness of government contracting, and it
costs DOD a lot of money. We owe it to our taxpayers and we owe
it to our men and women in uniform to fix this broken system. I
look forward to working with you on this, Mr. Driscoll.
Mr. Driscoll. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Warren. Thank you, I yield back.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Warren. Senator Cramer.
Senator Cramer. Thank you, Chairman, and Senator Reed, and
thank you Mr. Driscoll for your service and your willingness to
step in the gap again in this important position.
I am going to, first of all, thanks for all your answers to
the previous questions, particularly on acquisition reform. It
is a high priority for the chairman. It is a high priority for
all of us, and quite honestly, I worry less about witnesses'
answers to questions and promises that come from people at the
Pentagon than I do the culture. To me, that is the big thing
that all the policies in the world, in fact, I appreciated you
answering earlier to the question that I think it was Senator
Fischer asked when you said you have some of the authorities
already that you need. We just have to go faster, and the Army
does it quite well by the way. But just know that I am on the
encouragement side. Go faster, as I have said from this roster
many, many times to witnesses.
If people go faster and innovate more and encourage
innovation, particularly from smaller companies, I promise not
to be the person that sits up here and says, ``I got you,''
when something bad happens, but I promise you I will be your
worst nightmare if you fail to go fast because you are worried
about your backside and some DOD lawyer or leader that does not
have the guts to do what needs to be done to keep up with the
pace of China. Having said all that, great answers.
I am going to go a whole different direction and talk to
you about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A number of us,
including the Chairman, Senator Sullivan, and at least the
three of us and maybe a couple of others up here, are also on
the Environment and Public Works Committee so we have
jurisdiction over the Corps of Engineers in two committees. In
the last Congress, in the Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA), that was signed into law December 2022, I authored some
bipartisan language with Senator Merkley requiring the Army
Corps to establish the Western Water Cooperative Committee.
Now, the Corps hates advisory committees, but this was a
committee of Western states, at the encouragement of Western
states, every Governor from Washington State to California to
the Dakotas and in between supported it, and every attorney
general. In other words, a pretty diverse group of leaders in
this country, supported this Western Water Cooperative
Committee. It was to be implemented no later than 90 days after
enactment.
So here we are more than 2 years later, after it has been
authorized and fully funded, it still has not been stood up.
Now, that is not your fault. But Senator Merkley and I sent the
Corps a letter in October of last year asking for an update.
After a whole bunch of back and forth leading up to this
hearing, I finally got a little bit of clarity the other day on
the process--process, by the way, is a word I am growing to
hate; process is what DOD officials use to kill good people and
good ideas. Just my opinion. Thanks for listening. But I
finally have a bit of clarity on the process and what the
Army's working through.
Yesterday I was told that the committee's charter currently
sits before the DOD's Advisory Committee Management Office,
really, and will be approved within 30 days. It is a law. It
has been approved by the only people that matter, the people in
Congress and the President of the United States. So 30 days to
approve something that they are required to do by law seems a
little outrageous to me, but I am going to be generous today.
After that, quote, ``30 days,'' which we will see--I will
believe it when I see it--it goes back to the Army for action,
okay? Now that does not give me a lot of solace because I have
history. Again, it is a law. It has been a law for over 2
years.
Now I know you are not in your role yet, Mr. Driscoll, and
I did not plan on using my time on this topic necessarily, but
my colleagues have done a great job on the priorities of the
day. Can I get your commitment that it does not have to take 30
days to get something going that is been the law for over 2
years, that DOD officials, who do not like this idea, have just
tried to kill by stalling? Do I have your commitment to get to
it and get it done in quick order?
Mr. Driscoll. Unequivocally, Senator. and just to
highlight, I hope it is illustrative and I would hold myself
accountable to this next statement, having two of your
colleagues here from each side, I intend to, if confirmed, work
with this Committee and follow the law. I would absolutely
commit to looking into that.
Senator Cramer. Thank you. I yield.
Chairman Wicker. Senator Cramer, thank you for your
question, which is well taken and applies to the issue that I
rose about the increased floor of junior ROTC units, for which
there are 300 applications and only 15 have been created in
response to a statute passed by the Congress and signed by the
President of the United States.
Senator Kaine, you are next.
Senator Kaine. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr.
Driscoll. Congratulations on your nomination.
Thanks to all my colleagues who offered thoughts about the
crash, the three soldiers from Belvoir, we do not have their
identities yet, but that is something I know the Army family
feels and this region feels, all my colleagues do actually,
because all my colleagues have staffers who work in this area
and we are all kind of awaiting with dread the manifest and the
passenger list of those who died.
Here is a topic that this Committee has really grappled
with, and I will say that none of us are happy with it in a
bipartisan basis, and that is the efforts of our DOD to figure
out strategies to counter UAS incursions into our bases. A
well-publicized one occurred at the Langley base in Hampton,
Virginia, but there have been other sightings, New Jersey and
other bases have been subject to these. Langley as an example,
the incursions occurred over a period of 17 days in December
2023, and we are 14 months later and we still have not been
given good answers about what, in fact, happened. I think we
are really frustrated by this because if it was just a 1-day
thing, well maybe you could not track it, could not figure it
out, but if it happened for 17 days and we still do not have
answers, that is problematic.
The reason I raised this with you, Mr. Driscoll, is that
the Army has been tasked with being the DOD's executive agent
on this topic. All the stakeholders are at the table, but the
Army is tasked with being the lead in countering small UASs.
The Army is charged with leading and directing relevant
doctrine requirements, materiel training standards and
capabilities to establish joint solutions, not just Army
solutions, but joint solutions for addressing current and
future emerging small UAS threats.
Should you be confirmed, what will you do to ensure
coordination between the services in developing a joint counter
small UAS doctrine?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I think these drone incursions
highlight kind of a core problem with how we have thought of
our Nation's defense. We have not thought about it in a while,
and I got to speak with your colleague kind of in-depth about
this specific incursion and it seems to be the buck falls
between a lot of different agencies and no one is empowered to
act quickly. That is at scale even when it continues to show up
day after day, night after night.
I think a lot of the first steps are building a network of
communication and identifying an SOP [Standard Operating
Procedure] for how do you engage with these things? Who owns
what? Who is calling and what is an acceptable timeframe for
this kind of communication to occur? That would just be the
people side of the thing.
Then from a technology side, I think if you look at a lot
of the tools like directed energy, we need to empower our
agencies to protect our Homeland from these types of incursions
so that we can shoot them down and learn from specifically who
sent it, what was it doing, what was it collecting? My
understanding of this situation in particular is we just do not
know, and that is not good enough for the American people.
Senator Kaine. Thank you, Mr. Driscoll. I know that Senator
Fischer asked you some questions about recruiting when I was at
another hearing, but I want to come back to it. I am on the
Health, Education, Labor, Pension Committee too so workforce
issues economy-wide in the military, in the civilian space are
very important to me.
What innovative approaches have you either seen in the Army
or do you foresee trying so that we can have the size of the
force that we need to defend this country?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, from what I have heard of the Future
Soldier Program out of Fort Jackson, which is actually where I
did basic training, it is working really well. It is helping
future soldiers prep for the ASVAB, which, in and of itself,
might have some complications of how valuable is a test when
you are prepping everybody for it.
But the fitness side of things is obviously helping. Those
soldiers are doing really well in basic training. Those are the
types of solutions that I think are going well.
If you look at things like waivers, I had mentioned to your
colleague, I think we need to relook at the waiver process.
Currently, the physicians in charge of giving waivers, their
incentive structure, as I understand it, is they are punished
when somebody they waive does not make it to basic training,
but there is no feedback loop to reward them for somebody that
needed a waiver, that got through basic training. So I think we
need to start to look at things like that, which could have
some pretty meaningful impacts on the pipeline.
Senator Kaine. Finally, one last question. At his
confirmation hearing before us 8 years ago, Former SECDEF
General Mattis noted, and I quote, ``If you don't fund the
State Department fully then I need to buy more ammunition.'' He
was talking about the fact that you needed a whole-of-
government approach to promote national security. Do you agree
with that sentiment?
Mr. Driscoll. Unequivocally.
Senator Kaine. That is why I am really, really troubled by
the Trump order pausing all foreign assistance. I think when an
order goes out pausing foreign assistance to other nations,
except for arms transfers to Israel and Egypt. China and our
adversaries hear that and then they rub their hands together,
because they are not pausing. They look at us pausing as an
opening for them to build deeper and deeper ties into the
hearts and minds of nations that should be our allies. I am
glad you agree with what General Mattis said, and I hope we
might move forward in budgets and in policy to express that as
a bipartisan priority. Thank you very much.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Kaine. Senator Kaine,
do you recall which Member of the Committee asked that question
of General Mattis?
Senator Kaine. I am going to guess it was the Senator from
Mississippi.
Chairman Wicker. You are absolutely correct. You got it
right the first time. Senator Tuberville.
Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for
being here. Thanks for your service.
I want to echo the thoughts about what happened last night
here in our home territory. It is devastating. It just so
happens to coincide a little bit, not that it has anything to
do with this, but Fort Novosel in my State of Alabama we train
all the vertical lift Army pilots, as you well know.
My first question for several weeks has been, I want to get
your thoughts on what you think about the new curriculum for
flight school that the Army has proposed. This affects all the
pilots in the Army, and I want to get your commitment to
continue an open dialog about the Army's intent on how best to
leverage existing resources. You know, we are cutting back on
sorties. We are not putting the money in training like we used
to, that we need to do. We are undertrained in some areas.
So I would like to get your thoughts on the curriculum and
your thoughts about the future of vertical lift, especially
with the new vertical lift that the Army is purchasing for the
future fights that we might have.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, to your comment on what occurred
last night, I think we are all collectively going to have to
take a deep dive----
Senator Tuberville. Oh yes.
Mr. Driscoll.--and figure out what occurred there. The
early indicators, from what I have seen on television--I have
no other access to information--is that it might have been a
training exercise gone wrong, that had catastrophic outcomes.
So we are going to have to work together to make sure that
never occurs again, or at least to mitigate the odds that it
could ever occur again.
Then specifically to future vertical flight, if you look at
the contested airspace with our peer, China, and what we will
have to do, our vertical assets are going to have to be able to
get further and faster with lower signature than they do today.
That being said, if you look at FARA, the push for the Army, it
is early in its development, it is incredibly expensive, and we
are likely going to have to work with the Blackhawks and the
Chinooks and the assets that we have today.
If confirmed, I would want to get briefed on this and do a
deep dive with the team to figure out how are we going to
position ourselves and what training do we need for the next 1
day to 5 years until we can get to a better state.
Senator Tuberville. Thank you. I want to discuss an issue
that affects many of our installations, including mine in
Huntsville Redstone Arsenal. The issue is military
construction, MILCON, as we know it. We need to move fast and
the traditional military construction process is far too slow.
Back at Redstone Arsenal, there are two warehouses as we speak
that are being constructed, one for military by the Corps of
Engineers and one by the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation].
These warehouses are roughly the same size, regarding to the
size, but the FBI has got a huge amount of bells and whistles,
more than the military warehouse.
The military warehouse is going to cost almost $56 million
and it is going to take 48 months, 4 years, to build this,
where the FBI facility is going to cost $40 million and take
only basically a year and a half. We have got a problem. How on
the earth does this make any sense?
The Army is currently running a repair-by-replacement pilot
program that is being tested at a couple of installations to
demolish older barracks and replace them with new modern
facilities. The key part of this program is that it is using
operations and maintenance dollars versus traditional MILCON
dollars. Are you familiar with this?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I had the opportunity to talk with
you about it in your office. This is the type of thing that
makes my blood boil on behalf of soldiers. The Army has a
limited budget to begin with. We have to be good stewards of
the American taxpayers' dollars, and when we are not, it is
both the taxpayer and the soldier, and these soldiers are my
friends. It is my friends that live in these barracks and raise
their families there, and we need to stretch these dollars as
far as we can.
Senator Tuberville. Yes, and the other small point I want
to bring up, we talked about recruiting, I will not get into
that. The new recruit in the Army makes $25,000 a year before
taxes. We just gave a raise, but we cannot expect to attract
the best and the brightest young men and women in the military
unless we do something else, we got to continue. I know we give
them a lot of perks at the end of the day, but we have got to
understand $25,000, I mean, most of them can make that in a 2-
months time in some kind of big tech or whatever. So just keep
that in mind as you get into recruiting. We have got to start
taking care of these young men and women if we are going to
build the fighting force that we need. Thank you.
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, Senator.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Tuberville. Senator
Slotkin.
Senator Slotkin. Sorry, apologies. I am not used to going
anything but last, Chairman, so shocked me. Thank you for being
here and congratulations on your nomination, as I said when we
met.
I was glad to hear so many people talking about the
collision that happened last night, you will have an important
role in that investigation, if confirmed. It does sound like it
is a training mission, but it is just important that we lead a
thorough process. people across the country are mourning
watching that, and everyone on this panel here flies in and out
of there. I mean, it is hard not to think about it, so thank
you for your attention to that.
I think the thing we talked about in my office is I am a
Democrat who won on the same ballot as Donald Trump. I
absolutely understand that Donald Trump has the right to
nominate his own people, put forward his own policies. I have
seen that now in many transitions, Democrat and Republican. But
the thing that I keep coming back to is the core constitutional
responsibility. You will swear an oath to the Constitution, not
to any one President. Many of us have worked alongside or in
the military for a long time and care deeply about it remaining
apolitical. We are seeing now Active Duty military Army being
sent to the border, being sent on missions right now to support
DHS, but according to our Constitution, the U.S. military
Active Duty cannot perform law enforcement roles.
When you were trained in the military, were you trained on
basic law enforcement techniques?
Mr. Driscoll. I was not, Senator.
Senator Slotkin. Can we agree that searching a building in
Iraq or Afghanistan when you are in a combat zone as an Army
officer is fundamentally different than performing those kinds
of search and activities inside the United States with American
citizens?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, this is not meant to be evasive. I
have never been trained on it, and so I could not answer what
would be different about it from my training.
Senator Slotkin. Yes, I think the issue is not just the
Constitution, although that should be enough. I am deeply
concerned that Active Duty troops are going to be forced into
law enforcement roles, and we are already hearing stories that
really, really touch right on the line. They are not properly
trained. There is going to be an incident. Someone is going to
get hurt. There is going to be some sort of blow-up, and
suddenly we are going to have a community deeply, deeply angry
at uniformed military who were just told to go and drive those
DHS vehicles, clear that building, perform support to
something.
So I have to ask you again that if the U.S. was asked,
Active Duty, was asked to do something that contravenes the
Constitution, can you say clearly that you will push back on
anyone, whether it is the Secretary of Defense or the Commander
In Chief, and stand up on behalf of the Army instead of just
doing whatever you are told?
Mr. Driscoll. Just to answer the beginning part of the
question, Senator, I reject the premise that the President or
Secretary of Defense would ask for an order like that.
Senator Slotkin. Fine.
Mr. Driscoll. But I will always follow the law.
Senator Slotkin. Okay. I mean, your predecessor, Secretary
of the Army, Secretary Esper, had this exact thing that he
wrote about in his book. The 82d Airborne, Army, was asked to
come in and cleanup peaceful protests in Washington DC. So I
reject your rejection that this is theoretical, that this is
hypothetical. It is not, and a nominee and confirmed Secretary
under Trump, I know they have removed his portrait, but I just
have to say this is not a hypothetical. So we are counting on
you to protect the integrity of a non-political military that
is not trained in law enforcement roles.
Next, do you support revoking the pension that comes with
anyone who is honorably discharged from the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. It is hard to deal on a hypothetical,
Senator.
Senator Slotkin. It is not hypothetical. There is now focus
on Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and I
know there is lots of controversy around Mark Milley, but you
cannot debate that he served many more years than anyone on
this panel. Can you tell me that you support the seemingly
political reprisal of removing someone's pension when they have
already been honorably discharged?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, without knowing the specific
details, I do support the President's right to execute law for
order.
Senator Slotkin. Because you see the pattern this starts.
So then another Administration comes in and suddenly people who
supported Donald Trump are having their pensions removed. You
can see how this politicizes the institution that should be
apolitical, and for the January 6th guys and all these folks,
there was not a question about their pensions, and I have deep
concerns about it. I know my time is up and I yield back.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much. Senator Ernst, you
are next.
Senator Ernst. Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman, and I will also
add my condolences to the families who lost loved ones near DCA
last night.
Good morning, Mr. Driscoll, and thank you for your
testimony today and for being with us, and I appreciate the
time you took to meet with me in my office and just dive into
everything Army. Very important to me obviously, my time in
service, my family's time in service, and your time in service,
so thank you.
Once confirmed, you will be facing a challenging path
ahead, and you have already talked a little bit about
recruiting. I will add some thoughts to that. We also have to
buildupon the current modernization efforts, and of course we
have very complex geopolitical landscapes out there.
So I am going to start with recruitment and I just want to
give you some of my thoughts on this. Recruiting remains a
really critical issue for the Armed Forces. Army is on track to
meet its recruiting goals for the second consecutive year. That
is an encouraging sign. We have to maintain the momentum.
But a key concern that is been brought to my attention is
ensuring our recruiters have meaningful access to schools, to
be able to get into high schools and talk to young men and
women. I plan to introduce my SERVE Act to enhance military
recruiters' access to schools and mandate regular visits to
improve information sharing with the students and their
administrators, and I would love to work with you on this
particular issue, once confirmed.
Additionally, the military has faced challenges reaching
potential recruits via social media, and we have seen a recent
flurry of activities when it comes to Meta and regarding
reports that U.S. Army posts were being shadow-banned or
removed for alleged violations. I did send a letter to Meta
about this last month.
So Mr. Driscoll, given the challenges, do you commit to
working with us on these recruiting challenges, on making sure
that we are able to spread our good message to young men and
women?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely, Senator, it would be an honor, if
confirmed.
Senator Ernst. Thank you. So very briefly, I am also the
chair of the DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] caucus
in the U.S. Senate, and Iowans sent me here to make them
squeal. I have made it my mission to find ways to identify
waste, fraud, eliminate it, get more efficient, more
accountable to our taxpayers. The Department of Defense, and,
of course, our great Army should not be exempt from this
effort.
So Mr. Driscoll, can I count on your commitment to
collaborate on strategies for reducing waste in the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely, Senator, and as I told your
colleague earlier, the dollars are limited, as they should be,
and we are beholden to this committee and the Congress for how
to use those dollars. But then once the dollars come to us, it
is our responsibility to use them as effectively as we possibly
can, and it would be an honor to work with you on that, if
confirmed.
Senator Ernst. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Driscoll. Another
one of my top priorities remains addressing traumatic brain
injuries (TBI), within our services, and last year I
successfully passed comprehensive TBI legislation, and I intend
to build on that progress in the upcoming NDAA cycle. So can I
get your commitment to collaborate with the Defense Health
Agency Army, SOF [Special Operations Forces], and acquisition
personnel to prioritize TBI initiatives and further enhance our
Army's immediate and long-term health and safety?
Mr. Driscoll. This issue, Senator, is deeply personal. When
we were deployed, we had mortars and IEDs [improvised explosive
device]. You never know how that impacts a soldier, but I know
when we got back, a lot of our guys struggled with a lot of
issues. So I would be honored to do anything I possibly can to
lend a hand here. So if confirmed, absolutely, yes.
Senator Ernst. Excellent. No, I appreciate that. Thank you,
and I think both of us have had many friends that have been
impacted by TBI. It is very, very important to them and their
families.
Force structure, as well. I have limited time, but I do
chair the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities,
and I prioritize the Special Operations Community and the
critical enablers that they provide. In recent years, the Army
implemented force reductions within SOF. Despite these cuts,
SOCOM [Special Operations Command] has testified last year that
the demand for Special Operations Forces remain high.
So Mr. Driscoll, will I get your commitment to work with me
to make sure that we are addressing these cuts and how we can
continue to provide for our special operations community so
that they may further support our conventional forces?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely, Senator. Our special operators
are force multipliers. If you look at the threats ahead, we
have a pacing threat in China, but that certainly does not mean
that other threats would not take advantage of us being in
engagement with China. Special Forces are incredibly well
suited to both lend a hand in that fight, and also, with all of
our innovation, they are innovation laboratories that can test
things more quickly, they can learn and get their procurement
lessons and actual lessons learned to the larger force. So I am
incredibly supportive, Senator.
Senator Ernst. Well, thank you, Mr. Driscoll. Mr. Chair, I
was going to ask him to sing the Army song, but I will submit
that for the record.
Chairman Wicker. Your time is expired, regrettably,
Senator, but thank you for your questions. Senator Gillibrand.
Senator Gillibrand. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I know
you served your Active Duty tour with the Army at Fort Drum.
Climb to glory. A little over a year ago, Fort Drum was
selected to host the Army's second multi-domain task force
(MDTF). If confirmed, your tenure as Secretary will align with
the Army's target for the full MDTF implementation by fiscal
year 2028. What challenges do you see in this timeline, and do
you believe the split structure of the second MDTF between
Germany and Fort Drum is sustainable? Can the structure be
leveraged in other theaters such as the Pacific?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I have not been specifically briefed
on that unit and its bifurcation of location, but the
multidomain rollout across the Army is the future of warfare.
If you think of things like cyber and space, how war has been
fought up until this point will no longer look the same. Those
issues require networked abilities that in near real time or
real time allow for a communication across a lot of assets and
sensing tools and human beings. I look forward to both learning
more, working with your office and specifically returning to
Fort Drum, if confirmed.
Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. A recurring challenge that
you and I talked about in our meeting for the military has been
the recruitment and retention of skilled cyber operators, both
military and civilian. As of November, the military reported
about 28,000 unfilled military and civilian cyber roles. To
help address this, I created the Cyber Service Academy
Scholarship Program and secured language in the most recent
NDAA to study the advisability of a cyber military service.
Army Cyber is the largest of our cyber service components,
placing a significant portion of this burden on you. How will
you approach the cyber personnel challenge, and how do you see
things like the Cyber Service Academy supporting your efforts?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, very sincerely, thank you for your
work on this. We are going to have to figure out and work
together to create unique pathways for the cyber experts among
us to be the most lethal cyber person or soldier. That pathway
may look very different from going to ranger school and ending
up in ranger battalion. We need to work with the feeders and
the pipelines in the civilian sector to empower those
candidates who want to join the Army, those future soldiers, to
come in, and I think pathways, like what you were describing,
are incredibly valuable.
Senator Gillibrand. You will need a capable and qualified
principal cyber advisor, but that role has been vacant for
nearly 6 months. Will you commit to me to quickly fill that
role if you are confirmed?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, that would be, if confirmed, one of
the roles I would be most excited to fill. I do not know what
has led to the delay in filling it, so I cannot speak to that.
But I can commit to very early on trying to prioritize that
because, as stated earlier, with the way that multidomain is
going and our wars are going to be fought in the future, that
will be a critical role.
Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. One of the issues that this
Committee has spent at least a decade working on is the scourge
of sexual assault in the military. We put in place bipartisan
reforms that had the support of 65 Senators. It was
overwhelmingly supported. The reforms are geared toward more
transparency, more accountability, more training, and having
the decisionmaker of whether a crime has been committed be
given to a trained military prosecutor who is not in the chain
of command, who arguably has more precise and applicable
training to reach better decisions.
Are you aware of these reforms and do you commit to me that
you will do everything to make sure these reforms are fully
implemented so that our military can be a functioning place for
everyone to work and that certain people are not unfortunately
disregarded or devalued because of the system in place?
Mr. Driscoll. Very sincerely, Senator, I thank you and your
colleagues for the work on this. I mentioned in my opening
statement that my 8-year-old son is planning to join the Army.
It is hard to know if my 6-year-old daughter wants to join. My
wife and I have been nudging her that way, as much as you can
nudge a 6-year-old. I want her to join an Army that the sky is
the limit, the standards of excellence are hard, but she is
able to achieve them, she faces absolutely zero instances of
sexual harassment during her time in. It would be an absolute
honor, Senator, to work with you in this Committee to, from the
top, ensure we are both rolling out the law and setting a
culture where that is not tolerated in any way.
Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. With my last 20 seconds, you
mentioned in the questions you gave to the committee that you
wanted to appoint a high-level position dedicated to ensuring a
focus on ending sexual assault in the military. Do you have any
thoughts about what your thinking is there or what you would do
for that position?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I would want to work with you in
your office and with your colleague, Senator Ernst. I know you
have done a deep dive on this. I want to commit publicly to
commit the resources, the time, the energy, and the focus to
scorching it from the United States Army, and I think that that
could be a powerful first step.
Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Mr. Driscoll. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand. Senator
Scott.
Senator Scott. Good morning, Mr. Driscoll. Congratulations
on your nomination, and thanks for your willingness to do this.
I think I told you my father was one of 3,000 people who did
all four combat jumps with the 82d Airborne in the Second World
War. He was crazy. After that, he fought in the Battle of the
Bulge. My whole childhood he told me the Germans were horrible,
the food was horrible, and the foxholes was horrible, so after
high school I joined the Navy, which, the food was not bad, but
no Germans, no foxholes.
So first, tell me what is your experience in the Army, and
thank you for your service as calvary scout platoon leader.
What lessons did you learn that is going to make you a better
Secretary of the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, Secretary Hegseth mentioned it in
his hearing that the dust on the boots model, I had not thought
of that in a long time. But the experiences of being able to
think through when a decision from the top comes down, how does
it actually impact the soldier. I can think back to our COP
[combat outpost] outside Baghdad, Iraq, that had 40 of us, and
we had these amazing vehicles, which I think probably this
Committee had a lot of help in getting these MRAPs [mine-
resistant ambush protected] out. When our soldiers first
deployed, the bottom of these Humvees was thin and it basically
perfectly absorbed a blast. These MRAPs were created, which
saved a lot of lives. But one of the problems with the MRAPs is
they were very heavy, very tall, and very prone to roll over.
I can remember for the entire 9 or 10 months we were at the
COP, every couple of weeks you would send a soldier out there,
they would startup the MRAP, turn it on and run the engine for
a couple of minutes and then turn it back off, and then the
process would repeat itself. It was not for any sort of
malintention, and the actions by those creating it were for
good purposes, which is fundamentally the MRAP did not work in
a lot of areas in Iraq because it is muddy, dusty roads that
just cannot support a lot of weight.
I think those types of experiences of saying this may be
the right answer some of the time, but what is it actually
going to look like for the actual soldier on the ground where
we need this? I think that that will be a very impactful, or I
hope if confirmed, that will be a very impactful vision.
Senator Scott. I became Governor of Florida in January
2011. I had no earthly idea that the Army Corps of Engineers
was going to control every bit of development in my State. You
could not do anything at their ports, you could not do anything
in our rivers, there was so much the Army Corps of Engineers
controlled. My experience is it is just an absolute black hole.
They are wonderful people, but you could never get an answer--
never get an answer about their timeline, never get an answer
about why they make the decisions. It was just an absolute
black hole. It has been consistent for my 8 years as Governor
and my 6 years up here.
I do not know if you have spent any time with the Army
Corps of Engineers, wonderful people, but for anybody that
wants to get anything accomplished in their State, it is just a
pain in the royal butt. Have you thought about what you would
do to change that?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, one of the amazing parts of the Army
is that it does touch so many different parts of both our
countrymen's lives and the lives of those abroad. When I talked
to your colleague, Senator Warren, one of the things we had
talked about is, is it possible to do something like an NPS
score, which is a net promoter score. It is pretty common in
business. If you went to a Chick-fil-A, you might get a
questionnaire afterwards, zero to 10, how likely would you be
to refer this to a friend? If we could start to do those in our
communities where our bases are, either abroad or in our
communities locally, I think what we would start to find is
there are some low-hanging areas that when our soldiers are
touching those in our civilian population, there are probably
ways that we can just be more responsive.
I would love, if confirmed, to work with this Committee to
try to figure out what low-hanging fruit exists to make the
Army a better co-inhabitant of the world and our country.
Senator Scott. In your private life, have you had to
recruit employees? Have you recruited people to work with you,
try to find how to work with people?
Mr. Driscoll. I have, Senator.
Senator Scott. So why do you think the Army has such a
horrible experience trying to recruit people?
Mr. Driscoll. I think that from my experience as a third-
generation soldier, what my grandfather would say he joined
for, and we all joined during times of war. I think if you
asked us, it would have been, we would have said the reason we
joined is we did not want to miss the opportunity to serve our
country when it needed us. I think that very specific story is
what a lot of soldiers, women and men, would say is the reason
that they joined.
I think we have oftentimes lost focus on that and started
to focus on things like the benefits, which are all important
and they are very valuable reasons to join, but I think for
many of America's youth, it is the purpose of getting to serve
this amazing nation. So, if confirmed, I would love to work
with this Committee to clarify that story and tell it more
broadly.
Senator Scott. Thanks. You will do a great job.
Mr. Driscoll. Thank you, Senator.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Mr. Driscoll. You have made
that point repeatedly during this hearing, and I think it is
got quite a bit of validity. Senator Rosen.
Senator Rosen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member
Reed, for holding this hearing. Mr. Driscoll, I would like to
thank you for your service, your willingness to serve again,
and for being here with us today.
I will take a moment of privilege, like the rest of my
colleagues and all Americans, today our heart is broken by the
events at DCA last night, and I just want to offer my deepest
condolences to the families, to the fellow soldiers, to all of
those who were lost. I want to thank our first responders for
their immediate action, running to the scene in the dark of
night, in the iciest of waters, to try to save lives. Thank
you.
Now I am going to turn to my home State of Nevada and talk
a little bit about Hawthorne Army Depot. Mr. Driscoll, Nevada's
Hawthorne Army Depot is the world's largest ammunition depot
and demilitarization facility, depot stores and demilitarized
munitions and ensures that munitions readiness for all of DOD.
Despite its size and crucial role that Hawthorne plays,
again, the only one in the country, it is in need of continued
infrastructure upgrades. Investing more in our munitions depots
has only become more important in light of our need to ramp up
munitions productions, both to arm Ukraine against Russian
aggression and backfill our own stockpiles for just a few
examples.
In recent years, Army's posture hearings, the Secretary and
Chief of Staff of the Army made commitments to me to consider
new investments in Hawthorne, and I am happy that the Army is
doing so.
Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, can I have your commitment to
include Hawthorne in Army's future years defense planning or
unfunded priority list so that Congress can fund these crucial
and critical investments to ensure our munitions' readiness?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, our munitions readiness, as I was
referencing to your colleagues, is absolutely one of the
primary challenges facing us as a Nation, as we face the threat
of a peer like China. I absolutely commit to, if confirmed,
taking a deep dive and look at this topic----
Senator Rosen. I invite you to come to Hawthorne and see
what they are doing there. How is that?
Mr. Driscoll. It would be an honor, ma'am.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I want to move now to women in
combat because prior to women being able to serve in combat
arms, cultural support teams, largely from the Army Reserve,
embedded with Special Operations Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan
to engage with female populations. They fill critical gaps,
significantly expanding operation and intelligence collection
capabilities.
However, in so many cases, their military records do not
reflect that they served in combat despite accompanying SOF on
raids and sustaining injuries, some even dying. This is because
their Reserve units who oversaw them administratively were not
there to document their service in combat. So in some
instances, these women have no record of ever having left the
base despite having done so as a job requirement.
As a result, they have all struggled to prove to the VA
that their injuries are service-related, they are combat-
connected, and since women have only been able to serve in
combat arms in the last decade.
So, if confirmed, will you commit to performing a review of
these combat veterans, these women who embed overseas, to help
us collect this important cultural intelligence Army records?
We must have them be accurate. These women come home and they
are denied their disability claims because the lack of
documentation. They really need to receive the care and the
benefits, their families as well, and the recognition that they
deserve. It is the least that we owe to our women in uniform.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, we have a sacred duty to care for
our soldiers, and from my experience deploying, some of the
most competent, heroic people I deployed with were women. They
served incredibly important jobs, with bomb-sniffing dogs,
searching out IEDs. They were right beside us every step of the
way. So I absolutely commit to working with your office to make
sure that that population is not forgotten and gets the care
and respect that they deserve.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I am proud to serve with some
women who showed their valor in times of need as well.
I just have another moment, so we will submit this for the
record, but it is about cyber workforce development. It has
been touched on here, the fiscal year 2024 NDAA, and did
include my bipartisan legislation authorizing the Army to
create a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve to provide CYBERCOM
with qualified civilian personnel for surge capacity in times
of need, to ensure the U.S. Government has the cyber talent
needed to respond to malicious activities, secure DOD's
information and systems. We are trying so many ways to really
buildup that force.
I will take the answer off the record, but I would like to
speak with you about the implementation of the Civilian Cyber
Reserve Corps and have your commitment to see this through as
we know cyberattacks are on the rise.
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, it would be an honor to speak
about that, Senator.
Senator Rosen. Thank you.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Rosen. Senator Banks.
Senator Banks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Driscoll,
welcome and congratulations on your important nomination. You
bring a unique background in business and private equity, and
one of the biggest things that we have to accomplish in this
moment is innovation at the Pentagon. I wonder if you could
talk about your background and how that uniquely helps you help
us create better innovation in our national security.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, after attending law school on the GI
Bill, I was fortunate enough to spend time as a CEO [Chief
Executive Officer] at a venture capital firm where, for a
couple of years, I got to spend time working with and learning
and seeing how some of our country's most amazing innovators
are building their businesses. Some of the lessons that they
have learned in the private space over the last 10 to 20 years
I think are ripe for transferal to the United States Army.
Creating a feedback loop and a learning loop that gets lessons
learned from the actual soldiers in the field back into the
manufacturers or the software developers occurs in the private
space frequently, and I think it is a little bit less frequent
in the Army.
There are examples of this, I think, working wonderfully in
the Army, like the IVAS system as I understand it. It is kind
of a shining beacon of effective development, and so what I am
hoping to do, if confirmed, Senator, is work with this
Committee and the Army's existing leaders to figure out where
can we tighten the innovation loop and get the learnings from
the field, and the learnings from our friends in places like
Ukraine. I mean, that battlefield is ripe with lessons around
drones and cyber and how can we get those lessons into our
procurement processes and on the manufacturing floor as quickly
as possible.
Senator Banks. Part of working in venture capital and when
it comes to innovation is thinking outside of the box, and we
have a major crisis in the military right now, especially with
the United States Army, with a historic recruitment crisis. I
know you have already covered this, but give us more specific
ideas that we can use new technologies and innovation to
recruit the best and brightest of the next generation to serve
our country.
Mr. Driscoll. I think if you look, Senator, there are a lot
of tools used by some of our larger corporations in the country
to recruit at scale but give a very individualized and
personalized experience. What I have heard with the recruiting
processes, they are looking at all sorts of different ways of
creating a specialty where a recruiter, if you are an
incredible recruiter, perhaps that can be how you serve your
country for your entire time in uniform. Things like that, that
mimic the expertise that can be developed in the private
sector. Applying those best lessons and processes to the Army I
think will continue to unlock what has seemed to be, no doubt,
a lot because of the work of this Committee, forward momentum
in recruiting in the Army right now.
Senator Banks. Secretary Hegseth has talked at length about
restoring the meritocracy to our military, and I happen to
believe that the recruitment crisis faced in the military today
has a lot to do with taking merit out of the military. Young
men and women say, why would I join the military if it is no
longer the great meritocracy that it used to be? So I think
restoring that would be important to the Army.
On that note, last year the Army argued that affirmative
action at our service academies was, quote, ``critical to
mission success and national security.'' When I asked Secretary
of the Army Wormuth last year in the House Armed Services
Committee, where I previously served, whether the Supreme Court
harmed national security when it banned affirmative action at
schools with ROTC programs, she admitted she was, quote, ``a
little puzzled'' why affirmative action at West Point was not
also banned.
Mr. Driscoll, do racial admission preferences at service
academies like West Point help our national security?
Mr. Driscoll. I do not believe so.
Senator Banks. You would support efforts, as Secretary
Hegseth has talked about as well, to end affirmative action at
our service academies, especially at West Point?
Mr. Driscoll. I think one of the most amazing parts of my
time in service is the Army, in my experience, was an
incredible meritocracy. I cannot remember a single time being
in where anyone thought that this system was against them. When
I have told our kids, Daniel and Lila, about what we hope that
they will do after high school, I have told my daughter it
would be the proudest day of my life, and I do not think she
understands the nuance of what I am saying, to pin a ranger tab
on her if she can complete ranger school, with the incredibly
difficult standards being the exact same as when I went
through.
I think that those standards and excellence that the
Secretary of Defense has talked about are important. It is what
makes our Army great. It is what has made our Army the greatest
land fighting force in the last 249 years on the Planet Earth,
and I hope that we are able to hold those standards going
forward.
Senator Banks. You bring a lot to the table. I am excited
to work with you to make the Army as strong as it can possibly
be, fix the recruitment crisis, and modernize the Army for the
future. Thank you for agreeing to serve our country. You have
my full support.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much, Senator Banks. Mr.
Driscoll, I have said that the United States military is the
greatest civil rights organization in the history of the world.
What do you think about that?
Mr. Driscoll. My experience, Senator, is the exact same.
Chairman Wicker. Yes. Having served in the Air Force, that
has been my experience and so I do appreciate that. Senator
Peters.
Senator Peters. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Driscoll,
congratulations on your nomination to serve as the Secretary of
the Army, and I want to thank you for your service to our
Nation as well as thank you for the time that we spent in my
office earlier. We addressed a number of concerns and I think
we had a very fruitful discussion, so I appreciate that.
As you know, senior officials and combatant commands have
testified before this Committee on the severe threat that is
posed by PRC [People's Republic of China]-sponsored cyber
actors. The threat is evidenced by the Salt Typhoon, the recent
infiltration of U.S. telecommunication companies that left
civilians, servicemembers, and installations vulnerable to
these attacks. The attack is part of a broader pattern of PRC
cyber aggression targeting United States infrastructure across
the country.
The U.S. Army plays a critical role in deterring these
threats through defensive cyber operations, through
intelligence, integration with U.S. Cyber Command, as well, to
protect us.
So my question for you, sir, is do you agree with the
Army's current cyber strategy?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I think the cyber threat to this
country--I was actually beside one of our elected officials
when we found out our phones were hacked, and I was reflecting
with them that all that we do to protect our information and
keep it classified, if things like our Verizon cell phone
network are going to be compromised, we have to think through a
lot of the ways that we have designed our information
protection systems.
I think cyber with the changes occurring with quantum
computing, the changes with generative AI [artificial
intelligence], these are fundamentally going to alter how
soldiers fight wars, how information is exchanged on the
battlefield, how we prepare, and then the kind of gray zone
activities that our peers like China are able to do through
cyber are scary.
I have not received a formal brief, but my understanding is
that the Army actually is taking steps in the right direction.
I look forward to learning more and working with your office,
as I know this is close to your heart, to make the Army as
effective as I can both on offense and defense in cyber.
Senator Peters. So specifically about the strategy because
certainly we are in total agreement with the statement that you
made. But as far as the strategy that the Army is using now,
what is your assessment and would you change anything to
support operations with what you know of the strategy now?
Mr. Driscoll. My understanding now, Senator, is that our
offensive capabilities are perhaps not where they should be,
and I think our adversaries are being much more aggressive with
us than we are with them. I would want to take a deep look at
that.
Senator Peters. The intelligence systems play a pivotal
role in informing commanders' decisions, and the adoption of AI
is changing that dramatically. Question to you is about the AI
implementation strategy that the Army currently has. Do you
have any changes or do you believe the Army is adequately
evaluating this threat and adapting accordingly?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, my understanding of how AI
implementation is occurring is that it is siloed right now. I
think that this is the type of work that should occur across
the different services. Our lessons learned for the Army will
apply to the Air Force and apply the Navy. So I think we need
to be focusing on this AI threat, because the speed and the
pace of the growth here is unbelievable. I do not know if you
read the article about the Chinese startup that basically was
able to, I think it was between 4 and $10 million, 1/10000th of
the cost, or 1/1000th of the cost of what some of our American
companies were able to develop, 6 months trailing. The pacing
and the timeline on this, is not going to allow us to be slow,
and so we are going to need to be at the front curve of it.
Senator Peters. So that leads the question that how do we
stay at that front curve, because you are right, things are
changing dramatically. Traditionally in the Army or any of the
services, innovation has not moved as quickly as it has in the
civilian side, and civilian side innovations are only
accelerating, including our adversaries, as you mentioned.
How would you engage with small businesses and other
innovators to shake up the procurement process and make sure we
are on the forefront of AI development, for example?
Mr. Driscoll. I am optimistic, Senator. I think from what I
have seen since being the President's nominee we have had a lot
of interest from Silicon Valley and other places in the country
for innovators at small companies, medium companies, and some
of the big ones that want to get in the game on behalf of our
country. I think having very deliberate conversations with them
about how do we get into their R&D [research and development]
pipeline, how do we partner with them early on, so as they are
training these models, the Army as I understand it today is
getting access to these models once they go public. China and
our other threats are also getting access to those models.
There is no reason that, from my understanding, we could not be
getting access earlier, and so instead of having a 6-month
lead, perhaps there are ways we could have a 9- or 12-month
lead on these things.
I think those conversations could be important and I would
look forward to working with your office to have them.
Senator Peters. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Peters. Senator
Duckworth.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, like
everyone else, am praying for all the family members and
thinking about the crew of the Black Hawk and all the people
that we lost last night. I would like to caution that before we
start calling it a training accident that we have better idea
of what exactly happened, because a training accident has very
specific definitions, so please be careful about that. It tends
to then start to blame the pilots and frankly, our military
pilots are some of the best trained in the world.
Earlier this week the Trump administration imposed a
funding freeze on all Federal grants and loans. Even though the
OMB [Office of Management and Budget] memo was rescinded
yesterday, the freeze has not been rescinded. Mr. Driscoll,
what is your position on the legality of that funding freeze?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, before answering your question, I
very sincerely, last night I was sitting watching what occurred
on TV with a friend from 10th Mountain who was the downed
chopper, one of the platoons that had to deal with that in
Afghanistan, and watching this struggle and heartbreak as he
had to relive those moments. We actually reflected in the
moment. I want to take a quick moment to say, very sincerely,
thank you for your service. I know it is an immense sacrifice.
Soldier to soldier, I am sorry for what you had go through.
To your question, the legality of--would you mind repeating
it?
Senator Duckworth. Was the order from President Trump, his
current order to pause all grant funding, legal?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I have not been able to take a good
deep enough look to know whether it was legal or not, but I
would not believe that the President would issue an illegal
order.
Senator Duckworth. You do not believe that the President of
the United States can issue an illegal order?
Mr. Driscoll. I do not believe President Trump would do
that, Senator.
Senator Duckworth. Okay. That leads me to my next question.
If President Trump directed you to do something illegal, would
you refuse to obey?
Mr. Driscoll. I reject the premise of the question,
Senator, that he would, but I would only follow lawful orders.
Senator Duckworth. Constitutional ones?
Mr. Driscoll. Constitutional ones.
Senator Duckworth. Okay. If confirmed, will you commit to
disbursing all obligated grant funding from the Department of
the Army on time and without delay?
Mr. Driscoll. I would follow all lawful requirements of my
job if confirmed, Senator.
Senator Duckworth. Okay. I would like to followup on our
meeting last week. To be candid, you performed very poorly in
your conversation with me. I asked you, for example, how many
personnel are in a division and you told me 3,500. You just
recently, when I came, were answering my colleague from
Alaska's questions about brigade combat teams. How many
personnel are in an average brigade combat team?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I imagine the purpose of this
question is to get to my qualifications as a leader.
Senator Duckworth. No, no. I want you to answer the
question.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator----
Senator Duckworth. What is the--do you not know? If you do
not know, that is okay.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I assume----
Senator Duckworth. Answer my question. How many personnel
are in a--because you have performed very well today and I have
been impressed because it looks like you actually did some
homework. But you spoke with conviction about the number of
brigade combat teams that the Army needs to be effective. Can
you tell me how many soldiers are in a brigade combat team on
average?
Mr. Driscoll. 3,500.
Senator Duckworth. Great. Thank you. See, I would have been
so much easier, but I know you are filibustering. I get it.
What is FM 3-0?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I believe all of these questions are
going to be----
Senator Duckworth. What is FM 3-0?
Mr. Driscoll. I actually was reading it last night,
Senator.
Senator Duckworth. Excellent.
Mr. Driscoll. It is the Army's Training Manual.
Senator Duckworth. Operations.
Mr. Driscoll. Operations Manual.
Senator Duckworth. Fantastic. I am glad you are doing your
homework. See, this is working because you are doing your
homework, which you did not do because you could not name a
country in Africa where we have troops, when I asked you.
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I believe----
Senator Duckworth. What are your views on force posture
generally and the components and elements of force posture as
well as your understanding of the Army's current force posture?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I believe that the President of the
United States chose me specifically because of my experience
set that your colleagues----
Senator Duckworth. You are not answering. Does that mean
that you do not have an opinion on the Army's current force
posture? It is my job to advise and consent on the nominees
that the President puts forward. Just because a President puts
forward a nominee does not mean that person is automatically
qualified to do the job.
My question to you is, sir, as someone who will become
Secretary of Army, if confirmed, what is your current opinion
of the Army's force posture and can you describe the elements
of that force posture?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely. Senator, and to your Africa
comment, West Africa and Horn of Africa. I did study after you
asked me that question, so I am grateful for the question.
Senator Duckworth. Answer my question on force posture.
Mr. Driscoll. We need to be prepared, Senator, for a threat
from China, a peer that we have not----
Senator Duckworth. I am not asking you about near-peer
threats. I am asking you about the force posture.
Mr. Driscoll. We need our forces postured all over the
world to respond----
Senator Duckworth. What are the components of the force
posture?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I believe that the question----
Senator Duckworth. The answer is military disposition,
strength, and condition and readiness of the military. It is in
FM 3-0 Operations which you were reading last night. Can you
outline for me the key capabilities that the Army is supposed
to provide the combatant command?
Chairman Wicker. Senator, you can ask that question for the
record. Your time has expired.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Rescued by the
Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Senator Budd.
Senator Budd. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Duckworth. I am sorry, Mr. Chairman. Can I add FM
3-0, the Army's Operations Manual, for the record? Include in
the record?
Chairman Wicker. Well, without objection.
Senator Duckworth. Thank you.
Chairman Wicker. But let me ask you this. How many pages
does that consist of?
Senator Duckworth. It is quite a few pages actually, but it
is a basic reading for anybody who has gone through the
officer's basic course, which I believe you have completed.
Have you not, Mr. Driscoll?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, it is 350 pages approximately.
Senator Duckworth. There you go.
Chairman Wicker. So you really do want us to go to the
expense of reprinting something that is widely available? Could
we just refer to it?
Senator Duckworth. That is acceptable to me, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. All right, thank you very much. Senator
Budd.
Senator Budd. Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, and again,
welcome, Mr. Driscoll. It is good to see you. As a fellow North
Carolinian, I know, and as you are someone who served in the
Army, I know our hearts are broken with the recent flight, with
the aircrew, the Black Hawk. Having a family of Army aviation
and Army aviators, my hearts are especially broken.
You know, I want to congratulate you as a friend. It has
been good to know you for several years, and this is a great
role that you have been nominated to. I am proud to see someone
born and raised in North Carolina, particularly western North
Carolina, to serve in this role. So many from the Army were
serving there in days following recent Hurricane Helene.
Mr. Driscoll, in your advanced policy questions, you
identify recruiting as one of the most significant challenges
facing the Army. So if confirmed, how would you recommend the
Army fix this recruiting challenge?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I had mentioned to your colleagues a
couple of things that the Army has done really well as it seems
from the outside.
Senator Budd. Right.
Mr. Driscoll. The Future Soldier training course at Fort
Jackson where I did basic training that prepares soldiers to
take their ASVAB test and get more prepared from their fitness,
get more fit before they go to basic training, has seemed to
pay dividends. That type of thing, that type of innovation I
think could be spread farther around the country to continue to
increase the pipeline of the population that is qualified.
But more specifically, I think telling this story of the
United States Army with its 250th anniversary coming up this
summer is an incredible time through our JRTCs, through our
communities across the country, to buildup the pipeline of
freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school who
can join. This is the year to tell the story of the women and
the men in uniform who have done amazing things on behalf of
our country and who I think would say, like me, had their lives
changed by this experience.
So Senator, I look forward to working with you and this
committee, if confirmed, to make this year the Army's best
recruiting year in history.
Senator Budd. I look forward to that as well. Thank you.
As you know, special operations forces, and I think you
spoke about this with some of my colleagues prior to me, but
they are essential in responding to irregular warfare. North
Carolina is home, and for the purpose of this morning, maybe we
will call it Fort Bragg, and special operations forces, special
operations are now playing a larger role in the cyber and the
space domains. Yet the Army recently decided to cut significant
number of Army special operations forces.
So in your advanced policy questions, you State that Army
special forces play a critical role in supporting the joint
force and accomplishing the objectives of the National Defense
Strategy. Do you believe that SOF is still relevant today?
Mr. Driscoll. Wholeheartedly, Senator. Just from my
qualitative experience, the special operators that I was
fortunate enough to serve alongside of were some of the most
incredible soldiers that I ever saw. They were innovation
laboratories, testing out all sorts of new things, from new
weapons to backpacks to whatever it was. A lot of the lessons
that they learned, even if it was not formal, trickled down to
the larger force. So, Senator, I think unequivocally on a go-
forward basis, they are a crucial force multiplier for our
Army.
Senator Budd. Well, thank you. In my recent visits there to
Fort Liberty, Fort Bragg, I have seen the same thing continuing
today and I know you will see that very soon, if confirmed.
As you work to address recruiting more broadly, what
strategies will you pursue to increase the pool of recruits so
that they are eligible and have qualifications to serve in Army
special operations forces positions?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, my understanding, which I had
covered with one of your colleagues, was one of the problems
with what we have done by digitizing medical records is
accidentally we have taken people who have broken arms but have
been an ultra-marathoner or who have had an inhaler prescribed
when they were 13 and a day. These were the types of things
that for 249 years, or 244 of those years, just would have
never come up. Either you would not have remembered to put it
down or your recruiter would told you it was not relevant.
Right now it is blocking a lot of possible soldiers who I
believe would be incredible future soldiers.
So I think taking a deep dive on the incentive structure
for how we do waivers and maybe working with this Committee to
look back at--should some of these things, should flat feet
still be preventative of joining? I do not have an opinion on
the matter, but I think it is worth a fresh look.
Senator Budd. Thank you, and again, I appreciate your
willingness to serve our country and I wish you the best.
Mr. Driscoll. Thank you, Senator.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you very much. Mr. Driscoll, before
I recognize Senator Hirono, I want to make sure I get this
straight. As a Mississippi young man, I joined the Air Force
and was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in
Goldsboro, North Carolina. You would agree, would you not, that
eastern North Carolina barbecue is far superior to Lexington-
type of barbecue?
Senator Budd. I would ask you not to answer the question,
sir.
Mr. Driscoll. So as someone from western North Carolina,
Senator, my heart bleeds the thick, ketchup-based barbecue that
I grew up with, but I can concede that Lexington barbecue is
exceptional.
Chairman Wicker. Well, there is no accounting for taste,
but a pretty good answer. Senator Hirono.
Senator Hirono. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did want to take
a moment to extend my condolences to all those affected by the
tragic accident last night near Reagan National Airport and the
brave Army soldiers on board the helicopter.
Mr. Driscoll, I ask the following two initial questions of
all nominees who come before any of the committees on which I
sit to ensure the fitness of the nominees. 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?
Mr. Driscoll. Never.
Senator Hirono. Have you ever faced discipline or entered
into a settlement relating to this kind of conduct?
Mr. Driscoll. Never.
Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, several of the critical
training areas that the Army uses in Hawaii are leased from the
State, including Pohakuloa, and the leases are set to expire in
2029. These leases are vital to ensuring military forces can
adequately train in the Pacific. However, the land involved
also holds cultural significance to the Native Hawaiian
community.
How do you plan to approach these important lease
renegotiations, and will you commit to engaging in good faith
with State officials and the community to ensure that the
leases are negotiated in a way that is fair to the State, the
people of Hawaii, and the military?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, this is an incredibly important
issue, not just in Hawaii, but in all the places we engage with
the community and sign leases. I would absolutely commit to
wanting to work with your office and then to engage with
community members to ensure the Army is being its best neighbor
that it can be.
Earlier in the hearing I was referencing with your
colleague, Senator Warren and I were chatting about this, both
kind of abroad how the Army exists in its footprint, but then
specifically domestically, how the Army and its soldiers and
the civilians that work on the bases engage with the community
and the youth in that community is directly correlated to who
gets a taste of what the Army has to offer and who gets to see
what a life in the Army can do for them. I think it is both the
right thing to do and the selfish thing to do to be the best
neighbors we can be.
Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, I want to particularly
emphasize how important these negotiations are and how they are
conducted because the military of late has been criticized for
what happened at Red Hill basically involving the Navy. But as
far as the community is concerned, what happens to one service
is something that impacts all of the other services. So it is
really critical that you engage with the community.
So going to modernizing DOD infrastructure is one of my top
priorities, and the Army has a deep backlog of maintenance and
modernization for its facilities. Sadly, for example, in
Hawaii, 50 percent of Army facilities are classified as failing
or failed, and the cost to repair or replace them is over $5
billion. This is just involving Hawaii.
So we need to have a functioning infrastructure critical to
military readiness. How are you planning to address the Army's
infrastructure issue in Hawaii and in the greater Indo-Pacific?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, I have had many friends stationed in
Hawaii, and though the experience has been good, I think that
they might echo that some of the maintenance issues exist. We
owe a duty to our soldiers and their families. My daughter, my
6-year-old Lila is named after my E6's daughter, Lila. She
lives on a military----
Senator Hirono. So Mr. Driscoll, my time is running out. So
what I am getting from you is that there is a commitment to
deal with the lagging infrastructure throughout the military
and the Army, so I will certainly be holding you to that,
should you be confirmed.
Let me get to mass deportations. President Trump has
already ordered thousands of additional Army soldiers to the
southern border. Experts have said deporting over 11 million
people--these are the people who are undocumented--will require
tens of thousands of personnel, hundreds of billions of
dollars, and years to complete.
The Army is the primary military service who would be
called upon to support a mass deportation order. What impact
would deploying tens of thousands of troops have on Army
readiness?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, my understanding from the outside is
that the Army stands by and stands ready to support the
President's mission to defend the border----
Senator Hirono. Well, if you have to deploy 10,000 people
or more from the Army to do that, I would say that it is going
to impact Army readiness for the other purposes for which the
Army is stood up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Hirono. Senator
Schmitt.
Senator Schmitt. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I agree.
Actually, Joe Biden letting in 15 million people here
necessitating the mass deportations is a problem. But Bill
Clinton deported 12 million people. Barack Obama deported 8
million people. So deportations, they may have been suspended
over the last 4 years, but is exactly what people voted for.
They are tired of the lawlessness.
But for you, thanks for being here and thanks for your
willingness to serve. As you know, I am very supportive of your
nomination. I think you are going to do a great job, and I
think you are going to provide a great perspective for what the
Army really needs. I think your energy and your attitude and
the way you explain why you served and I think a way forward to
improve recruiting is actually, I have not heard that before.
You hear it from soldiers and you hear it from people who are
actually serving, but for somebody that is serving in your
capacity I think it is a great way to sort of frame the
importance of the recruitment challenges that we have and how
we get beyond it.
I do want to ask about Fort Leonard Wood. We talked about
it. In Missouri, we are really blessed to have Fort Leonard
Wood in our State. It is pretty uniquely situated in that it is
in a rural setting with the Mark Twain Forest, you have got a
lot of room. I think that maneuverability that you get and the
versatility that you get, including from other branches in law
enforcement, to train there is a pretty unique asset. So just a
couple of questions on that.
There has been some talk, and I mentioned this to you, not
really from the Army, but from the Defense Health Agency, there
is a hospital there that is really important, not just to the
base, but to the community there. There has been some
discussion about downgrading that to some sort of health
clinic. Will you commit to working with me to make sure that
that does not happen? I think they have sort of backtracked
from that, but that would be devastating for the Fort Leonard
Wood community. Is that something we can work on?
Mr. Driscoll. Senator, it would be an honor to work with
your office, and as somebody who grew up in the mountains of
North Carolina, and my wife is a physician, access to health
care is a real thing. If you take that access away, it can
completely change how a community is able to function. So this
is an important issue and I would look forward to working with
you, if confirmed.
Senator Schmitt. Can you talk a little bit about the
benefits of having a sort of centrally located base like that
at Fort Leonard Wood? You have got all the real eState you
need. There have been significant upgrades made, hundreds of
millions of dollars pumped into the new housing there, so for
the long term, it is a great place for us to kind of stage
operations. A lot of people get their early training there. But
why that is important to the Army to have a base like that?
Mr. Driscoll. My understanding, Senator, of your
description, and if confirmed I would be honored to visit it
with you, is the base can scale for future needs that we just
do not know about. In a lot of areas, the bases are constrained
by what is around them. This base seems to have the ability
that if we needed it in 1 day, 1 year, or 10 years to scale for
things. We do not quite know what we need. We do not know where
our soldiers need to be positioned. We do not know what testing
requirements will be. Fort Leonard Wood seems like an amazing
place to be able to expand.
Senator Schmitt. Well, the folks back home would be happy
to hear that you want to come by, and Missouri barbecue is the
best in the country, so we will make sure you get some of that.
My Texas friends and Carolina friends may disagree, but they
are wrong. They are wrong.
I want to ask, we talked a little bit in my office and
others may have touched on this too, but clearly our chief
adversary is China, and so the Army is reorienting itself a
little bit for this challenge. Can you talk about how you see
it, and some things that if you were just talking to somebody
on the street about what the Army's traditionally done and what
it is going to need to do in the future to prepare for what
could potentially be this struggle, of course, for the 21st
century?
Mr. Driscoll. Absolutely, Senator. My time being deployed,
and I think my friends who deployed to Afghanistan and my
experience in Iraq, most of the movements were squad level
movements. So you would have, call it, 15 to 25 men and women
doing most actions. The logistics, getting things in and out of
the countries was less contested. If you needed water or fuel,
you could get it from the continental United States to those
theaters quickly and relatively easily.
An engagement with a peer like China will be a completely
and totally different thing than I have seen in my time on the
Planet Earth. Everything can be contested. It is a peer
adversary who will do everything they can to defeat us. This
requires, let's call it a pre-war time footing for us as an
Army and us as a people to get ourselves ready to engage in a
conflict that could fundamentally alter our future way of life
if we are not ready for it.
Senator Schmitt. Thank you, and as you know, I support you
and I think you are going to do a great job. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Chairman Wicker. Thank you, Senator Schmitt. Thank you, Mr.
Driscoll. We appreciate your answers to the questions today and
we appreciate your willingness to serve, and we will now close
the hearing.
For the information of our Members, questions for the
record will be due to the Committee within two business days of
the conclusion of this hearing. With that, if there are no
objection, we are adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:47 a.m., the Committee adjourned.]
------
[Prepared questions submitted to Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll by
Chairman Wicker prior to the hearing with answers supplied
follow:]
Questions and Responses
duties and responsibilities as secretary of the army
Question. What is your understanding of the duties and functions of
the Secretary of the Army?
Answer. The Secretary of the Army is the senior official and head
of the Department of the Army, with authority and responsibility for
conducting all affairs of the Department of the Army, subject to the
authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense (10
U.S.C. Sec. 7013). The Secretary of the Army is solely responsible for
the functions of Acquisition, Audit, Comptroller, Information
Management, Inspector General, Legislative Affairs, Public Affairs and
Research and Development (10 U.S.C. Sec. 7014).
The Secretary of the Army is also responsible for the supervision
and control of Army intelligence activities as well as any other
activities as may be prescribed by law, the President, or the Secretary
of Defense.
Question. What background and experience do you possess that render
you highly qualified to perform these duties and responsibilities?
Answer. I was honored to first experience the Department of the
Army through the lens of a young Armor officer, deploying to Iraq from
2009-2010, which was an ideal way to understand the needs and
perspectives of the Army's soldiers, the sacrifices required of them
and their families, and the institutional culture that makes our Army
the finest in the world. After being honorably discharged from the
Army, I attended Yale Law School on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and graduated
in 2014. I then began a career in finance working at an investment bank
and then co-founded a venture studio where we partnered to launch and
grow small and medium businesses in my home State of North Carolina. I
began working as a Chief Operations Officer at a venture capital fund
and worked as a Chief Strategy Officer at a healthcare business. My
experience working with innovators in the private sector has given me a
crucial lens to apply to the current challenges facing the Army.
If confirmed, I would serve as the soldier's Secretary of the Army,
as opposed to that the bureaucrats. I would spend every day focused on
our soldiers and their families knowing the immense sacrifices they and
their families make to uphold the freedoms we hold dear. If confirmed,
my duty would be to ensure our soldiers have the world's finest
training, equipment, and leadership to accomplish any mission, and to
make the Army the most lethal force possible.
Question. In particular, what management and leadership experience
do you possess that you would apply to your service as Secretary of the
Army, if confirmed?
Answer. My background as an Army Armor officer was invaluable in
preparing me to lead the Army. From leading soldiers in garrison at
Fort Drum, NY to the training fields of Yuma, Arizona to the
battlefield in Baghdad, Iraq, I have learned that every decision
requires putting the soldier first. I know from first-hand experience
the challenges soldiers face every day. My time serving as a cavalry
scout with the 10th Mountain Division is the most formative leadership
experience that I have had. If confirmed, I will always remember that
it is the soldiers on the ground that will feel the consequences of
their leaders' decisions. I intend to be the soldiers' Secretary of the
Army.
Since leaving the Army, I have led teams in private sector roles
across several industries. In each role, it was critical to have a team
of experts who could bring their own experiences and leadership styles
to the roles and, if confirmed, I would build a similar team of experts
for the Army.
If confirmed, I look forward to leading from the front, working
closely with Army senior leaders and staff to lead an Army focused on
mission effectiveness that takes care of its people, soldiers,
civilians, and their families.
Question. To the extent that the functions of the Army overlap with
those of other DOD entities, what would be your approach, if confirmed,
to consolidating and reducing unnecessary duplication?
Answer. If confirmed, I will eagerly coordinate with the Department
in identifying and eliminating unnecessary duplication. I will
prioritize ensuring that the right element is in the lead on each task
rather than focusing on territoriality. Our resources are finite, and
the tasks and the responsibilities of the Department and the Army are
large, so there is no room for waste.
Question. If confirmed, what duties and responsibilities would you
assign to the Under Secretary of the Army?
Answer. The Under Secretary of the Army performs such duties and
exercises such powers as prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, and
Army General Order No. 2024-01 specifies that the Under Secretary is
the Secretary's senior civilian assistant and principal adviser on
matters related to the management and operation of the Army.
Accordingly, the Under Secretary is entrusted with the task of
communicating and advocating for Army policies, plans, and programs to
external audiences, including Congress, the American people, and
foreign governments. The Under Secretary is also designated as the
position of Chief Management Officer of the Army, serving as the
Secretary's principal adviser on the effective and efficient
organization of the Army's business operations and initiatives for the
business transformation of the Army. If confirmed, I would continue to
assign the Under Secretary of the Army those duties and
responsibilities and would rely on them as a key member of the team.
Question. If confirmed, over which members and organizations of the
Army would you direct the Chief of Staff of the Army to exercise
supervision and what would be the scope of such supervision? What other
duties would you assign to the Chief of Staff of the Army?
Answer. The Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) is the senior military
advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the senior Army military
officer. The CSA presides over the Army Staff, communicates Army Staff
plans and recommendations to the Secretary of the Army, and advises the
Secretary of the Army on those plans and recommendations. In addition
to the advisor role, the CSA is responsible for ensuring the effective
and efficient functioning of Army organizations and commands in
executing their statutory missions and assisting the Secretary of the
Army in performing acquisition-related functions. The CSA also performs
the duties prescribed for him as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(10 U.S.C. Sec. 151). Additionally, multiple units report directly to
the CSA, including the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Army Military District of
Washington, and the U.S. Army War College.
If confirmed, I would assign the above responsibilities and
supervisory roles to the CSA.
Question. If confirmed, what innovative ideas would you consider
providing to the Secretary of Defense regarding the organization and
operations of the Department of the Army?
Answer. If confirmed, I would consider providing recommendations to
the Secretary of Defense concerning accelerating promotions for
exceptionally meritorious individuals and broadening opportunities for
non-traditional career pathways to ensure the Army attracts and retains
the best talent. I would base any such recommendations on a thorough
review of the Army's current policies and procedures.
conflicts of interest
Question. Federal ethics laws, like 10 U.S.C. Sec. 208, prohibit
government employees from participating in matters where they, or
certain family members or organizations with which they have certain
relationships, have a financial interest.
Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, to disclose any
potential conflicts of interest, including investments, business ties,
family relationships, or other connections that could be perceived as
influencing your decisionmaking?
Answer. Yes, I agree.
Question. Do you agree, without qualification, if confirmed, that
if a conflict of interest arises, you will recuse yourself from
participating in any relevant decisions regarding that specific matter?
Answer. Yes, I agree.
Question. Do you commit, without qualification, if confirmed, to
decisionmaking on the merits and exclusively in the public interest,
without regard to private gain or personal benefit?
Answer. Yes, I do.
civilian control of the military
Question. In its report, Providing for the Common Defense, the
National Defense Strategy Commission cautioned, ``there is an imbalance
in civil-military relations on critical issues of strategy development
and implementation. Civilian voices appear muted on issues at the
center of U.S. defense and national security policy.''
If confirmed, specifically what would you do to ensure that your
tenure as Secretary of the Army epitomizes the fundamental requirement
for civilian control of the Armed Forces embedded in the U.S.
Constitution and other laws?
Answer. I am fully committed to the requirements in the U.S.
Constitution and other laws enshrining civilian control of America's
Armed Forces. If confirmed, I would bring that commitment to my role as
Secretary of the Army, fulfilling my legal obligations to control and
oversee all affairs of the Army.
budget
Question. If confirmed, by what standards would you measure the
adequacy of funding for the Army?
Answer. If confirmed, I will measure the adequacy of funding for
the Army by the Army's ability to meet the requirements laid out in the
NDS and the priorities of the Secretary of Defense. As a critical part
of the Joint Force, the Army must be capable of defeating military
aggression that threatens U.S. vital interests.
Question. How will you ensure the Army is appropriately resourced
to simultaneously modernize, grow readiness, and take care of its
people?
Answer. If confirmed, I will work with the Secretary of Defense to
ensure that the Army has sufficient resources to address each of its
priorities and will ensure that any resource constraints are
communicated clearly and early to Congress.
Question. Section 222a of title 10, U.S. Code, provides that not
later than 10 days after the President's submission of the defense
budget to Congress, each Service Chief must submit to the congressional
defense committees a report that lists, in order of priority, the
unfunded priorities of his or her armed force.
If confirmed, do you agree to support the Chief of Staff of the
Army in providing his/her unfunded priorities list to Congress in a
timely manner?
Answer. Yes, if confirmed, I will support the Army Chief of Staff
in meeting the statutory requirement by providing an Unfunded
Requirements (UFR) list to Congress within 10 days of the submission of
the President's defense budget to Congress.
major challenges and priorities
Question. What would you see as your highest priorities for the
near-term and long-term future of the Army?
Answer. If confirmed, I will initially focus on advancing the
Army's current priorities: Warfighting, Delivering Combat-Ready
Formations, Continuous Transformation and Strengthening the Profession.
I will also carefully review and validate those priorities and consider
any necessary changes.
Question. What do you consider to be the most significant
challenges you would face, if confirmed as Secretary of the Army?
Answer. If confirmed, I expect that one of my most significant
challenges would be ensuring the Army recruits qualified candidates in
sufficient numbers. As the Army's end-strength and veteran population
declines, fewer young people are closely connected to a soldier or
veteran, meaning becoming a soldier may seem foreign to them.
A second significant challenge I would anticipate is continuing the
substantial task of modernizing the force to maintain overmatch against
near-peer adversaries.
Question. What plans do you have for addressing each of these
challenges, if confirmed?
Answer. If confirmed, I will strive to ensure that the Army
presents a compelling message concerning the benefit of service both to
our Nation and to those that serve, and that the message is presented
across every region and eligible demographic. Young people want to
understand the value proposition of what is presented to them, and it
would be my job to ensure that the Army offers them a strong value.
To continue the modernization of the Army while maintaining a high
level of readiness, I would communicate frequently and transparently
with all stakeholders, including the Office of the Secretary of
Defense, the Assistant Secretary of the Army Acquisition, Logistics and
Technology, and Army Futures Command, ensuring that operational demands
do not overwhelm the Army's ability to prepare for the future fight. I
will also prioritize ensuring that Army modernization programs remain
on time and on budget.
national defense strategy
Question. The 2022 NDS outlines that the United States faces a
rising China, an aggressive Russia, and the continued threat from rogue
regimes and global terrorism. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the NDS
Commission testified in July 2024 that China, Russia, Iran, and North
Korea have formed an ``axis of aggressors'', supporting each other's
military aggression and illegal wars.
What is your assessment of the military threat posed by the
People's Republic of China?
Answer. The 2018 and 2022 National Defense Strategies each
identified China as the Department of Defense's pacing threat, and I
share that assessment. Xi Jinping has openly expressed his intention to
annex Taiwan to mainland China, told his armed forces to be prepared to
use force to achieve such an outcome by 2027, and invested heavily in
military capabilities required for such a campaign. If he were to
succeed in achieving that goal, that would profoundly negatively impact
future U.S. trade, military alliances, and influence around the world.
Question. What is your assessment of the military threat posed by
Russia?
Answer. The 2018 and 2022 National Defense Strategies each found
that Russia presents a significant conventional, gray zone, and
strategic threat to the United States and Europe and acts as a
destabilizing force in several other regions globally. Even constrained
by the international sanction's regime in place since 2014, Russia has
successfully fielded and maintained capable military forces, delivered
novel strategic capabilities, and increased production of key platforms
and materiel.
Outside the constraints of the New START Treaty, Russia has
substantially built up its tactical nuclear arsenal, threatening its
neighbors in Europe and Asia. Russia's ability to operate extra-
regionally using mercenaries and proxies has been strained but is not
insignificant.
Question. What is your assessment of the military threat posed by
collusion among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea?
Answer. Recent actions taken by China, Russia, Iran, and North
Korea in Ukraine and elsewhere suggest a cooperative approach to
undermine U.S. influence and its alliances around the world. Near peer
competitors may view rogue states as distractions that they can use to
draw the attention and resources of the United States and its allies
away from their own military buildup or coercive activities.
Technology transfer and materiel sales have allowed these countries
to circumvent or alleviate the costs imposed upon them by sanctions.
And there is the potential that military conflict spurred by any one of
these actors could be used as an opportunity for another actor to
engage in aggression if they believe U.S. forces are tied down. It is a
foundational principle of strategy that one's adversaries should be
divided.
Question. Are there significant opportunities that, in your view,
the Army has been unable to leverage, or has leveraged only in part,
since the NDS was published in 2022? If so, how would you correct this
situation, if confirmed?
Answer. With the 2022 National Defense Strategy identifying China
as the Department of Defense's pacing threat and finding that Russia
presents a significant conventional, gray zone, and strategic threat to
the United States, I would approach my evaluation of any additional
needed capabilities, if confirmed, with this in mind. Following this
evaluation, I would make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on
any potential additional resources or authorities the Department of the
Army might need.
Question. What do you perceive to be the Army's role in competing
with and countering China?
Answer. The Army remains an essential force for asserting American
power in the Indo-Pacific. The vast majority of Chiefs of Defense in
the Indo-Pacific have an army background, and many of them have
attended professional military education courses in the USA. The Army
regularly participates in exercises across the region, continually
strengthening our bonds with Indo-Pacific allies and partners.
The Army's communications, logistics, security, air defense, cyber,
and sensing and strike capabilities will be extremely important in any
Pacific conflict. Moreover, the ground combat capabilities that the
Army maintains may be important as well. We all have a vision of what
warfare in the Indo-Pacific looks like, but our pre-conceived notions
of future war are rarely accurate.
Question. Do you believe the Army must maintain the ability to
conduct large-scale ground combat operations, to deter major-power
competitors such as Russia?
Answer. Yes, the Army must always have the ability to conduct
large-scale ground combat operations, and all operations across the
continuum of conflict.
Question. Is the Army adequately sized, structured, and resourced
to implement the current strategy and the associated operational plans?
Please explain your answer.
Answer. If confirmed, I will work with the Army, Joint Staff, and
OSD to evaluate the Army's current strategy and determine if the force
is sized, structured, and resourced to satisfy operational plans.
Question. What are your primary lessons learned from observing
operations in Ukraine and the Middle East that the Army must consider
in its modernization efforts?
Answer. Small-unmanned aerial systems, counter-unmanned aerial
system technologies, and the revitalization of electronic warfare are
reshaping modern battlefields. Access to air power at scale is changing
tactics, techniques, and procedures. The Army must adopt this
technology, and the techniques developed in the Russo-Ukraine conflict
quickly.
Question. Does the Army have the requisite analytic capabilities
and tools to support you, if confirmed, in evaluating the Army's force
structure and sizing strategies to ensure that it can and will generate
forces that are manned, trained, and equipped to execute current plans
and strategies? Please explain your answer.
Answer. If confirmed, I will evaluate our current processes and
capabilities for shaping army structure and size and modify them
accordingly to ensure that the Army can generate forces to execute our
current plans and strategies.
Question. If confirmed, how will you address any gaps or shortfalls
in the Army's ability to meet the demands placed on it by the
operational plans that implement the current strategy?
Answer. I will work with the Army Staff to identify potential
mitigations to any revealed gaps or shortfalls in the Army's ability to
enact operational plans, while we account for long-term deficiencies
that these mitigations create.
Question. If confirmed, what changes or adjustments would you make
in the Army's implementation of the current strategy?
Answer. If confirmed, one of my first acts as Secretary of the Army
will be to conduct a complete review of the Army's current strategy and
revise it accordingly.
Question. How would you characterize your familiarity with the
civilian leaders of the Armies of other nations and multi-national and
international land power-focused consultative forums? If confirmed, on
which leaders and forums would you focus your engagement with a view to
advancing the interests of the Army?
Answer. Relationships with foreign military leaders are essential
to maintain interoperability with our allies and partners. The timing
and frequency of my engagements with foreign leaders and at land-power
forums will be driven by priorities identified in our national military
strategy.
The Army is the lead Service for overseeing the development of the
components that compromise the Integrated Air and Missile Defense of
Guam system. However, rather than embrace this effort so critical to
U.S. operations in a contingency in the Western Pacific, the Army has
assumed a much lesser role than that required by a Joint Program
Executive Office who should manage the timing and integration of the
multi-service air and missile defense weapons systems, contributing to
continued delays in the overall effort.
Question. If confirmed as Secretary, what steps will you take to
ensure the Army better executes its responsibilities for the defense of
Guam and expedites the fielding of air and missile defense capabilities
on the island?
Answer. If confirmed, I will evaluate current Army resource
contributions against the integrated air and missile defense plan and
work with my counterparts in the other services to ensure we work
together to provide for the defense of Guam.
end strength
Question. Is the Army's current end strength sufficient to meet
national security objectives and execute the associated operational
plans? If not, what end strength do you believe is necessary? Please
explain your answer.
Answer. I think that the decline in Army end strength in recent
years is due to recruiting challenges rather than a conclusion that the
Army required fewer soldiers to meet its national security objectives.
This has occurred during an era of increasing security challenges.
Therefore, it is likely that the Army's current end strength is
insufficient to accomplish its mission. I will need additional data,
including wargame outputs, analysis, and opinions from senior leaders,
before I can verify that conclusion or make recommendations on the
total Army end strength that is required.
If confirmed, I will assess end strength levels in concert with the
OSD staff, the Joint Staff and the Army Staff against appropriate
defense planning scenarios. Any growth in the Army's end strength
should have the full support of Congress. I would only ask for that
support after reviewing service plans for force structure,
modernization, training, and logistical requirements in line with an
updated National Defense Strategy.
recruiting/retention
Question. The 2024 National Defense Strategy Commission stated that
``The DOD workforce and the all-volunteer force provide an unmatched
advantage. However, recruiting failures have shrunk the force and raise
serious questions about the all-volunteer force in peacetime, let alone
in major combat.'' In addition, DOD studies indicate that only about 23
percent of today's youth population is eligible for military service,
and only a fraction of those who meet military accession standards are
interested in serving.
If confirmed, how would you ensure the Army maintains sufficiently
high recruitment and retention standards?
Answer. Maintaining appropriate standards is a critical component
of Army readiness. If confirmed, I will review the Army's current
recruitment and retention standards and solicit input from all levels
of the Army to ensure that the right standards are in place. I will
also empower Army leaders to hold recruits and soldiers to those
standards, ensuring that the Army does not enlist soldiers unprepared
to succeed and does not reenlist soldiers who have not maintained
standards.
Question. If required to choose between maintaining high
recruitment and retention standards and achieving authorized end
strength levels, which would be more important, in your view?
Answer. Standards are important. If confirmed, I would not support
lowering recruitment or retention standards to meet end strength goals.
Unprepared or unqualified soldiers hinder the mission, and accessing or
retaining the wrong people is not an effective method of achieving
metrics.
Question. What impact do current medical and other qualifications
for enlistment in the Army have on the number of individuals eligible
for military service? If confirmed, what changes to such
qualifications, if any, would you recommend to increase the number of
individuals eligible for service without degrading the quality of
recruits?
Answer. The low percentage of American eligible and interested in
serving in the Army is greatly concerning. If confirmed, I will review
the Army's current enlistment qualifications to ensure they are the
right standards and not unnecessarily eliminating qualified individuals
from consideration. If we are enforcing standards irrelevant to an
individual's ability to serve effectively, I would recommend changing
those standards.
Question. Rather than relying solely on ever-higher compensation
for a shrinking pool of volunteers, what creative steps would you take,
if confirmed, to expand the pool of eligible recruits and improve Army
recruiting?
Answer. If confirmed, I will consider all non-monetary options of
expanding the pool of eligible recruits and improving Army recruiting,
including alternative career routes, sabbaticals, desired duty station
assignment, increased direct commissions for certain specialties, and
others. I will also review the Army recruiting strategy to ensure it
effectively conveys a strong value proposition to young people across
the Nation.
Question. What do you consider to be key to the Army's future
success in retaining the best qualified personnel for continued service
in positions of greater responsibility and leadership in the Army?
Answer. The best qualified soldiers are likely to have strong
alternative employment options, including monetarily, so the Army must
compete in other areas to retain them. I believe that soldiers are
inclined to remain in the Army when they and their families have been
treated well, when they have been given chances to develop and succeed,
and when they feel like they are using their abilities to make
meaningful contributions to high-performing teams. Providing our
soldiers with strong quality of life, maximizing dwell time and
predictability of assignments, providing them with new challenges, and
ensuring capable and responsive chains of command will best position
the Army to compete for talent.
Question. What steps, if any, should be taken to ensure that
current operational requirements and tempo do not adversely impact the
overall recruiting, retention, readiness, and morale of soldiers?
Answer. Every time that the Army sends a unit on a training
exercise, overseas rotation, or deployment, it must assess the holistic
impact on the readiness of that unit and other units. Operational
requirements must be balanced against the long-term health and
readiness of the force.
Question. In your view, do current recruiting standards--
particularly DOD-wide criteria for tier-one recruits--accurately
predict recruit attrition and/or future success in the Army?
Answer. If confirmed, I will review the data concerning the level
to which current recruiting standards accurately predict recruitment
attrition and/or future success in the Army. If I determine that the
current standards are not an accurate predictor, I will advocate for
appropriate changes.
Question. Do you believe that current military entrance testing
methods unnecessarily restrict the pool of eligible recruits, for
example, by penalizing prospective recruits for whom English is not
their native language?
Answer. If confirmed, I will review current military entrance
testing methods. I will conduct that review before determining whether
current entrance testing methods unnecessarily restrict the pool of
eligible recruits. If I conclude that any current entrance testing
methods are unfair, I will advocate appropriate changes.
reserve components
Question. In a historic shift since 9/11, Reserve components of the
Army continue to serve more routinely as a part-time workforce for the
Department of the Army in support of ongoing training and operational
requirements. This requires continuous review of how the Army funds,
develops, equips and compensates members of the Army Reserve and Army
National Guard.
In your view, what is the appropriate relationship between the
Active Army and the Army Reserve and Army National Guard?
Answer. The Active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard are
all critical components of the Total Force. The roles that each
component plays in an operation are dictated by circumstances,
capabilities, and the timing of events. The Reserve components provide
the Active Force with supplemental and unique capabilities and can
provide relief to stressed formations in the Active component. However,
the Army must always be cautious about overstressing Reserve components
units in turn.
Question. What is your vision for the roles and missions of the
Army Reserve components? If confirmed, what new objectives would you
seek to achieve with respect to the Army Reserve components'
organization, force structure, end strength, and readiness?
Answer. Reserve components provide depth and expertise and
skillsets that are often unavailable in the Active Army. If confirmed,
I will evaluate how the Army employs, schedules, alerts, and mobilizes
the Reserve components to support operations across the globe.
Additionally, I will review the balance of capabilities between
Reserve components and the Active Army during the annual Total Army
Analysis Process.
Question. Are you concerned that continued reliance on Army Reserve
components to execute operational missions--both at home and around the
globe--is adversely affecting the ability to meet their recruiting and
retention missions? Why or why not?
Answer. Excessive operational tempo can harm recruiting and
retention. I would need to view additional data before I can assess if
or how the current operational tempo of the Reserve components is
affecting their recruitment or retention.
As both an operational Reserve and a part-time workforce, members
of the Army Reserve components are subject to many requirements by both
the Active Force and the Reserves. In many cases, reservists are
required to do more work than they have time for, given the part-time
nature of their service, Army limits on compensation, and competing
personal and professional priorities.
Question. In this world of limited resources, what are the most
important activities for members of the Army Reserve component to
engage in?
Answer. The primary task of all Army Reserve units and individuals
is to maintain readiness. Army Reserve units should strive to gain and
maintain proficiency in their mission essential tasks and individuals
should strive to be proficient in their assigned duties and mission-
occupational specialty.
Question. In what areas should the Army take acceptable risks in
the training and readiness of Reserve Forces?
Answer. The Army should evaluate the quantity of mandatory training
not required by law that Reserve component forces are required to
complete annually.
Question. In your view, does the Army offer adequate career
management to members of the Reserve components?
Answer. The Army offers career development models to Reserve
component soldiers. However, they receive less formal guidance than
many of their Active Duty peers. At present, Reserve and Active career
models are very similar. If confirmed, I will ask the Chief of the Army
Reserve and the Chief of the Army National Guard to evaluate if we
should make changes to Reserve component career models and professional
military education requirements.
Question. In your view, are any legislative reforms necessary to
facilitate easier transitions for members of all components between
Active and Reserve status?
Answer. If confirmed, I would support making transitions between
Active and Reserve status in the Army more seamless. I will need to
study the issue more to determine if legislative reforms are necessary
to ease transitions between components.
non-deployable issues
Question. Do you agree that soldiers who are non-deployable for
more than 12 consecutive months should be subject either to separation
from the Army or referral into the Disability Evaluation System?
Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure that soldiers who are non-
deployable for more than 12 consecutive months will receive an
individualized review that weighs whether their continued service is in
the Nation's best interest. If not, they should be considered for
separation from service or referral into the Disability Evaluation
System as appropriate.
Question. In your view, under what circumstances might the
retention of a soldier who has been non-deployable for more than 12
months be ``in the best interest of the Army''?
Answer. The determination of whether retaining a soldier who has
been non-deployable for more than 12 months is in the best interest of
the Army is an individualized review that should consider factors
including the likelihood of the soldier swiftly returning to deployable
status and the soldier's unique skills and qualifications.
army talent management
Question. In your judgment, how effective is the Army at
identifying, promoting, and rewarding top performers?
Answer. I believe that the Army generally does a good job
identifying and promoting top talent in our enlisted and junior officer
ranks, particularly during tactical assignments. However, the current
promotion system does not necessarily select senior officers for their
institutional knowledge or strategic acumen, which are increasingly
desirable as officers progress.
I believe that the Army struggles to reward talent and retain
talent, in part, because of the inflexible nature of its time-based
compensation and promotion system. Exemplary leaders can only expect to
be promoted one to 2 years more quickly than a peer of average
performance. That's a very different dynamic than the private sector.
Question. Similarly, how effective is the Army at identifying and
removing underperforming or counterproductive servicemembers?
Answer. I believe that the Army's current evaluation system is
generally effective at identifying unperforming or counterproductive
soldiers. The Army's ability to remove or exclude underperforming
servicemembers is significantly constrained by the health and size of
an officer's or non-commissioned officer's career field and rank. When
the Army has a surplus of soldiers of a specific rank, promotion rates
are lower. When recruiting and retention are challenging, promotion
rates are higher. For example, in 2005, during the surge in Iraq, 97
percent of eligible Army Captains were promoted to Major. Historically,
that percentage was closer to 80 percent.
Question. In your view, what should be done to improve Army talent
management, both in the Active and Reserve components?
Answer. The Army should work with the Department of Defense and
Congress to continue to refine elements of the Defense Officer
Personnel Management Act to make promotion schedules more flexible. It
should also make better use of its direct commissioning programs to
introduce different perspectives into the force.
I also believe that the Army should ease the process for soldiers
to transfer between Reserve and Active service. Permitting soldiers to
more easily transition between Active Duty and Reserve components will
improve access to talent across the breadth of the total force and
introduce flexibility in military service in a manner that improves
retention.
As the Army fights for talent, it must continue to improve its
efforts to place the right person in the right place to maximize the
contributions of each soldier to the mission of restoring lethality and
deterrence to the Army and our country.
suicide prevention
Question. If confirmed, what actions would you take to prevent
suicides in the Active Army, the Army Reserve, and the Army National
Guard, and in the families of soldiers across all components?
Answer. Even one suicide among the force is too many. If confirmed,
I will make suicide prevention a high priority, striving to ensure that
all soldiers and their families have access to the resources necessary
to foster their physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and that
their leaders encourage them to take advantage of those resources.
sexual harassment and assault prevention and response programs
Question. Do you believe the policies, programs, resources, and
training that DOD and the Military Services have put in place to
prevent and respond to sexual assault, and to protect service members
who report sexual assault from retaliation, are working? If not, what
else must be done?
Answer. There is no place in the Military for sexual assault or
sexual harassment. Sexual assault is a crime within and outside of the
Army. It destroys unit cohesion and readiness and deters both men and
women from serving. Congress, the Department of Defense, and the Army
have taken a series of helpful actions to reduce the incidence of
sexual assault in the military, but more must be done.
If confirmed, I will continue to refine policies and programs
implemented over the last 4 years to reduce the incidence of sexual
assault and improve support to victims. I anticipate ensuring high-
level focus on this issue; including appointing a high-level position
dedicated to ensuring a focus on ending sexual assault in the military.
Every soldier deserves the opportunity to serve their nation without
fear of harassment or assault. If the worst happens, the process of
justice must be fair and swift, perpetrators must be brought to
justice, and victims must have access to the services they need and are
ensured the ability to continue their service without sanction or
setback to themselves or their careers.
Question. If confirmed, what would you do to increase focus on the
prevention of sexual assaults?
Answer. If confirmed, I will review the Army's existing efforts to
prevent sexual assault. I will personally express the importance of
focusing on that prevention and instruct Army leaders at all levels to
do the same with their soldiers.
Question. What is your view of the necessity of affording a victim
both restricted and unrestricted options to report sexual harassment?
Answer. Offering restricted and unrestricted reporting options to
victims of sexual harassment increases the likelihood that victims will
feel comfortable and safe enough to report that harassment. Reporting
sexual harassment is a necessary step to effectively address that
wrongful conduct. If confirmed, I would support offering both types of
reporting options.
domestic violence and child abuse in army families
Question. What is your understanding of the extent of domestic
violence and child abuse in the Army, and, if confirmed, what actions
would you take to address these issues?
Answer. Any domestic violence and child abuse in the Army is
unacceptable. If confirmed, I will review the current rates of both
domestic violence and child abuse in the Army, ensure that the Army
holds perpetrators accountable and assists victims, and that victims
are familiar with and have access to a range of reporting options and
resources. I will also ensure that Army leaders at all levels
prioritize that effort.
services provided to service members and their families
Question. If confirmed, how would you support increased employment
opportunities for military spouses and other family members?
Answer. Army families make many sacrifices, and they deserve the
Nation's support. Army spouses' careers are frequently disrupted by
their spouse's training exercises, reassignments, and deployments. If
confirmed, I will review existing Army programs and policies in place
to support employment opportunities for spouses and other family
members and work with the Secretary of Defense, Congress, and State and
local governments to ensure that Army programs and policies continue to
grow meaningful employment opportunities for Army family members.
If confirmed, what specifically would you do to establish
accountability in the Army for sustaining the high-quality housing that
soldier and their families deserve?
Answer. Army families and servicemembers deserve high-quality
housing. If confirmed, I will evaluate the current performance of
housing providers and empower garrison commanders to hold these
providers accountable.
Question. If confirmed, what specifically would you do to establish
accountability in Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI)
``contractors,'' particularly given that, in most cases, they have
public-private partnership agreements with the Army that extend for as
long as 50 years?
Answer. I will work with the Army Installation Management Command
to evaluate the performance of each MHPI contractor, and to determine
what authorities the Department can leverage to improve performance. If
necessary, I will request additional authorities from Congress.
army readiness
Question. How would you assess the current readiness of the Army--
across the domains of materiel and equipment, personnel, and training--
to execute the National Defense Strategy and Combatant Commanders'
associated operational plans?
Answer. The U.S. Army continues to be the most professional land
force in the world. However, I worry about the ability of the country's
industrial base to provide sufficient military stocks to fully support
our warfighters.
Additionally, our technological edge is shrinking. The Army needs
to accelerate its modernization and better prepare our forces for the
advances in drone and autonomous warfare the world has witnessed in
Ukraine.
Question. In your view, what are the priority missions for which
current and future Army forces should be trained and ready in the
context of day-to-day activities, as well as for contingencies?
Answer. Prioritization for training and readiness will be driven by
the National Defense Strategy and National Military Strategy. If
confirmed, I will work with the Army Staff to align our training and
readiness against defense planning scenarios identified by the
Department.
Question. If confirmed, how would you oversee compliance by the
Army with readiness goals and timelines?
Answer. If confirmed, I would work with my staff to evaluate and
revise the existing governance structure within the Army to ensure that
the organization establishes metrics and regularly reviews progress
toward our readiness goals.
Question. If confirmed, how would you prioritize maintaining
readiness in the near term, with modernizing the Army to ensure future
readiness?
Answer. Prior to supporting a deployment or rotation, I will
require the Army Staff to holistically assess the impact of that
deployment on the readiness of the impacted unit or stock, future
readiness, and impact on the career field of soldiers impacted by that
deployment. In the case of transferring arms or military stocks to
another country, I will require the Army Staff to provide information
on the capacity of our industrial base to replace the item, and the
time and money required.
munitions
Question. If confirmed, what steps would you take to ensure the
Army has sufficient inventories of munitions to meet combatant
commanders' needs?
Answer. Maintaining a sufficient inventory of critical munitions is
essential to keeping the Army ready for conflict, supporting allies and
partners, and deterring adversaries from hostile action. If confirmed,
I will direct the Army Staff to work with OSD Policy, the Joint staff,
and OSD A&S, to verify munitions requirements, and suggest mitigations
to overcome shortfalls in the short-, medium-, and long-term.
Question. Is the ammunition industrial base, including the Army's
organic ammunition plants, capable of supporting current and future
munitions requirements, in your view?
Answer. While I have not received briefings from the Army on its
organic industrial base modernization plan, I suspect that there will
be more to do to meet current and future munitions requirements. If
confirmed, implementing and revising this modernization plan will be a
top priority for my office and the ASA (ATL).
Question. If confirmed, what actions would you take to reduce
single points of failure and foreign material supplier dependencies in
the ammunition industrial base?
Answer. The Army needs to be able to quickly scale production of
critical munitions while protecting its supply base. It is increasingly
important to reduce single points of failure and foreign dependencies
in our ammunition industrial base. If confirmed, I will work to make
sure that plans to reduce foreign dependencies and single points of
failure are included in OIB modernization plans.
Question. Based on your experience, what are some of the lessons
from the past 4 years of increasing 155mm artillery shell production
that we should ensure get institutionalized in the Army to improve
future industrial mobilization efforts (for munitions or other areas)?
Answer. The U.S. Military must question many of the assumptions it
made during the ``peace dividend'' era about the need for flexibility
in defense production. From what I have observed, the Army has learned
that it needs to regularly invest in its organic industrial base,
nurture component suppliers domestically, and understand the time
required to procure long-lead items necessary to scale manufacturing.
Question. Based on your experience, how should the Army be
factoring in the needs of foreign partners and allies into over
munitions forecasting in order to improve the long-term production
stability of the industrial base?
Answer. Forecasting future needs for the U.S. military is extremely
challenging, and adding in foreign partners and allies adds another
layer of friction. I am skeptical that the Department can successfully
forecast these requirements in a dynamic, geopolitical environment.
Accordingly, it must make acquisition strategies and industrial base
investments in equipment and munitions that allow for expansion and
contraction in demand based on a range of demand that can be expected
from allies and partners. The Department needs modular production
facilities, and a cold and warm capacity that can be turned on and off
to meet need.
Question. The Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA required the Department of
Defense to establish a pilot program to incorporate the explosive CL-20
into existing munitions. Is the Army considering executing any
activities under this pilot in order to improve the explosive yield or
operational envelope of any of its munitions?
Answer. I have not had the opportunity to receive a brief on this
pilot program but will request one if confirmed.
Question. Regardless of whether the Army is doing anything under
this pilot program, how is the Army considering incorporation of new
energetic materials, like CL-20, or new manufacturing processes for
energetics, like biomanufacturing, into existing munitions to increase
explosive effects or operational envelope of its weapons?
Answer. If confirmed, I will investigate Army exploration of new
energetic materials and manufacturing processes. I have not had the
appropriate briefs to respond adequately to this question.
special operations
Question. What is your assessment of the role and importance of
Army Special Operations Forces in supporting the Joint Force and the
objectives of the National Defense Strategy?
Answer. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) play a critical role
in supporting the Joint Force and accomplishing the objectives of the
National Defense Strategy. The Joint Force has heavily relied on ARSOF
for many years, particularly in the role of building partner capacity,
and I anticipate that trend to continue in the future.
operational energy
Question. If confirmed, how would you lead the Army in harnessing
innovations in operational energy and linking them with emerging joint
operational concepts in order to reduce contested logistics
vulnerabilities for warfighters?
Answer. Reducing the footprint of the Joint Force in expeditionary
operations is vital to increasing the survivability of forward-deployed
forces and reducing strain on sustainers. If confirmed, I plan to
continue to support investments in technologies that reduce energy
waste and provide accessible energy to the warfighter.
Question. In what specific areas, if any, do you believe the Army
needs to improve the incorporation of energy considerations and
alternative energy resources into the strategic planning processes?
Answer. Not just the Army, but the Joint Force needs to consider
energy consumption and utilization in all operational plans, supplied
by a variety of sources, to include alternative sources not used today.
Unlike conflicts of the past thirty years, adversaries have an
increased capability to interdict our lines of supply. Units must
prepare to self-sustain during interruptions in shipments of fuel.
Question. How can Army acquisition systems better address
requirements related to the use of energy in military platforms to
decrease risks to warfighters? In your view, how can energy
supportability that reduces contested logistics vulnerabilities become
a key performance parameter in the requirements process?
Answer. To better address energy demands in system requirements,
the Army should consider both its capacity to transport and receive
energy in expeditionary environments, and overall energy requirements
of units by echelon. These can then form a baseline to develop
individual energy-based requirements for the development of different
weapons and equipment sets.
Question. If confirmed, how would you prioritize energy resilience,
including acquiring and deploying sustainable and renewable energy
assets, to support mission critical functions, and address known
vulnerabilities?
Answer. Energy resilience is installation resilience. Army
installations, both CONUS and OCONUS must be increasingly prepared to
provide for their energy needs without outside support. If confirmed, I
will require the ASA (IE&E) to evaluate our current plans to increase
installation energy resilience and continue the Army's progress in
making our installations more resilient.
Question. Given that the Army has been charged with Contested
Logistics for the Joint Force, how do you believe operational energy
can and should be used to support this effort?
Answer. Developing new concepts for generating energy in a deployed
and contested environment will greatly enable the Joint Force to reduce
the quantity of tankers required to sustain it and increase the
survivability of expeditionary formations.
environment
Question. If confirmed, how would you further efforts to address
PFAS contamination at Army installations?
Answer. If confirmed, I will fully support the Army's efforts to
address PFAS contamination at Army installations and will review the
sufficiency of those efforts. The health of our soldiers and their
families, Army civilians, and the communities surrounding our
installations must remain an Army priority.
readiness and resource impacts from extreme weather
Question. How would you assess the readiness and resource impacts
on the Army from recent extreme weather events?
Answer. If confirmed, I will review the readiness and resource
impacts on the Army from recent extreme weather events, prioritize
resources needed to address those impacts, and seek to mitigate the
risks of future such events.
Question. Based on these readiness and resource impacts, do you
believe it necessary to use more resilient designs in Army
infrastructure? How can the Army better use existing authorities on
extreme weather mitigation granted by Congress in the last few NDAAs?
Answer. Army infrastructure design should contemplate the full
range of potential weather events to ensure resiliency. If confirmed, I
will review the Army's existing use of authorities on extreme weather
mitigation and explore the benefits of greater use of those
authorities.
audit
Question. If confirmed, what specific actions will you take or
direct to enable the Army to achieve a clean financial audit in the
most expedited fashion?
Answer. I understand that the Army has continued to make progress
on achieving a clean financial audit, but that there is more to do. I
have been informed that the Army is investing in tools and revising
processes, but I do not know the implementation status of these
efforts. If confirmed, I commit to using my authority as the Secretary
of the Army to continue to push toward achieving a clean audit,
reforming business processes, and implementing technological systems to
ensure the Army's fiscal health and transparency.
Question. What are the benefits to Army missions and effectiveness
of achieving and maintaining a clean audit?
Answer. In my opinion, a clean audit will provide the awareness
necessary to ensure that every dollar appropriated to the U.S. Army
goes to its best use. We can only make the greatest strides in reducing
waste and improving allocation of funds without full financial
transparency and accountability.
Question. How will you hold Army leaders and organizations
responsible and accountable for making the necessary investments and
changes to correct findings and material weaknesses identified in the
audit process?
Answer. A successful audit will showcase options to make Army
funding, equipping, and sustainment practices more efficient and
productive. If confirmed, I will hold Army Leaders accountable for
making progress toward a clean audit. I will expect results from the
ASA (FM&C) and Senior Army Leaders. I will require them to create
metrics for progress toward financial accountability and hold those
responsible who fail to meet them.
Question. Based on your experience, how do you see improved data
from Army financial management IT systems that support audit help Army
decisionmaking and readiness?
Answer. In general, improvements in financial management IT systems
offer opportunities to reduce manual inputs and clerical errors,
automate accounting of equipment and funding expenditures, and ease
burdens that deter individuals across the Army from correctly following
accounting procedures.
Question. As the Army continues down the path to a clean audit,
there are still lessons that can be gleaned beyond the end goal of a
clean audit opinion. Based on your experience, how do you anticipate
operationalizing any intermediate lessons from audit into the Army's
overall management reform objectives?
Answer. If confirmed, I will evaluate the Army's current process
for disseminating lessons learned and circulating them through the
force. If these processes and procedures are insufficient, I will task
the ASA (F&MC) and other Army Leaders to revise them to ensure we are
operationalizing lessons learned as we unveil them.
army-related defense industrial base
Question. What is your assessment of the systems and processes for
identifying, evaluating, and managing risk in the Army's organic,
commercial, and defense industrial base, including the munitions
industrial base?
Answer. While I suspect these systems and processes have matured
because of U.S. support to Ukraine since 2022, I have not received a
brief on their maturation. If confirmed, I will receive the appropriate
briefs to make an assessment.
Question. What do you see as the levers to motivate the defense
industrial base, to include munitions manufacturers, to make additional
capital investment (for facilities and tooling), as well as research
and development investments to increase the capacity of the defense
industrial base?
Answer. First, we need to create a long-term ``demand signal'' that
justifies capital expenditures in production lines. Part of this demand
signal must come from allies and partners and we must streamline
foreign military sales processes to facilitate this outcome. Second,
the Department of the Army should work with industry to incentivize the
design of modular factories, capable of rapid prototyping and short-run
production without large losses in efficiency. Advances in automation,
artificial intelligence, and mechatronics have made this increasingly
possible, and the Department of the Army should lead in its
development.
Question. How should Army acquisition leaders consider impacts on
the industrial base when addressing requirements for recapitalization
or modernization of major defense weapons systems and munitions, and
life cycle costs of such systems?
Answer. Acquisition leaders must consider both immediate and
potential demand for major weapon systems and munitions as they
formulate acquisition plans. An ability to scale capacity, or at least
calculations concerning cost and time to scale that capacity should
accompany acquisition strategies.
Question. How would you seek to ensure the Army engages with the
broadest industrial base possible, including traditional contractors,
nontraditional contractors, and small businesses?
Answer. If confirmed, I would work with the Army's acquisition
workforce and leaders to remove as many barriers as possible to doing
business with the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army needs to be a better
customer. Many of the actions that the U.S. Government took in the
1980's to ensure fair competition have now become barriers to entry.
Question. If confirmed, what changes, if any, would you pursue in
systems and processes to ensure that risk in the Army-relevant sectors
of the defense industrial base is adequately managed to enable the
development, production, and sustainment of technically superior,
reliable, and affordable weapons systems and munitions?
Answer. I will need to review existing processes before I can make
informed changes to the way the Army manages its portion of the defense
industrial base. If confirmed, the status and management of the defense
industrial base will be one of the first issues that I engage on.
equipping/modernization
Question. What is your assessment of the Army's past modernization
record and current efforts?
Answer. I am aware that the Army has had difficulties in the past
modernizing in a timely and efficient way, and getting that process is
key for the Army's future success. Rapid technological development by
our adversaries highlights the need for the Army to innovate quickly
based on lessons learned from current battlefields.
The establishment of Army Futures Command has helped streamline and
focus the Army's modernization efforts. If confirmed, I will work
closely with the Under Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries, and other
stakeholders to ensure that the Army stays on time and on budget in
executing its current modernization priorities.
Question. Based on your experience, how would you structure the
Army to conduct better tradeoff analysis so that programmatic
investments are not stove-piped and can be assessed against the impact
of various alternatives?
Answer. If confirmed, I will work with the Army leadership team to
evaluate current and projected investments across the department to
better understand these priorities. The review process will allow me an
opportunity to evaluate all priority programs and identify any
adjustments that need to be made to increase their effectiveness.
Question. What is your assessment of the sufficiency of the Army
acquisition workforce across both civilian and military personnel, both
in the number and the level of experience of those personnel? What do
you see as the pros and cons of civilian versus military acquisition
professionals?
Answer. The army acquisition workforce consists of over 30,000
professionals of various professional specialties charged with ensuring
the delivery of critical warfighting capabilities to our service
members in uniform. This workforce consists of a blend of civilians,
officers, and non-commissioned officers which provides it with a unique
blend of critical institutional knowledge with the career civilian
cadre and the soldier specific knowledge to deliver the best
capabilities to our formations. If confirmed, I will evaluate the
effectiveness and size of our acquisition workforce to ensure we are
properly postured to deliver world-class capabilities to our soldiers.
Question. How has Army Futures Command (AFC) contributed to
improving Army modernization programs over previous Army efforts? What
role do you expect the Command to play going forward? In your view, how
has the establishment of AFC modified Army Secretariat roles in Army
modernization efforts?
Answer. Army Futures Command (AFC) plays a key role in Army
modernization. I am aware that prior to AFC's establishment, program
proponents developed requirements not always fully aligned with the
Army's modernization needs. Today, AFC's process includes inputs from a
variety of stakeholders, including soldiers, to ensure the Army will
get the capability it needs.
Going forward, I expect AFC to continue to lead in implementing the
Army's modernization strategy and defining the future operating
environment. AFC's role will be key in ensuring that the Army is
equipped to fight and win on future battlefields.
Question. If modernization is fundamental to future readiness, how
you would frame future readiness requirements, if confirmed? What key
capabilities must the Army possess for multi-domain operations?
Answer. The Army must modernize to ensure its future readiness, and
building toward a multi-domain operations-ready force by 2035 is an
important part of Army modernization efforts. At the same time, the
Army must maintain a State of readiness sufficiently to meet current
and emerging missions. If confirmed, I will work closely with AFC, the
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition,
Logistics and Technology, and other stakeholders to clearly define the
Army's future readiness requirements and work closely with Congress to
ensure the Army invests in support of those priorities.
If confirmed, I will review the Army's current plan for conducting
Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), including relevant capabilities
currently available and those in development, as well as those of our
near peer competitors, to determine what, if any, additional
capabilities are required.
Question. Do you believe the Army's modernization priorities should
be modified? If so, and if confirmed, how would you propose to modify
them?
Answer. If confirmed, I will assess the Army's current
modernization priorities of long-range precision fires, next generation
combat vehicles, future vertical lift, the network, air and missile
defense, and soldier lethality, to confirm that they are in line the
National Defense Strategy and the priorities established by the
President and the Secretary of Defense. If I determine that they must
be modified, I will work closely with all stakeholders and Congress to
do so.
Question. Do you see utility in the Army conducting more joint
program development? In what systems or categories of systems do you
perceive the most potential and benefit in joint development?
Answer. If confirmed, I would support joint program development
wherever doing so would save time or money, increase effectiveness or
interoperability, or accomplish a combination of those factors.
acquisition
Question. Civilian oversight of the acquisition system has been a
cornerstone of the post-World War II acquisition system.
What are your personal views on the principle of civilian control
of the defense acquisition system?
Answer. I believe that civilian control of defense acquisition is
required by U.S. Code, but that does not preclude military leaders from
playing a very substantial role in the process.
Congress has expanded and refined the acquisition-related functions
of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the other Service Chiefs.
Question. If confirmed, how would you synchronize your acquisition
responsibilities with those of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and
Technology?
Answer. If confirmed, I will clearly lay out responsibilities for
acquisition in a revised general order for the Headquarters, Department
of the Army.
Question. If confirmed, what role would you assign to the Chief of
Staff of Army for improving the prioritization of requirements and
program funding?
Answer. The Chief of Staff of the Army serves as the senior
military advisor to the Secretary of the Army. His or her advice will
play a crucial role in shaping Army requirements and programmatic
objectives as the overseer of the Army Staff.
Question. Congress has authorized a range of authorities, including
the Middle Tier of Acquisition, rapid acquisition authority, and the
software acquisition pathway, to tailor the acquisition process to
enable the rapid delivery of new capabilities.
In your view, what benefit has the Department of the Army derived
from its utilization of Middle Tier of Acquisition?
Answer. Middle Tier Acquisition authority offers a pathway for the
Army to rapidly prototype or rapidly field capabilities in under 5
years. Use of this pathway can save the Department time and money as it
develops and fields new technology, particularly when requirements are
not fully mature.
The Army has used this authority to accelerate programs like the
XM30 combat vehicle, the Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense Increment 3
(M-SHORAD Inc 3), and Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2
(IFPC Inc 2) among others.
Question. In your view, what benefit has the Department of the Army
derived from its utilization of the rapid acquisition authority?
Answer. Rapid acquisition authority provides the Department of Army
a pathway to quickly meet operational needs through material solutions.
The Army used this authority to rapidly acquire coyote interceptors for
counter-unmanned aerial systems missions and protect U.S. forces
overseas.
Question. How will you ensure that rapid acquisition pathways are
not inundated with bureaucratic processes?
Answer. If confirmed, I will instruct the ASA (ALT) to create an
incentive structure that rewards outcomes and calculated risk-taking,
not compliance with procedures. Success is the creation of a
capability, not completion of a checklist.
Question. How will you seek to balance the need to rapidly acquire
and field innovative systems while ensuring acquisition programs stay
on budget and schedule?
Answer. If confirmed, I will hold program offices accountable for
their failures to stay on budget and on schedule. Second, I will
require requirements developers and acquisition officials to more
carefully evaluate when the Army can purchase a fully developed,
commercial or non-commercial and satisfy requirements with minimal
acquisition risk, and when we must mature technology and develop an
organic capability. Purchasing a fully developed system lowers
development costs and delivery time. Some capabilities must be bespoke,
but the Army can save time and money by buying as many non-commercial
and commercial products as possible that meet warfighter needs.
Question. This Committee has been a strong supporter of Army
Futures Command and its focus on future readiness for competition with
near-peers.
What is your view on Army Futures Command use of directed
requirements?
Answer. Army Futures Command has played a critical role in shaping
the current Army modernization. Without AFC, and its cross-functional
team approach, the Army would be much further behind in its six
modernization priorities.
Directed requirements provide the Army with an expedited means to
acquire operationally critical capabilities. They are necessary to
allow the Army to adapt to the stunning changes in warfare that we are
witnessing in Russo-Ukraine, and the leaps in capability showcased by
America's competitors.
Question. What is your view on the Cross-Functional Teams and how
they are coordinating Army Futures Command and the Assistant Secretary
of the Army for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics?
Answer. Cross-functional teams provide acquisition programs with
diverse talent sets that help the teams avoid pitfalls and siloed
perspectives. From what I have been told, coordination between ASA
(ALT) and AFC is going well.
requirements
Question. The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act
required the Joint Staff to take a clean-sheet approach to the
requirements process and the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense
Authorization Act required the Secretary of Defense to establish an
advisory panel on reforming the requirements process.
What recommendations would you make to the requirements process to
make it more adaptive to changes in threats and technologies?
Answer. The current process of constructing requirements has many
faults. It takes too long to develop requirements, requirements are
often developed without sufficient interaction with warfighters or
acquisition professionals, and in many cases, requirements are overly
difficult to achieve for industry or from a technological maturation
perspective.
Any revision to the requirements process needs to make it faster,
more iterative, and less rigid. In many situations, requirements take
so long to build, that they fall behind the current State of technology
before they reach production. In others, requirements are so exacting
that industry can only meet them at great costs, which are then passed
onto the Army.
Any new requirements process must provide requirements developers,
warfighters, and acquisition officials near constant opportunities for
interaction, and be more agile in nature.
Question. What role do you see for the Joint Staff versus the
military services in the requirements process?
Answer. The Joint Staff oversees the development of requirements
that span the military services. Services oversee the development of
requirements that fall within their Title 10 responsibilities.
test and evaluation
Question. Are you satisfied with Army test and evaluation
capabilities? In which areas, if any, do you believe the Army should be
developing new test and evaluation capabilities?
Answer. I need additional information on current Army test and
evaluation capabilities before I can assess them. If confirmed, I will
gather the necessary perspectives and information to assess Army Test
and Evaluation Command.
Question. Do you believe that current Army test and evaluation
facilities, personnel and technical test apparatuses are up to par for
what is needed for the modernization challenges of the Army now and in
the near future?
Answer. I require additional information before I can answer this
question.
Question. Do you believe the Army should exploit non-developmental
or commercial off-the-shelf solutions to meet Army requirements? Would
this put capabilities into the hands of soldier more quickly, in your
view?
Answer. Yes. Wherever possible, and as required by Federal
Acquisition Regulations, the Army should purchase non-development and
COTS solutions to meet requirements. Some capabilities require the Army
to undertake independent development, but many of the Army's most
pressing needs: small-unmanned aerial systems, counter-unmanned aerial
systems, electronic warfare systems, and communications gear have
already been developed.
Question. What do you see as the operational test and evaluation
needs for such non-developmental or commercial items to ensure they can
still meet the technical requirements and human factors needs of
environments often more complex and demanding than commercial settings?
Answer. It depends on the operational need. Some commercial
products and non-development items should move immediately into the
field without testing or with minimal testing because the Army
currently has no existing capability. In other situations, the Army can
thoroughly test non-developmental and commercial items because the
operational need is less dire.
Question. How should Army test and evaluation capabilities support
software and other efforts that require rapid iteration between
developments?
Answer. If confirmed, I will evaluate the Army's ability to test
and evaluate software and other efforts that require rapid iteration.
Question. The Army is responsible for the maintenance and operation
of the garrison supporting U.S. assets on the Kwajalein Atoll,
including the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site--a
capability essential to the modernization of the Nation's nuclear
deterrent and many other weapon systems. However, the Army has not
adequately budgeted for these facilities resulting in the poor
maintenance of the garrison which supports a critical test range
utilized on a daily basis by the Department.
If confirmed, what steps will you take as Secretary to revitalize
this facility and improve the welfare of those stationed there?
Answer. If confirmed, I will review the current Army budgeting and
plans for revitalization of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense
Test Site and will prioritize improving the welfare of all soldiers
stationed on Kwajalein Atoll.
innovation
Question. If confirmed, what steps would you take to support the
Army's in-house innovation enterprise at its labs and engineering
centers?
Answer. In-house innovation by Army labs and engineering centers
can bring great capabilities and cutting-edge technology to the force,
but support for any innovation center or lab must be conditional on the
outputs of that organization. If confirmed, I commit to reinforcing
success across the Army's innovation enterprise, and reforming aspects
of that enterprise that need modification to meet the Army's needs.
Question. If confirmed, how would you make use of the Small
Business Innovation Research program to fund cutting edge research,
diversify the Army's industrial base, and transition capabilities to
Program Executive Offices?
Answer. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program
allows the Army to offer opportunities to non-traditional contractors
to work with the Department; while simultaneously helping it access
developing technologies. One of the criticisms of SBIRs is the poor
record of transitioning promising pilots and prototypes developed under
a SBIR into a full program of record or capability. If confirmed, I
will work with a consortium of small businesses and our acquisition
community to identify ways that we can improve SBIR outcomes.
Question. If confirmed, how would you ensure that Army labs and
test ranges have sufficient military construction and equipment funding
to maintain world class research and testing infrastructure to maintain
our military technology advantage, which is making significant
investments in this type of infrastructure?
Answer. I have not been briefed on current military construction
and equipment funding deficits for our labs and test ranges. If
confirmed, I will work with the ASA (IE&E) to confirm that the Army is
allocating sufficient capital to these investments.
Question. If confirmed, how would you assess whether the Army has
sufficient investment in science and technology programs, especially
those that are creating new capabilities and possibilities for new
concepts of operations beyond current requirements?
Answer. If confirmed, I will work through Army Futures Command to
ensure that the Army not only has enough investment in science and
technology programs, but that these investments are going to the most
impactful capabilities. Technology enables tactics. One of the surest
ways to develop a warfighting advantage is to harness new technology
and adopt tactics that suit it in a coherent manner faster than an
adversary.
Question. Based on your experience, are there enduring technology
areas that might not be considered emerging (for example, energetic
materials, or corrosion control) that Army should remain focused on as
categories outside of the modernization priorities? How should the Army
make investment decisions to balance the needs between these emerging
and enduring technology areas?
Answer. The Army should continuously reexamine its prioritization
of technology areas to invest its resources in the areas with the
largest payoff for the organization. If confirmed, I will continually
evaluate these choices as part of the POM and look to organizations
like AFC to make sure that we are balancing our investments between
``today'' and ``tomorrow.''
Question. If confirmed, how would you facilitate and accelerate the
transition across the so-called Valley of Death from development to
production and from the lab into the soldier's hands.
Answer. The Army cannot afford to invest capital in the research
and development of capabilities, only to repeatedly abandon them
because they lack a champion. As a service, the Army should attempt to
reduce the number of programs that fall into the ``valley of death,''
by linking warfighters, acquisition officials, requirements developers,
and researchers with a program in its infancy. Research and development
projects should discontinue because they lack maturity or usefulness,
not because of programmatics or a poor hand-off between champions of
different phases of development.
Question. In your view, where does the Army struggle most with
technology transition and why?
Answer. I think this issue is worthy of further study before
response. I will require additional briefs about the causes of failure
and rates of failure of various programs before answering.
Question. What is your view of programs such as the Army Technology
Maturation Initiative (TMI)? Do ``6.4'' efforts such as TMI serve
important objectives related to transition?
Answer. Programs like the Army Technology Maturation Initiative
provide opportunities to continue developing technologies that are
close, but not quite ripe for transition into an acquisition program.
If confirmed, I would evaluate the outcomes that the TMI has achieved
and determine how the program should be modified or reinforced going
forward.
cyber
Question. In September 2023, DOD released its 2023 Cyber Strategy.
The strategy charges DOD to persistently engage malicious cyber actors
and other malign threats to U.S. interests in cyberspace.
In your view, how well postured is the Army to meet the goals
outlined in the 2023 DOD Cyber Strategy? What actions do you think need
to be taken in the Army to address any gaps with the 2023 DOD Cyber
Strategy?
Answer. The Army's role in defending the Nation from cyberspace
attacks continues to evolve. If confirmed, I will review the Army's
current cyber posture and ability to meet the goals outlined in the
2023 DOD Cyber Strategy as well as the Army's coordination efforts with
the Department of Defense and Federal, State and local law enforcement
agencies to address cyber threats.
Question. If confirmed, what would you do to improve military and
civilian cybersecurity career paths?
Answer. The Army needs cyber warriors. If confirmed, I will review
the current career pathways and professional development opportunities
for our cyber warriors, both in and out of uniform, and seek to ensure
that we are giving them the right training and growth opportunities to
address current and future cyber threats.
Question. In what ways could Army cyber forces be better leveraged
to address tactical cyber effects at a theater warfighting level? Are
there things that Army could do to ensure that cyber is better
integrated at a tactical level with other kinetic and non-kinetic
capabilities?
Answer. I expect cyber integration at every level of warfighting to
continue to increase going forward, and the Army must address that
need. If confirmed, I will assess the Army's current use of cyber
effects at every level of warfighting and work to ensure that we
provide the right capabilities to our soldiers.
Question. Section 1657 of the fiscal year 2020 NDAA directed each
Military Department to appoint an independent Principal Cyber Advisor
(PCA) to act as the principal advisor to the Secretary concerned on all
cyber matters affecting that Department.
What do you see as the role of this position? If confirmed, how
would you personally plan to utilize the Army PCA within your
leadership structure?
Answer. Cyber considerations are critically important to the Army.
If confirmed, I would gladly rely on the Principal Cyber Advisor (PCA)
to inform me and other Army senior leaders of all cyber matters
affecting the Army and rely heavily on their judgment. The PCA should
be in a lead role in conducting periodic reviews of the Army cyber
posture and analyzing the risks and benefits of cyber-related
decisions.
Question. If confirmed as Secretary of the Army, how would you best
utilize the PCA to improve cybersecurity and otherwise ensure that the
Army maintains decisive advantage in the Cyber domain?
Answer. If confirmed, I will use the PCA as the focal point for all
synchronization and coordination of cybersecurity matters and the
Army's liaison to the DOD and the interagency on such matters.
technical workforce
Question. A significant challenge facing the Army today is a
shortage of highly skilled data scientists, computer programmers,
cyber, and other scientific, technical and engineering talent,
especially those needed to work at Army institutions outside of the
defense laboratories and technical centers (which currently benefit
from specific workforce authorities available to Army labs).
If confirmed, what actions would you take to increase the
recruiting and retention of scientists, engineers, software coders, and
in other technical positions across the Army's enterprise?
Answer. Recruiting, developing and retaining talented personnel in
the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields is critical
to the success of the Army. If confirmed, I will review the Army's
current efforts in that area, reprioritize as needed, and work with
Congress for any legislative support that may be needed to ensure the
Army has a deep reservoir of STEM talent.
Question. If confirmed, what specifically would you do to provide
Army organizations with the civilian workforce management tools they
need to shape their science, technology, data, cyber, and engineering
workforces, especially for those organizations that need this kind of
technical expertise but are not inherently scientific or research
organizations?
Answer. If confirmed, I will be fully committed to ensuring that
Army organizations have the right civilian workforce management tools
to leverage their technology, data, cyber, and engineering personnel. I
will solicit input from those organizations directly concerning their
needs and allocate resources appropriately to support their missions.
army intelligence, counterintelligence, and sensitive activities
Question. If confirmed, what role would you establish for yourself
in the decisions on and oversight of Army intelligence,
counterintelligence, and sensitive activities?
Answer. I am aware that the current Army policy places the
Secretary of the Army as the head of oversight of the Army
intelligence, counterintelligence, and sensitive activities, and, if
confirmed, I intend to maintain that policy.
army cemeteries
Question. What is your understanding of the role of the Secretary
of the Army in the management and oversight of Arlington National
Cemetery (ANC)?
Answer. The Secretary of the Army oversees Arlington National
Cemetery through the Office of Army cemeteries.
Question. What factors would you consider in granting or denying a
request for exception to established ANC interment or inurnment
policies?
Answer. As Secretary, I would examine applicable law, Federal
regulations, and past precedent before evaluating a request for an
exception to policy.
Question. What progress has the Army made in executing plans and
programs for the expansion of ANC?
Answer. I have not been briefed on Arlington Cemetery's Southern
Expansion Project. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on ANC, to
include current capacity challenges and the expansion.
Question. If confirmed, how will you ensure that the progress the
Army has made in re-establishing an enduring caisson capability at
Arlington National Cemetery and in support of State funeral
requirements, to include ongoing consultation from world-class
equestrian experts, persists?
Answer. I understand that the Army has had difficulty maintaining
the health of horses in the caisson platoon within the Old Guard. If
confirmed, I will assess the reforms that the Military District of
Washington and the Old Guard have made over the past 2 years and
determine if additional measures are required.
u.s. army corps of engineers (usace)
Question. What do you perceive to be the appropriate role for the
Secretary of the Army in the management and oversight of USACE?
Answer. I believe the Secretary of the Army has the responsibility
to fully oversee both the military and Civil Works programs of the
USACE. On the military side of the USACE the Secretary under his or her
authority to man, train and equip the Army has the responsibility to
ensure that all facilities constructed by the USACE are built to the
highest standards and the lowest cost to the taxpayer. As the statutory
authority for all Civil Works projects the Secretary has the
responsibility to ensure that these projects are constructed in
accordance with the project authorization enhances the public interest
and is constructed in the most cost-efficient manner.
Question. Based on your experience, how can the Army better
leverage the unique public works authorities of USACE?
Answer. In my view the Army can leverage the extraordinary
experience and expertise of the USACE's public works program to enhance
national goals such as border security, assist in disaster relief and
enhance the overall safety and quality of life of all Americans while
providing valuable experience to the Army's Engineer Corps that will
help us win on the battlefield as well.
district of columbia national guard (dcng)
Question. What is your understanding of the role and authority of
the Secretary of the Army with respect to the DCNG?
Answer. I understand that the President, by executive order,
authorized and directed the Secretary of Defense to supervise,
administer, and control the District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG)
while it is in a militia status. The Secretary of Defense directed the
Secretary of the Army to perform the supervision, administration, and
control of the DCNG.
Question. What is the role of the Secretary of the Army with
respect to National Guard from other States in a Title 32 status who
are called in to augment the DCNG?
Answer. The Secretary of the Army is responsible for supervising,
administering and controlling the DCNG while it is in a militia status.
With respect to State National Guard members augmenting the DCNG, I
understand that they take directions from the Federal entity that
requested their support, and not from the Secretary of the Army. While
the President or the Secretary of Defense may request that a Governor
order National Guard personnel member to perform training or other
duties, there is no role for the Secretary of the Army unless the
Secretary of Defense delegates the authority to coordinate tasks. Pre-
established Memorandums of Agreement or Understanding between the
States and the District of Columbia guide how personnel and units may
augment the DCNG. If the Guardsmen perform duties within their home
State for their State, they remain under the command and control of
their respective Governors.
Question. In your view, should the role of the Secretary of the
Army with respect to the DCNG be changed? If so, what changes would you
advocate, if confirmed?
Answer. If confirmed, I will work with the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau,
and other stakeholders to review existing authorities to determine what
changes, if any, should be made to the role of the Secretary of the
Army with respect to the DCNG.
the army civilian workforce
Question. In your judgment, what is the biggest challenge facing
the Army in effectively and efficiently managing its civilian
workforce?
Answer. Effectively and efficiently managing a civilian workforce
is inherently challenging. If confirmed, I will review the Army's
current civilian workforce best practices, including recruiting hiring,
training, promotion, and compensation, to ensure that the Army
attracts, develops and retains skilled civilian professionals across
the workforce.
Question. Would there be value, in your view, to establishing a
unified DOD civilian workforce, as opposed to separate civilian
workforces segregated by DOD component? Please explain your answer.
Answer. If confirmed, I will review the advantages and
disadvantages of establishing a unified DOD civilian workforce, and
work in concert with the Secretary of Defense, my counterparts, and
other stakeholders to determine the feasibility and desirability of
pursuing such a course of action. congressional Oversight
In order to exercise legislative and oversight responsibilities, it
is important that this Committee, its subcommittees, and other
appropriate committees of Congress receive timely testimony, briefings,
reports, records--including documents and electronic communications,
and other information from the executive branch.
Question. 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 Roger F. Wicker
army aviation training
1. Senator Wicker. Mr. Driscoll, what is your view of the Army's
current aviation training system?
Mr. Driscoll. I believe the Army is focused on training and
producing a safe, skilled, competent aviator from Flight School, who is
able to quickly integrate into the operational force and apply basic
learned flight skills to the warfighting formations. I also believe
there may be more cost-effective platforms to train on while
simultaneously producing a more highly trained aviator and that is
something I would like to take a deeper dive into.
2. Senator Wicker. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that the Army
should invest further in virtual training to augment existing training?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I firmly believe virtual training is one
essential component of a modern and effective training program. This is
particularly important as the Army executes aviation training within
environments that will replicate large-scale combat operations.
3. Senator Wicker. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, do you commit to
providing an update on the Army's aviation training plan?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, one of my priorities will be to assess the
current state of aviation training followed by an updated aviation
training plan.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Tom Cotton
army force structure
4. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, during your confirmation hearing
you told Senator Sullivan that cutting 12 brigade combat teams (BCTs)
would not implement President Trump's policy of peace through strength
nor would it deter Xi and Putin. Can you elaborate on why cutting 12
BCTs would be harmful to U.S. national security?
Mr. Driscoll. Cutting BCTs would signal weakness to our adversaries
and a diminished capacity to deny the territorial desires of Xi and
Putin. The essence of BCTs is to seize and hold key terrain as a
central and decisive part of COCOMs' termination objectives. The
presence of the Army's combat credible forces and demonstrating our
ability to deliver and sustain them globally, has the inherent
deterrent effects we need in competition and in support of the
President's national security policy.
Maintaining the lethal and robust capabilities and capacity of
ground maneuver forces is central to deterring Xi and Putin's
territorial, hegemonic ambitions against our friends and allies across
the world. As critical components of our joint force, ground maneuver
formations complement the inherent capabilities of our naval, air, and
space forces and together present an interlocking set of dilemmas to
our adversaries. BCTs also complement and multiply the Army's
additional contributions to the JF which includes air defense and other
types of protection, long range fires, and deep sensing capabilities,
our allies' ground forces, forming the core of combined, multinational
formations.
5. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, this hare-brained idea of cutting
12 Army BCTs comes from a 2023 report published by The Marathon
Initiative. The report is authored by a current department official,
Austin Dahmer, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategy and Force
Development. Specifically, the Marathon Initiative report recommends
deactivating four Stryker BCTs (2 Active component and 2 National Guard
component), 6 infantry BCTs (1 Active component and 5 National Guard
component), and 2 National Guard aviation brigades. If confirmed, would
you commit to opposing this proposal and advocating to maintain funding
for these BCTs and aviation brigades?
Mr. Driscoll. Maintaining a depth of lethal capability across the
Total Force is central to deterring, and if necessary, defeating our
adversaries. Strategies that rely solely on a `quick win' through
exquisite precision are inherently fragile; retaining the Army's
capacity and capability signals a national resolve that cannot be
waited out by our adversaries. Maintaining and modernizing the Army
against the pacing threat of the PRC creates operational level options
and depth for the joint force commander as well as strategic ones for
national leadership; cutting the Army precludes those options. This
does not mean that our Army will not adapt its force structure to
evolving threats, technology, and operational concepts; there is
ongoing, rigorous analysis being done by Army Futures Command and
others across the force that are building the evidence on how we must,
as a component of the joint force, transform to meet the challenges of
the future. Importantly, this does not mean that we gut the Army;
rather, if confirmed I will seek to maintain the funding associated
with these BCTs and aviation brigades, across the Total Force, while
modernizing and adapting them to the threats and demands that lay
ahead.
6. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, will you further commit to
opposing equally ill-advised ideas to gut the Army force structure?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes; the varied demands on the Army will require a
force that is organized, trained, and equipped to be lethal, flexible,
and integrated with the joint force to present our adversaries with a
coherent set of dilemmas to deter and if necessary, defeat our
adversaries. History has shown that the Army is called upon for the
full range of military operations; gutting force structure will signal
weakness to our adversaries, constrain the options for our state and
national responses to emergencies in the Homeland, and limit the
flexibility of our joint force. Additionally, gutting the Army force
structure would degrade key combat capabilities at echelon. The lack of
depth would add pressure to our rotational missions which enable
credible deterrence across the globe and further complicate our ability
to maintain strategic readiness across the Joint Force.
7. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, should the Army maintain a strong
force presence in United States European Command (EUCOM), and if so,
why is this important? If not, why not?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will support the President's and
Secretary of Defense's policies and prioritize Army resources and
personnel in line with those policies. Current Operational Plans for
Europe require a baseline of in-place forces to support follow-on force
flow into theater during a time of war/conflict. These in-place forces
also provide the President and Secretary of Defense options to respond
during a time of crisis/conflict in Europe.
8. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, Russia and China have committed to
a ``no limits'' partnership and are increasingly cooperating on
military exercises and training. As it contemplates an invasion of
Taiwan, China is also watching how the United States responds to
aggression and maintains its commitments to allies in Europe. Given
this connection between United States interests in Europe and those in
the Pacific, why would it be dangerous for the United States to abandon
its current force structure in Europe?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will support the President and the
Secretary of Defense's operational plans for Europe and prioritize Army
resource and polices in line with those plans.
9. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, would you be
comfortable accepting major cuts to the Army based on the assumption
that the United States will not need ground forces in a future war in
the Pacific? Why or why not?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army and ground forces will be needed in a future
war in the Pacific, in particular protection, fires, sustainment, long
range sensing and other capabilities the JF must have to achieve OBJSs.
Achieving positional advantage increases options and decision space for
Joint commanders and the National Command Authority.
10. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, advocates for cutting Army
capabilities tend to minimize the critical roles the Army would play in
a Taiwan-conflict scenario. These include air defense, long range fires
from the Philippines, base defense, security assistance and training
for allies and partners, attack aviation, and advice and assistance to
the Taiwanese military. Can you explain your vision for the role of the
Army in a Taiwan-conflict scenario?
Mr. Driscoll. As part of the Combined/Joint force, Army forces
provide positional advantage. The Army attacks, defends, seizes,
destroys enemy forces, holds, and stabilizes key terrain to provide
endurance in important locations to allow the JF to achieve its OBJs.
As your question conveys, Army forces will provide key capabilities
including air defense and other types of protection, long range fires,
and deep sensing to the Joint Force. Security Force Assistance Brigades
train, advise, and assist our allies and partners to improve their
warfighting readiness and integrate with the Joint Force. Army forces
are critical to intra-theater resupply operations to sustain the Joint
Force during a conflict and decisive kinetic and non-kinetic effects.
israel
11. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, President Trump has committed to
support our ally Israel's fight against the same terrorists that hold
Americans hostage and kill American soldiers. If confirmed, would you
commit to executing President Trump's vision and advocate for the Army
continuing to partner with Israel to advance our common interests?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I would commit to working to
ensure that my staff faithfully implement the policies outlined by
President Trump including his support for a strong US-Israel
relationship.
12. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, would you ensure
that none of your staff try to undermine President Trump's support for
a strong United States-Israel relationship by slowing weapons
deliveries or blocking training programs?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I would commit to working to
prevent my staff from undermining President Trump's support for a
strong United States-Israel relationship.
army combat fitness test
13. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, do you agree that physical
fitness standards for Army combat military occupation specialties
should be gender-neutral?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I agree that physical fitness standards for Army
Close Combat Force military occupation specialties should be gender-
neutral.
14. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, do you agree that these gender-
neutral standards should also be higher for combat than non-combat
military occupation specialties?
Mr. Driscoll. I agree that physical fitness standards for Army
Close Combat Force military occupation specialties should be higher
than for non-Close Combat Force military occupation specialties.
15. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, do you commit to
implement promptly such gender-neutral and higher standards for combat
military occupational specialties?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I agree to follow the guidance of
the Secretary of Defense regarding the implementation of physical
fitness standards for Army Close Combat Force military occupational
specialties.
integrated virtual augmentation system
16. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, the Army's Integrated Virtual
Augmentation System (IVAS) has cost the Army millions of dollars thus
far but has failed to perform. It is bulky, can still make soldiers
nauseous, and may slow them down or disrupt their normal vision of the
battlefield. In last year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),
I sponsored a provision to cut about $200 million in procurement funds
for IVAS. If confirmed, do you plan to maintain these cuts to this
failed program? If not, please explain.
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I look forward to reviewing the current
status and future development of the IVAS program.
arsenals
17. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, while the Army has begun to
modernize its organic industrial base, it is still not fully using its
arsenals and ammunition plants. Arsenals, including the one in Pine
Bluff, Arkansas, are struggling for modernization funds and additional
work. If confirmed, how do you plan to utilize existing Army arsenals
and ammunition plants to expand desperately needed production capacity?
Mr. Driscoll. Increasing the production capacity at Army Ammunition
Plants is a top Army priority. If confirmed, I look forward to
reviewing the Army's 2025 Army Ammunition Plant Modernization, which
I'm told will be submitted to Congress by the end of March. In that
plan the Army will address how it will balance investments across the
multiple Army Ammunition Plants to maximize production capabilities of
all munitions.
recruiting
18. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, the Army suffered through record
low recruiting numbers under former Secretary of the Army Christine
Wormuth. The Army only met its recruiting goal for fiscal year 2024
because it lowered its goal by 10,000 recruits to 55,000 recruits,
which was the Army's lowest goal in at least 20 years. Do you think
former Secretary Wormuth's focus on climate change and combating racism
and extremism (which were two of her six stated Army objectives) were
helpful or hurtful to the Army's recruiting effort?
Mr. Driscoll. I believe that anything not focused on soldier
lethality is hurtful to the Army's recruiting mission.
19. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, would you commit to
prioritizing the Army's lethality over politicized objectives like
climate change and combating extremism?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I would commit to prioritizing the Army's focus
on lethality in its training.
caisson
20. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, former Secretary Wormuth paused
caisson platoon funerals at Arlington National Cemetery for nearly 2
years, leaving dozens of families to bury their loved ones without the
earned honor of the caisson. Last year, this Committee voted
unanimously for the Army to resume funerals with the horses it has
available. If confirmed, do you commit to resuming caisson funerals
immediately at Arlington National Cemetery, at least on a limited
basis?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Army meets the
requirements outlined in Section 1088 of the Fiscal Year 2025 National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to safely return caisson operations at
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The Army recognizes the significance
of caisson funerals in honoring our Nation's fallen and is dedicated to
reintegrating this capability safely and sustainably. I will work to
coordinate the return of caisson operations, ensuring clear
communication with families regarding caisson availability.
21. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, horses have pulled wagons since
the dawn of time, yet the Army under Secretary Wormuth needlessly threw
up all kinds of bureaucratic obstacles to caisson funerals at Arlington
National Cemetery, in particular by delaying the purchase of more
horses needed to conduct the maximum number of funerals per week and
new land for those horses. If confirmed, do you commit to making these
purchases an immediate priority?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Army establishes
a sustainable and effective program to support caisson operations at
Arlington National Cemetery. The Army has taken deliberate steps to
procure well-trained and fit horses capable of performing this critical
mission, as exemplified by the successful execution of President
Carter's State funeral. The quality of horses remains paramount. I will
make their acquisition an immediate priority to ensure we have the
necessary equine capability to sustain this tradition with the dignity
and excellence it demands. If confirmed, I will remain engaged in
overseeing these efforts and will keep Congress informed of our
progress.
next-generation howitzer
22. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, the Army is on its fourth attempt
for a new self-propelled howitzer. A 2023 Army study determined the
Next-Generation Howitzer (NGH) should focus on more autonomous
artillery systems with greater range and improved mobility. In addition
to these requirements, the request for information to industry focused
on high maturity systems that minimize or eliminate development times.
Do you believe this procurement strategy of purchasing established
systems has merit?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army recently completed market research through
multiple Self-Propelled Howitzer Performance Demonstrations and
determined that mature and available Self-Propelled Howitzers exist in
the marketplace with the ability to deliver by 2030. Each of the
demonstrated systems provided increased lethality and range over
existing U.S. Army capabilities.
23. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, should this procurement method be
applied to other immediate Army needs?
Mr. Driscoll. The Self-Propelled Howitzer Performance
Demonstrations that the Army conducted with industry will help inform
requirements, assess vendors, understand capabilities in the
marketplace, and support a competitive system assessment in the fiscal
year 2026. If confirmed, I will encourage the Army to partner with
industry in this manner when it makes sense, in order to bring critical
capabilities to the warfighter faster.
commercial off-the-shelf solutions
24. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, how do you plan to encourage the
use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to meet immediate Army
needs, while maintaining flexibility for future upgrades?
Mr. Driscoll. The use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions
can significantly reduce development timelines and lower life-cycle
costs. I will encourage a preference for COTS solutions when available
and continue to encourage the Department to expand use of a Modular
Open Systems Approach (MOSA). The use of MOSA when developing systems
enables maximum flexibility and fosters stronger competition for
considering future system upgrades. MOSA supports continued competition
when upgrading systems and subsystems and can prevent ``vendor lock''.
It also better allows incremental improvement and innovation to occur
throughout a system's life cycle.
changing incentives for big primes
25. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, how can you change the incentives
for big primes to be more willing to partner with non-traditional
defense companies who are working on the most advanced emerging
technology?
Mr. Driscoll. It is my understanding that the Army is undertaking
several initiatives to incentivize prime companies and integrators to
accelerate adoption of innovation into our programs by partnering with
small businesses and nontraditional companies. If confirmed, I will
encourage and maximize the use of these incentives, where appropriate,
and will work with our industry partners to ensure the Army is
leveraging the most productive incentives for primes to partner with
innovative small and non-traditional companies.
artificial intelligence and machine learning
26. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, how would you
strengthen the Army's competitive advantage in the field of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning with respect to title 50
authorities and strategic sensing and targeting capabilities?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I would pursue a multi-faceted
approach, focusing on enhancing warfighting capabilities and increasing
lethality as the foundation to and focus for our efforts. This means
developing and deploying advanced sensors that leverage AI and ML to
detect and track targets in real-time, enabling more accurate and
effective targeting, implementing AI and ML-enabled target recognition
to reduce the risk of misidentification and enhance targeting accuracy,
and moving us from descriptive analytics to predictive analytics.
I believe that this approach will strengthen the Army's competitive
advantage in AI and ML and will enable us to maintain our position as a
leader in the development and deployment of these critical
technologies. I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure that the
Army remains at the forefront of AI and ML innovation, and I look
forward to the opportunity to lead this effort.
27. Senator Cotton. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, how would you plan
to ensure that leading edge AI capabilities continue to be prioritized
in the Army's Multi-Domain Intelligence (MDI) program and others like
Project Linchpin?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will continue to prioritize
integrating leading edge artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into
our programs and formations to address complex problems and prepare for
current and future operating environments. For example, the Army's Next
Generation Command and Control effort is leveraging AI and machine
learning (ML)--in an open and modular, multi-vendor approach--to
rapidly organize and manage operational data in support of commanders'
decisions.
In the Army's Multi-Domain Intelligence (MDI) program, Army
Intelligence Data Platform (AIDP) sets the Army's intelligence data
foundation and modernizes the analytic tools and services to assess
intelligence data using a built-in AI/ML capability. The Army is
working on applications of Generative AI within the AIDP to enhance
operations, intelligence analysis, PED, administrative activities, and
cybersecurity. The Army will publish an AI Strategy and implementation
orders to establish AI Governance prioritizing and monitoring
operationalization of AI capabilities that will provide the greatest
impact on our warfighting capabilities.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Michael Rounds
diagnostic testing technology
28. Senator Rounds. Mr. Driscoll, almost 3 years ago the Department
of Defense estimated that the inability to detect and isolate
electronic faults resulted in over 383,000 non-mission capable days
each year and over $5.5 billion in non-value-added sustainment costs.
In response to this readiness and sustainment challenge, the Office of
the Secretary of Defense (OSD) proposed funding for the purchase of a
readily available, effective, and proven technology to address this
issue. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) fully supports this
technology, and the fiscal year 2024 defense appropriation included
$35.2 million for it. My concern is that under the previous
administration, the Army has, instead of acquiring this readily
available, proven, and extremely cost-effective technology despite its
powerful support from OSD and SASC, decided to continue to only study
the issue. If confirmed, would you commit to following up with me on
this technology?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes. If confirmed, I am committed to communicating
with the Committee regarding the adoption and application of technology
to improve the Army's electronic fault detection capability.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Joni K. Ernst
counterintelligence army authorities
29. Senator Ernst. Mr. Driscoll, I led an effort in the National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to expand the Army's
counterintelligence authorities, which has proven effective in
combating foreign and domestic terrorism. Can I get your commitment to
ensuring that the necessary signatures and approvals are put in place
to address and close those critical gaps as quickly as possible?
Mr. Driscoll. I appreciate your efforts in expanding Army's
counterintelligence authorities. It is my understanding that the
National Defense Authorization Act authorizes certain civilian special
agents of U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command to execute and serve
warrants and make arrests for investigating national security crimes.
These authorities enable Army Counterintelligence agents to more
effectively counter, neutralize, and exploit foreign intelligence,
international terrorism, and counterintelligence related insider
threats to the Army, Department of Defense, and the Nation.
I also understand that these authorities can only be exercised in
accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Secretary of the Army and
approved by the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General. If
confirmed, I commit to ensuring the necessary approvals are in place as
quickly as possible for lawfully exercising these counterintelligence
authorities.
critical capabilities
30. Senator Ernst. Mr. Driscoll, to take and hold land, the Army
relies on multiple capabilities. What capabilities do you see as vital
for the Army to achieve the objective of taking and holding land in
future conflicts?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army will continue to provide lethality to the
Joint Force through combat credible formations that seize and control
land. To achieve this, Army Soldiers remain the most important
capability, organized into fighting squads, platoons, companies, and
battalions. Our close combat combined arms teams are essential to seize
and secure key terrain as part of Joint Forceable Entry capabilities.
The Army provides the Joint Force protected and survivable long-range
fires; air, ground, and maritime capable Human-Machine Integrated
Formations; long range and persistent sensing capability; Formation
Based Layered Defense of critical capabilities (ships, aircraft,
sustainment, ground-based fires, etc.); and command and control through
Next Generation Command and Control (C2).
31. Senator Ernst. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe the Army will
continue to have to provide that important capability in future wars?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes--so long as people continue to live on land, the
ability to take and hold land remains decisive.
army vehicles
32. Senator Ernst. Mr. Driscoll, do you view vehicle and mobile
firing platforms such as Abrams tanks and Strykers to be a critical
capability in taking or holding land?
Mr. Driscoll. Armored forces will remain relevant in any future
fight, including in the Pacific. They provide mobility, protection, and
firepower essential for seizing and holding terrain, especially in
urban environments. Armored forces are able to operate in contested
environments because the Army uses combined arms tactics and layered
protection capabilities like adaptive vehicle protection systems,
counter-UAS, electronic warfare, air and missile defense.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Dan Sullivan
suicide in 11th airborne division
33. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, for several years now, the 11th
Airborne Division based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and
Ft. Wainwright, Alaska has dealt with a large number of servicemember
suicides. The number of suicides in the 11th Airborne (or its
predecessor units) averaged between 6 and 8 suicides a year between
2019 and 2022 with a large spike in 2021 to 17 suicides (some of the
highest rates in the Army). Although suicide numbers have somewhat
improved thanks to efforts by the 11th Airborne Division and Congress,
the need for continuous emphasis on suicide prevention, particularly in
Alaska, is important. A U.S. Army Public Health Center Behavioral and
Social Health Outcomes Program report from 2019 entitled Assessment of
Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes at Fort Wainwright, AK (March--
Sept 2019) found that (among other things) improving aging domicile
infrastructure like barracks, providing for indoor community centers,
improving behavior health staffing, and focus on holistic soldier
health could help decrease suicides. While we've implemented many of
the above changes since 2019, more can be done to stamp out the scourge
of suicide at these bases. Will you commit to reviewing the findings of
the technical report referenced above and ensure that 11th Airborne
gets the resources that it needs to combat the scourge of suicide with
the goal of reducing such incidents to zero annually?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will direct the Army to review the
technical report referenced above and work to ensure that the 11th
Airborne Division has the necessary resources to combat the scourge of
suicide.
34. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, former commander of 11th
Airborne Division, Lieutenant General Brian Eifler, USA, stated that
making Alaska a volunteer-heavy unit would hopefully help improve the
quality of life for soldiers who move there. As of last year, this
program does seem to show positive results. Will you commit to
reviewing the volunteer program for PCS [permanent change of station]
moves to Alaska and continuing to build on that success?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will direct the Army to review the
volunteer program for PCS moves to Alaska and advocate for any
expansion of that program where necessary.
unleashing alaska's extraordinary resource potential
35. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, during his term, President
Biden passed 70 executive orders that restricted Alaska's ability to
extract its own natural resources despite an acute need for them on
both commercial and national security grounds. These executive orders
have slowed down or completely hindered resource extraction and
critical infrastructure projects important not just to the State but to
the Nation as a whole. On the first day of his presidency, January 20,
2025, President Trump signed an executive order entitled Unleashing
Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential. The order in part reads as
follows:
``Section 3 Specific Agency Actions
a. The heads of all executive departments and agencies, including
but not limited to the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of
Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere; and the Secretary of the Army acting through the Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Public Works, shall exercise all lawful
authority and discretion available to them and take all necessary steps
to:
(i) rescind, revoke, revise, amend, defer, or grant exemptions from
any and all regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any
other similar agency actions that are inconsistent with the policy set
forth in section 2 of this order, including but not limited to agency
actions promulgated, issued, or adopted between January 20, 2021, and
January 20, 2025; and
(ii) prioritize the development of Alaska's LNG [liquefied natural
gas] potential, including the permitting of all necessary pipeline and
export infrastructure related to the Alaska LNG Project, giving due
consideration to the economic and national security benefits associated
with such development . . .
Section 3(d) in addition to the actions outlined in subsection (a)
of this section, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, shall render all
assistance requested by the Governor of Alaska to facilitate the
clearing and maintenance of transportation infrastructure, consistent
with applicable law. All such requests for assistance shall be
transmitted to the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Interior, and
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy for approval prior to
initiation.
Section 3(e) the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works,
under the direction of the Secretary of the Army, shall immediately
review, revise, or rescind any agency action that may in any way
hinder, slow or otherwise delay any critical project in the State of
Alaska.''
Will you commit fully to the intent of the President's executive
order referenced above where the Department of the Army and the U.S
Army Corps of Engineers will play a vital role?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I will ensure that the Department
of the Army supports development of all energy sources and complies
with the President's Executive Order to enable regulatory reform
actions in compliance with current law.
expedited military construction on bases
36. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, the pace of military
construction in Alaska is often slow, weighed down by burdensome
environmental regulations and the harsh Arctic environment which allows
for a short building season. Can I get your commitment to review
regulations (including environmental regulations) that govern military
construction and identify where Congress or DOD could speed up the
building process for military construction by cutting red tape or
passing legislation?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I will strongly support reviewing
and streamlining regulations that govern military construction to
ensure that our Nation's defense capabilities are not hindered by
unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. The unique challenges posed by
Alaska's harsh Arctic environment and short building season demand a
more efficient and adaptable approach to military construction. I would
commit to identify areas where regulations, including environmental
regulations, can be revised, or updated to strike a better balance
between protecting the environment and facilitating the timely
completion of critical military construction projects. This may involve
exploring opportunities to simplify permitting processes, reducing
paperwork burdens, and implementing more flexible and responsive
regulatory and statutory frameworks. If confirmed, I will work with
Congress, the Department of Defense, and others to help pass
legislation or implement regulatory reforms that will help speed up the
military construction process.
missile defense
37. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, Billy Mitchell, the Father of
the U.S. Air Force once said, ``I believe . . . whoever controls Alaska
controls the world. I think it is the most strategic place in the
world.'' No other State but Alaska is strategically located to provide
such a high level of Homeland defense. At Fort Greely, the 49th Missile
Defense Battalion provide our Nation's first line of defense, tasked to
defend against the threat of an intercontinental ballistic missile
attack and command 40 of the Nation's 44 ballistic missile interceptors
and receive data from the nearby Long Range Discrimination Radar. Fort
Greely will soon house the new Next Generation Interceptor (NGI)
missiles, but the program for this system has stalled due to high cost
overruns and manufacturing delays. The NGI will be an essential part of
our national ballistic missile system. Will you commit to reviewing the
NGI program, if confirmed, and keep Congress informed of what resources
are required to field the missile on time?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Army continues
close coordination with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to keep
Congress informed of the resources required to field the Next
Generation Interceptor (NGI).
38. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, Alaska is strategic not only
for its geographic location but also because of its concentration of
over 100 fifth generation fighters (the highest concentration in the
world) as well as it being home to the 11th Airborne Division, the
Nation's preeminent Arctic combat unit. If a war occurred in the U.S.
Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility (AOR), forces
in Alaska would almost certainly be part of that fight and therefore
would also be potentially targeted in their home bases. Do you believe
that President Trump's ``Iron Dome for America'' should include Alaska
as a critical site to be defended from missile attack given the facts
stated above?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will direct the Army to contribute to
the Secretary of Defense's efforts pursuant to the President's Iron
Dome for America executive order, including a focus on the role that
the 11th Airborne Division serves in those plans.
39. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, the Army controls a number of
capabilities that are or will be used for multi-layered missile defense
including the ``Iron Dome for America.'' Two such capabilities are the
Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system and the Patriot
system, both of which have proven highly effective in combat within the
last year. Currently the Army has only seven THAAD batteries worldwide
with a demonstrated need for more, while the Patriot system continues
to be the subject of continued upgrades. Will you commit to reviewing
both programs and reporting back to Congress what is needed to expedite
fielding of these systems and their munitions?
Mr. Driscoll. As the President highlighted in the recently released
Executive Order, The Iron Dome for America, ``The threat of attack by
ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial
attacks, remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United
States.'' I take this threat very seriously and if confirmed, I will
review both the THAAD and Patriot programs and report back to Congress
on ways to expedite fielding of these systems and their munitions.
strategic opportunities in alaska for multi-domain task force basing
and additional troops
40. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, Billy Mitchell, the Father of
the U.S. Air Force once said, ``I believe . . . whoever controls Alaska
controls the world. I think it is the most strategic place in the
world.'' Alaska's geostrategic positioning has only strengthened in
recent years as the Arctic has become more navigable and thus important
for adversaries like Russia and China to control. The U.S. Army's
Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) concept lends itself well to Alaska's
geostrategic position. The Army's 3d MDTF took advantage of Alaska's
premiere training areas in both 2023 and 2024 as it took part in
Northern Edge 23 as well as in a snap airlift deployment to Shemya
Island to counter Russian and Chinese Forces taking part in OKEAN 24
last September. In the Army's January 2021 strategy document, Regaining
Arctic Dominance: The U.S. Army in the Arctic, the Army's senior
leaders including Secretary Ryan McCarthy and General James McConville,
USA, committed to defending Arctic interests and stated that they would
``field a Multi-Domain Task Force-enabled division.'' The Biden
administration did stage training events in Alaska for MDTF, but so
far, the Army has not followed up on its strategy document committing
to basing a MDTF in 11th Airborne Headquarters. A MDTF in Alaska would
bring joint fires, cyber, space, and intelligence operations to the
Arctic and future basing opportunities in the Aleutian Islands combined
with U.S. Army airlift assets could extend the reach of several of
these capabilities to deter adversary aggression in the region. Do you
believe that a MDTF is still needed in Alaska as your predecessors did
and will you commit to reviewing the January 2021 strategy document and
explaining what resources are needed to fulfill this requirement?
Mr. Driscoll. I will commit to reviewing the strategy documents
specifically related to the Arctic and ensuring we have resources
aligned to requirements.
american military presence on the korean peninsula
41. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, during your hearing, you
mentioned your family's military service on the Korean Peninsula. As
you know, the American military's presence on the Korean Peninsula has
helped keep the peace there since 1953. For many years, the clearest
sign of that commitment is a bottom line presence of 28,500 American
troops as well as a robust schedule of combined United States-Republic
of Korea (ROK) exercises that ensures we are ready to ``fight tonight''
to maintain the peace. In demonstration of South Korea's own commitment
to the alliance, it paid 90 percent of the $11 billion cost of building
a new base for U.S. Forces at Camp Humphries. Do you recognize the
value of the United States-Korean alliance and the U.S. Army's
continuing presence on the Korean peninsula to our allies in Seoul?
Mr. Driscoll. The recent provocative actions of Kim Jong-Un and his
regime demonstrate the threat we face every day. I see the value of the
United States-Korean Alliance. Alliances such as this are something our
enemies do not have, and it is our source of strength.
42. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un have
both long sought to dislodge the United States military from the Korean
Peninsula. Do you believe that removing large numbers of United States
Army personnel from the Korean Peninsula is a good idea from the
standpoint of strategic deterrence?
Mr. Driscoll. We continue to adjust our force posture and
capabilities on the Korean Peninsula to enhance our ability and
readiness to respond to provocation. The Army is prioritizing strategic
deterrence while continuing to modernize the force. Ongoing and future
Army modernization efforts have increased lethality and capability of
units with minor adjustments to personnel strengths on the peninsula.
defense industrial base and defense acquisition
43. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, a few months ago, members of
the Senate Armed Services Committee received a briefing on counter-
unmanned aircraft systems (cUAS). Although more needs to be done to
field these systems quickly, I was impressed by the Army's approach to
budget agility because it echoes some of the findings of last year's
Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform
Commission Report that called for budget consolidation and flexible
spending within capabilities portfolios. Will you commit to continuing
to push the results of this attempted line item consolidation to
Congress so we can work solutions during NDAA season across programs
and portfolios?
Mr. Driscoll. I believe that the recommendations provided in the
PPBE Reform Commission Report could help get new capabilities into the
hands of Soldiers faster. If confirmed, I will further the Army's
efforts to accomplish budget line consolidation.
44. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, over the last 2 years, DOD and
the Army have worked hard to increase production of 155mm artillery
shells to support the requirements of our own forces and supporting the
war effort in Ukraine. While production numbers for 155mm artillery are
up, there are concerns about critical munitions production shortfalls
in other areas like the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). Further,
multiple think tanks like the Center for Strategic and International
Studies believe that we will run out of certain critical munitions if
we do not ramp up industrial base production now. Will you commit to
doing a full review of Army critical munition supply chains from
critical minerals all the way to production and report back to Congress
what is needed to shore up those supply chains?
Mr. Driscoll. I share your concerns about potential vulnerabilities
within the Army critical munition supply chain, and, if confirmed, I
look forward to learning more about ongoing analysis and mitigation
strategies in this area. I also commit to conducting a review of the
Army's critical munition supply chains and report back on what could
strengthen our resilience.
45. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, how do you plan to work with
DOD leadership to assess ways to speed up the acquisition process?
Mr. Driscoll. The Department must fully embrace the acquisition,
requirements and resourcing reforms provided by Congress in recent
years to help accelerate acquisition outcomes. Current efforts by the
Army's lead fielding organization, Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Acquisition, Logistics, and Training), Army Futures Command, the
Defense Innovation Community of Entities as well as partnerships with
the Defense Innovation Unit are identifying opportunities to accelerate
technology delivery. Additionally, the Army has identified
opportunities to accelerate acquisition through improvements to the
Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process and
continued streamlining of acquisition statutes. I will further
encourage the Department to maximize the use of flexible acquisition
authorities to streamline processes and enable more rapid acquisition
outcomes.
46. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, what do you think we should be
doing differently?
Mr. Driscoll. The Department can improve communication with
industry, lower barriers to entry, and be a better customer in order to
do business with a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional
firms. Engaging with a broader pool of firms will increase competition,
attract new and innovative ideas, and potentially lower costs for the
Department. One of my goals will be to expand the defense industrial
base by attracting new partners.
47. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, will you commit to reviewing
the Army's ``cost plus'' model versus ``firm fixed price'' model for
software acquisitions and ensure that we are adopting the best
commercial practices so we aren't missing out on better technology at a
potentially cheaper price?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I am committed to reviewing the Army's use of
the cost-plus and firm-fixed-price models for software acquisitions to
ensure we are adopting best commercial practices. The Army should
evaluate which approach provides the best value, innovation, and cost
efficiency while maintaining agility and security in software
procurement. If confirmed, my goal is to ensure the Army is leveraging
the most advanced, cost-effective technologies without unnecessary
financial risk.
48. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, I noticed the Army is readying
an expensive Army Data Platform (ADP 2.0) procurement that appears
redundant to the Army Vantage program at a potentially higher cost.
Will you commit to informing this Committee during our posture hearings
in the spring what you are doing to reduce redundancy in programs like
this one?
Mr. Driscoll. I commit to reducing redundancy and providing the
best capability for our Soldiers. The Army needs to be flexible and
agile in our ability to meet the Nation's needs, maintain a competitive
environment, and spend every taxpayer dollar wisely. If confirmed, I
will inform this Committee on this issue.
recruiting and building warrior ethos culture
49. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, outside of incentivizing
recruiters and growing basic-training prep programs, how else does the
U.S. Army plan to address its recruiting challenges?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will continue to support the Army's
significant changes in how it trains and supports Recruiters with
facilities, technology and process innovation. As I understand, Army
has multiple innovative experiments underway focused on reengineering
the business process and is adopting a new AI-assisted, industry
leading software system to support Recruiters.
50. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, what are you going to do to
counterbalance this expected drop of eligible recruits in 2026?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, my first step to counterbalancing the
effects of a drop in eligible recruits in the near future is to
continue the momentum in enlistment production that has steadily
increased over the last 2 years. I will continue to support the efforts
to market and recruit from older, more educated markets while still
allowing opportunities for those that benefit from additional math,
reading and physical training in our Future Soldier Prep Course, which
is currently showing a 93 percent graduation rate. Finally, the
continued investment on improved recruiter training and incentives,
such as merit based and productivity promotions, the use of supporting
technologies, and innovative approaches to changing our business
processes will prove effective.
51. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, Secretary of Defense Peter
Hegseth, has made it his mission to place special emphasis on the
warrior ethos and building lethality in the fighting force during his
tenure. What changes do you think the Army could make now to better
inculcate the warrior ethos and lethality in new recruits, junior
enlisted, and junior officers?
Mr. Driscoll. It is my understanding the US Army Training and
Doctrine Command already plays a critical role in fostering the warrior
ethos and enhancing lethality across all levels of the force. If
confirmed, I look forward to working with TRADOC and diving deeper into
their efforts to conduct comprehensive evaluations of the Army Training
Enterprise and identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and
effectiveness.
maintaining high standards of physical fitness
52. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, your predecessor promised the
Senate Armed Services Committee that she was going to institute a
gender-neutral standard across the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT): she
was not successful. Will you commit to revisiting this issue and, at a
minimum, determining a gender-neutral standard for infantry and armor
units and their battalion-level and below attachments?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I agree to revisiting the issue of a
gender-neutral ACFT standard and to following the guidance of the
Secretary of Defense regarding the implementation of physical fitness
standards for combat military occupational specialties.
mapping in alaska
53. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Driscoll, late in the last Congress, our
Chairman, Senator Wicker, released ``Restoring Freedom's Forge:
American Innovation Unleashed.'' The report and accompanying
legislation outline critical reforms that DOD and Congress must enact
to position defense budgeting and acquisition for the 21st century.
Senator Wicker reported a recurring problem with conflicts of
interest. The report reads in part:
Sometimes, DOD labs simultaneously support program office
acquisitions and offer products that compete with industry. When
Government standards and reference architectures are overly prescribed,
they can become a back door to sole-sourced solutions created by
government-supported labs, universities, and federally funded research
and development centers. The regulator becomes the supplier. Lab
personnel generate program requirements, provide technical assistance
to the program and contracting team, and serve as members of source
selection evaluation boards. Rather than buying and configuring an off-
the-shelf product that has millions or even billions of dollars
invested, DOD labs will convince the program offices to redevelop the
solution.
I share the Chairman's concern regarding conflicts of interest. For
example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has a nationwide
coastal mapping program run out of one of the Corps districts in the
Lower 48. I'm concerned the district may be using commercially
available LIDAR [Light Detection and Ranging] for coastal mapping tasks
awarded outside the normal competitive process which can create
disincentives for industry to invest in state-of-the-art mapping
technology.
I am concerned that the Corps is not fully engaged with the Alaska
Mapping Executive Committee (AMEC), which coordinates mapping in Alaska
among the State and Federal stakeholders. Despite congressional
instructions to coordinate the Corps' mapping with AMEC, is often slow
in sharing updated shoreline mapping with the organization.
If you are confirmed, will you commit to reviewing the Alaska
Coastal Mapping Program's working relationship with USACE including
internal sole-source contracts and the Corps' participation in the
Alaska Geospatial Council?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I will review the contracting
processes by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Coastal Mapping
Program, and relationship with mapping entities in Alaska. It is my
understanding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers currently utilizes
competitive contracted services for LIDAR and coastal mapping and
already participates in several Alaskan working groups.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Kevin Cramer
western water cooperative committee
54. Senator Cramer. Mr. Driscoll, thank you for your
``unequivocal'' commitment to establish the Western Water Cooperative
Committee during the hearing today. As I outlined during your
nomination hearing, the Water Resources Development Act WRDA of 2022
required the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to set up this
Committee within 90 days of enactment. Yet more than 2 years later, we
are still waiting for the Committee to launch despite it being
authorized and fully funded by Congress. I'm aware the Committee's
charter sits before the Department of Defense (DOD), and is expected to
be approved within 30 days before moving back to the Army. Once the
charter is approved and sent back to the Army, can I also get your
commitment to see this through to completion?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I commit to continuing to work
proactively with the Department of Defense to gain approval of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) charter for the Western Water
Cooperative Committee. I appreciate that the Congress provided both
authority and funding for this effort and will continue to seek to
convene this Committee as soon as practicable.
55. Senator Cramer. Mr. Driscoll, too often the Army Corps is
overlooked by the Army and progress is then slow or unaccountable. As
you work to establish the Western Water Cooperative Committee, will you
commit to keeping my office informed on progress and provide
information needed to get it to completion?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed, I will commit to continuing to
work through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to
focus on the Western Water Cooperative Committee and will endeavor to
ensure you and your staff receive regular updates as the Committee is
established.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Ted Budd
defense acquisition process
56. Senator Budd. Mr. Driscoll, you have robust experience working
with innovators in the private sector. What do you view as the priority
in addressing innovation and acquisition challenges impacting the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. In my view, we need to ensure the Science and
Technology, Acquisition, Resourcing and Requirements communities are
fully aligned so that innovative new technologies are able to
transition into fielded capabilities. We also need to ensure we are
fully tapping into private sector innovation beyond just the
traditional defense industry. If confirmed, I will look at ways to
fully leverage existing programs, such as the xTech competitions and
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), partnerships with the
Defense Innovation Unit, and flexible acquisition models such as
Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) via Other Transactions (OT)
authorityto accomplish this.
counter-unmanned aerial systems
57. Senator Budd. Mr. Driscoll, last year, the Army released a
white paper titled ``Army Force Structure Transformation'' which
outlines an array of new capabilities and structural changes needed to
deploy defenses from unmanned aerial systems and other air threats. How
do you view the Army's role in protecting the joint force from unmanned
systems, and how would you rate its preparedness to do so today?
Mr. Driscoll. All Services have a role to play in countering the
unmanned aerial systems threat. My understanding is that the Army has
and continues to invest heavily in Counter-small UAS (C-sUAS)
equipment, training, force structure, and tactics, techniques, and
procedures. Additionally, the Army is currently fielding C-sUAS
equipment sets to Divisions and multiple other formations.
Mr. Driscoll. The Army has made progress in the C-sUAS mission area
and continues to pace the threat. With that said, I believe this threat
is persistent and evolving with advances in hardware and software that
have enhanced speed and range while making drones more autonomous, more
easily proliferated, and deadlier. We must partner with the other
Services, Combatant Commands, the interagency community, industry, and
academia to continue to outpace the small UAS threat.
joint deployment warfighting complex
58. Senator Budd. Mr. Driscoll, the XVIII Airborne Corps is working
to consolidate their headquarters into a new and modern facility called
the Joint Deployment Warfighting Complex (JDWC). This consolidation is
a top priority from an operational and readiness perspective. If
confirmed, do you commit to keeping this Committee updated on this
project?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed as Secretary, I will review the
prioritization of this project and ensure the Army keeps the Committee
updated on its status.
artificial intelligence
59. Senator Budd. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, how would you plan to
ensure that leading edge AI capabilities continue to be prioritized in
Army intelligence programs, such as Project Maven?
Mr. Driscoll. First, I would work closely with the Army's
intelligence community to identify and prioritize AI-enabled
initiatives that can provide the greatest impact on our warfighting
capabilities. This would include investing in advanced machine learning
algorithms, automated target recognition, natural language processing,
and computer vision, among other technologies.
Second, I would foster strong partnerships with industry, academia,
and other government agencies to leverage their expertise and stay
abreast of the latest advancements in AI research and development. This
would include collaborating with leading tech companies, universities,
and research institutions to identify and adapt emerging AI
technologies for military applications.
Third, I would ensure that the Army's AI development and deployment
efforts are guided by a clear and comprehensive strategy that aligns
with our national security objectives. This would involve working
closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff,
and other stakeholders to develop and implement a unified AI strategy
that prioritizes Army intelligence programs, avoids duplication of
effort, and maximizes the effectiveness of cutting-edge AI.
Fourth, I would prioritize investment in AI talent and workforce
development, recognizing that our ability to leverage AI effectively
depends on having a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. This would
include providing training and education programs for our soldiers and
civilians, as well as recruiting and retaining top AI talent from
industry and academia.
Finally, I would ensure that the Army's AI development and
deployment efforts are characterized by a culture of innovation,
experimentation, and continuous learning. This would involve
encouraging a mindset of experimentation and calculated risk-taking, as
well as providing the necessary resources and authorities to support
rapid prototyping and fielding of new AI capabilities.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Jack Reed
department of the army criminal investigation division, criminal
investigation laboratory, and forensics exploitation department
60. Senator Reed. Mr. Driscoll, the U.S. Department of the Army
Criminal Investigation Division (DACID), Criminal Investigation
Laboratory (USACIL), and Forensics Exploitation Department (FXD)
provide forensic analysis support to the Department of Defense for
investigations and prosecution of military sexual assault and for
investigations, prosecution, and targeting of foreign enemies and
terrorists operating overseas and here in America. These labs partner
with the Department of Justice, Interpol, and other law enforcement
agencies and allow military forces around the world to fully target and
prosecute threats to the United States and keep our military forces
safe. The FXD provides critical weapon system analysis and profiling to
identify and interrupt the supply chain of weapons system components,
trace the signatures of threat systems across borders, and inform force
protection equipment and tactics, techniques and procedures that
increase our lethality as a military force.
For the first time in 2023 military sexual assault and sexual
harassment declined. This was the result of increased congressional
budget investment and a focus on policy within the Department by the
Secretary of Defense. If there is one place that America's sons and
daughters should be safe from sexual assault and harassment it should
be among the men and women in the U.S. Military. Currently the USACIL
only received a portion of its requested funding for operations in
fiscal year 2026.
What does this mean for the continued prosecution of sexual assault
within the DOD?
Mr. Driscoll. I want to commit the resources, the time, the energy,
and the focus to eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment from
the United States Army. If confirmed, I commit to reviewing the
investments for the USACIL and the other components, given their
important role in the justice process.
61. Senator Reed. Mr. Driscoll, the Joint Staff and the Army
validated formal and enduring requirements for DACID FXD 12 years ago.
The Army, through numerous formal documents, and intensive study and
labor, analyzing years of operational success, has addressed and
validated the requirement for DACID: the Forensic Exploitation
Laboratories (FXL) Capability Production Document (CPD) addresses the
capability gaps identified in the Forensics Support Across the Range of
Military Operations (ROMO) Initial Capabilities Development (ICD)
Functional Solutions Analysis (FSA) dated 31 January 2010; the Cost
Analysis Requirements Description (CARD) # 15011 approved 11 Feb 13;
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 13-447 Defense Forensics
``Additional Planning and Oversight Needed to establish an Enduring
Expeditionary Forensic Capability'' dated June 2013; the Training and
Doctrine Command (TRADOC) tasking order (TASKORD) IN131352 Capabilities
Development for Rapid Transition (CDRT) 15 dated 17 July 2013 and
supports a Milestone C decision.
Currently, the Army continues to fund the majority of the DACID FXD
capability through an ad hoc, year to year, funding approach overseen
by a rapid response office within the Army that was created to fund
emerging requirements for the Army. Funding decisions in this office do
not require approval or prioritization by the Deputy Chief of Staff of
the Army, G-3/5/7, the Provost Marshal General, or the Director of CID.
DACID FXD has continuously operated expeditionary labs for almost 18
years, and today they operate and support counter-unmanned aircraft
systems, maritime interdictions, other threat weapons system
acquisition and analysis, and Homeland security. The Army will finally
consider formal approval of the FXD requirement in the POM [Program
Objectives Memorandum] 28.
When will the Army's FXD Capability Development Document, that
began Army TRADOC staffing in 2016, be approved by the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. I do not have a definitive answer as to when the
FXD's CDD will be finalized, but I will look into this action and its
relative prioritization with all other competing requirements. I will
ensure CID is effectively managing FXD's resource requirements to
ensure the success of FXD's critical mission.
62. Senator Reed. Mr. Driscoll, how will the Army ensure USACIL and
DACID FXD get their full funding requirement in POM 28 (fiscal years
2028-2032)?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I intend to review the Army's entire
Program, to include USACIL and DACID FXD. Based on the needs of the
Army, I will seek to balance limited resources across the most critical
requirements.
63. Senator Reed. Mr. Driscoll, how will the Army ensure DACID FXD
funding is bridged until POM 28?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I intend to review these efforts within
the context of the overall Program and make resourcing decisions in the
best interests of the Army beginning in Fiscal Year 2025.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Mazie K. Hirono
allies and partners
64. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, our strong network of allies and
partners in the Indo-Pacific is one of our greatest advantages and a
key part of our National Defense Strategy. Maintaining these important
relationships requires adequate Service-level budgeting for joint and
multilateral exercises and training, which bolsters military readiness
and deterrence. Given the constrained fiscal environment, how do you
plan to prioritize Army campaign funding for multilateral exercises and
training in the Indo-Pacific?
Mr. Driscoll. Exercises and training are a critical aspect of
building interoperability with and improving the capabilities of Allies
and partners. Army Senior Leaders through USARPAC prioritizes exercises
through Operation Pathways by integrating new capabilities and
formations, which exercise in key locations to deter and be more
responsive if required. Allies and partners continue to demonstrate
great interest in U.S. joint and multinational exercises due to the
high value of training offered. Many allies and partners cover the
costs of their own participation in these exercises, in accordance with
law and guidance provided by the Department. Their participation and
enduring contribution to campaigning maximizes the impact of U.S.
training dollars.
recruitment
65. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, the Army is experiencing the most
challenging recruiting landscape in a generation, consistently missing
recruiting targets until just last year. We now have a Secretary of
Defense who has made disparaging comments about women in combat and
across the military. How many soldiers are female?
Mr. Driscoll. As of 31 December 2024, the Army Active component has
71,828 female soldiers, which represents approximately 16 percent of
the Army Active component.
66. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, how many women in the Army serve
in combat roles?
Mr. Driscoll. As of 31 December 2024, there are 3,785 women serving
in combat roles.
67. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, if these soldiers are isolated
and disrespected by the senior civilian in charge of DOD, what impact
do you think this will have on retention and recruitment, especially
for the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army continues to focus its recruiting and
retention efforts on ``Quality over Quantity,'' recruiting and
retaining qualified individuals based on merit to serve. If confirmed,
I will ensure that the Army continues to recruit and retain high
quality personnel. These Soldiers will be tactically and technically
trained, ready to fight and win our Nation's wars.
68. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, how do you plan to ensure the
Army adequately meets its recruiting goals?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, my plan to ensure the Army adequately
meets its recruiting goals is to look at lessons learned, continue
initiatives that are effective, and support the Army's Recruiting
Enterprise Transformation. I plan to provide Recruiters the best
marketing and technology support available, reengineering business
processes to improve effectiveness, and constantly reviewing
performance in every aspect, discarding dated and restrictive policies,
expanding programs that are working, and continuing to seek the best
talent in the right markets.
69. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, in 2023, 6.8 percent of Active
Duty women and 1.3 percent of Active Duty men indicated experiencing
unwanted sexual contact. In the same year, 523 servicemembers died by
suicide, an increase from the previous year (493). What steps will you
take to improve quality of life and resources for soldiers to address
the continued problems of sexual violence and suicide?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will fully support and provide
oversight for implementation of the approved recommendations from the
DOD Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military and
the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee
findings.
modernization-sustainment and training
70. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, in 2024, the GAO reported that
the Army is rapidly fielding new types of weapon systems and equipment
to deploying units even before fully completing the doctrine, training,
personnel, and facilities requirements that are needed to best operate
and sustain the equipment. Recognizing there is value to putting new
weapon systems in soldiers' hands as early as possible, what steps will
you take as Secretary of the Army to ensure that necessary training,
sustainment, and other planning elements are also rapidly developed and
implemented?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will review which programs are worth
investing in. Scaling them to the entire Army using Deliberate
Transformation is necessary to capture DOTMLPFP fully burdened cost and
ensure we deliver sustainable solutions. The ability to provide and
incorporate iterative soldier feedback enables the Army to spend money
where it makes the biggest difference to increasing lethality and
warfighting.
rapid acquisition processes
71. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, the Army has faced criticism for
being slow to deliver new capabilities to soldiers. What reforms would
you implement to streamline acquisition processes and deliver critical
capabilities faster, particularly for the Indo-Pacific area of
responsibility?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army must continue to avoid a ``one-size-fits-
all'' approach to acquisition. If confirmed, I will encourage the Army
to tailor acquisition approaches based on the capability being acquired
by using novel acquisition authorities provided by Congress. Flexible
acquisition pathways, such as the use of Other Transaction authority,
enable rapid development and deployment of new capabilities and allow
iterative upgrades to improve new capabilities.
72. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, the private sector often outpaces
Government research and development processes in developing and
fielding cutting-edge technologies. How will you ensure that the Army
prioritizes partnerships with private companies, particularly small
businesses and non-traditional companies, to rapidly integrate existing
commercial technologies into the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army recognizes the private sector's ability to
rapidly innovate and is committed to strengthening partnerships with
small businesses and non-traditional defense companies to accelerate
the integration of cutting-edge commercial technologies. If confirmed,
I will focus on eliminating barriers, leveraging agile procurement
strategies, and fostering collaborative innovation to maintain
technological overmatch.
protecting civilians
73. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, the U.S. Army has indicated that
it plans to eliminate the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence--the
DOD office that protects civilians in war zones and mitigate civilian
harm. This office grew out of an initiative begun by former Secretary
of Defense James Mattis, who ordered a study into how U.S. airstrikes
had killed Iraqi civilians. If the U.S. Army plans to take steps to
eliminate this congressionally mandated office, how will the U.S. Army
be held accountable and adequately trained for reducing civilian harm
in conflict?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received a briefing on the Civilian
Protection Center of Excellence. I strongly support all efforts to
mitigate civilian harm, including through the U.S. Department of
Defense Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) effort. If
confirmed, I will request a briefing and work with the Senate Armed
Services Committee to ensure Soldiers are adequately trained for
reducing civilian harm in conflict.
scaling emerging technologies
74. Senator Hirono. Mr. Driscoll, the Pentagon often struggles to
transition promising prototypes into large-scale programs. What
barriers do you see preventing the rapid fielding of ground autonomous
systems for the Army, and how would you address them to ensure we can
operate at scale?
Mr. Driscoll. Large scale fielding of autonomous ground systems
operating alongside Soldiers presents a complex challenge. It is my
understanding that existing ground autonomous systems are currently not
mature enough to operate along with Soldier formations without
requiring significant oversight by Soldiers. If confirmed, I will
advocate for both further maturation of the systems themselves, along
with continued Soldier experimentation, to validate the effectiveness
and safety of the systems.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Elizabeth Warren
ethics
75. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, please provide a list of all your
clients at In Witness Advisory LLC.
Mr. Driscoll. I have provided all relevant information in
compliance with the Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure
and SASC Questionnaire processes.
76. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, will you commit to
recuse yourself for 4 years from all particular matters that have a
direct and predictable effect on your former clients at In Witness
Advisory LLC?
Mr. Driscoll. My Ethics Agreement and existing laws and policies
will require me, if confirmed and appointed, to recuse myself for a
period of 1 year from participating personally and substantially in any
particular matter involving specific parties in which I know that a
former client is a party or represents a party, unless I am first
authorized to participate by the appropriate ethics official. I will
ensure that I have a robust screening process in place to help
implement these recusals.
77. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, please provide a list of any
clients and any companies purchased by or advised by Flex Capital
Management LLC.
Mr. Driscoll. I have provided all relevant information in
compliance with the Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure
and SASC Questionnaire processes.
78. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, will you commit to
recuse yourself for 4 years from all particular matters that have a
direct and predictable effect on the clients of and companies purchased
or advised by Flex Capital Management?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will comply with existing laws and
regulations.
79. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed, will you
commit to not seeking any employment with or compensation from a
defense contractor, including through serving on a board, as a
consultant, or as a lobbyist, for 4 years after leaving DOD?
Mr. Driscoll. I will abide by the extensive post-government
employment ethics rules required by Federal law and policy. These
provisions set forth comprehensive restrictions relating to acceptance
of compensation from defense contractors, as well as communicating back
to the Federal Government on behalf of any future employers and
clients. I believe that these existing rules are appropriate and
sufficient to protect the public interest. If confirmed, I will carry
out the responsibilities of my office honorably, and I will seek any
post-government employment in full compliance with the applicable
ethics rules.
80. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed, will you
commit to not engaging in any lobbying activities, including ``behind-
the-scenes'' lobbying, focused on DOD or any of its components for 4
years after leaving DOD?
Mr. Driscoll. I will abide by the extensive post-government
employment ethics rules required by Federal law and policy. These
provisions set forth comprehensive restrictions relating to acceptance
of compensation from defense contractors, as well as communicating back
to the Federal Government on behalf of any future employers and
clients. I believe that these existing rules are appropriate and
sufficient to protect the public interest. If confirmed, I will carry
out the responsibilities of my office honorably, and I will seek any
post-government employment in full compliance with the applicable
ethics rules.
81. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, during your nomination process,
did anyone on the Trump campaign, transition team, or other closely
related entity approach you about your loyalty to President Trump?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
82. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you were approached about your
loyalty to President Trump, did you sign a loyalty pledge or other
similar oath? If so, please provide a copy of the text of that pledge
or oath.
Mr. Driscoll. No.
83. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you were approached about your
loyalty to President Trump, did you make any verbal representations of
loyalty? If so, please describe this representation.
Mr. Driscoll. I was never approached.
84. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, in November 2024, the New York
Times and other news outlets reported that Boris Epshteyn, a top
adviser to President Trump, allegedly requested payment from
prospective political appointees to promote their candidacies for top
positions within the Administration. Did you discuss the possibility of
joining the Administration with Mr. Epshteyn at any time?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
85. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you did discuss the
possibility of joining the Administration with Mr. Epshteyn, did Mr.
Epshteyn seek payment from you for promoting your candidacy for a
position within the Administration?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
86. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, at any time, did lawyers for
President Trump or members of President Trump's team approach you
regarding Mr. Epshteyn and the allegations cited above? If so, please
explain the information that they provided you, including copies of
documents, what was discussed during any calls, and any other
information pertaining to this interaction.
Mr. Driscoll. No.
congressional oversight and transparency
87. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of the
role of the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Army
Inspector General?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received a briefing on the role of the DOD
Inspector General and the Army Inspector General. If confirmed, I will
request a briefing.
88. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, will you ensure your staff
complies with any Inspector General deadlines established for requested
communications, providing witnesses, providing documents, and that
those witnesses will be protected from reprisal for their testimony?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I am committed to meeting all legal
requirements from the Inspector General.
89. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are not able to comply
with any Inspector General requests and deadlines, will you notify the
Republican and Democratic members of the Committee regarding the basis
for any good faith delay or denial?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I am committed to meeting all legal
requirements from the Inspector General and provide any legally
required notice to Members of the Committee.
90. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as Secretary
of the Army, will you commit to refusing to follow illegal orders from
any individual, including the President?
Mr. Driscoll. I reject the premise of the question that the
President would issue an illegal order. I would only follow legal
orders.
91. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, will you commit to testify before
Congress if you are called upon by Congress to provide a deposition or
if you are issued a subpoena?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I am committed to meeting all legal requirements
from Congress.
92. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, will you commit to providing
information or documents to Congress if you are requested to do so or
issued a subpoena?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I am committed to meeting all legal requirements
from Congress.
93. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, will you commit to following
current DOD precedent for responding to information requests,
briefings, and other inquiries from Congress, including the Senate and
House Armed Services Committees and their minority members?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I am committed to meeting all legal requirements
from the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.
94. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, will you commit to
posting your official calendar monthly?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I am committed to meeting all legal
disclosure requirements.
95. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you think the Army has an
over-classification problem and if so, can you commit to providing this
Committee an estimate of the number or percentage of Army documents
that are overclassified?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not yet received a briefing. If confirmed, I
will review the Army's current classification system.
96. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, to the best of your knowledge,
are Army components identifying records for proactive posting in
compliance with the Freedom of Information Act? And if not, how would
you ensure that they do so to comply with public records law?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing on the Army's
current Freedom of Information Act compliance. If confirmed, I will
review.
97. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, do you think the
Army should pursue strategic technology to support automated
declassification?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will review the Army's current
declassification technology system.
project 2025
98. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you discussed Project 2025
with any officials associated with the Trump campaign, the Trump
transition team, or other members of the Trump administration? If so,
please explain what you discussed, when you discussed it, and with whom
you discussed it.
Mr. Driscoll. No.
99. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you discussed Project 2025
with any officials associated with the Heritage Foundation? If so,
please explain what you discussed, when you discussed it, and with whom
you discussed it.
Mr. Driscoll. No.
foreign influence
100. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you received any payment
from a foreign government or entity controlled by a foreign government
within the past 5 years?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
101. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you communicated with any
foreign government or entity controlled by a foreign government within
the past 5 years?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, all such communications have been disclosed in
conjunction with my clearance background check and Senate briefing.
102. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, please disclose any
communications or payments you have had with representatives of any
foreign government or entity controlled by a foreign government within
the past 5 years and describe the nature of the communication.
Mr. Driscoll. I have received no such payments. All such
communications have been disclosed in conjunction with my clearance
background check and Senate briefing.
sexual assault and harassment
103. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, the most recent DOD statistics
found that about 29,000 Active Duty troops--which accounts for 6.8
percent of female servicemembers and 1.3 percent of male
servicemembers--experienced unwanted sexual contact in 2023. A Brown
University study estimates that the actual rates are two to four times
higher. How do you plan to address and reduce sexual assault and sexual
harassment in the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. Sexual assault and sexual harassment have no place in
the Army. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing on the current state
of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Army and support ongoing
efforts to eliminate these problems.
104. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how do you plan to support and
protect Army servicemembers, civilians, grantees, and contractors who
come forward with reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment?
Mr. Driscoll. Sexual assault and sexual harassment have no place in
the Army. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing on the current state
of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Army and support ongoing
efforts to eliminate these problems.
agreements
105. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you, in any professional or
personal capacity, signed or agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement,
confidentiality agreement, confidential disclosure agreement,
proprietary information agreement, non-disparagement agreement, and/or
secrecy agreement and for what reasons did you do so?
Mr. Driscoll. As is standard practice for many businesses, I have
signed agreements related to my previous employers of record. All such
employment have been disclosed in conjunction with my clearance
background check.
106. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you, in any professional or
personal capacity, agreed to pay, paid, or receive payment or services
in conjunction with any of the aforementioned instances?
Mr. Driscoll. As is standard practice for many businesses, I have
signed agreements related to my previous employers of record and
received compensation from those employers.
107. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you have in any professional
or personal capacity, agreed to pay, paid, or receive payment or
services in conjunction with any of the aforementioned instances,
please provide a breakdown of the amount(s) agreed to pay, paid, or
received and an explanation of services rendered and include a timeline
of when any of these agreements, payments, or services rendered
occurred.
Mr. Driscoll. As is standard practice for many businesses, I have
signed agreements related to my previous employers of record and
received compensation from those employers.
retaliation and protecting whistleblowers
108. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that
servicemembers, civilians, grantees, and contractors should be
protected from any form of retaliation for coming forward about an
illegal order, sexual assault or harassment, negligence, misconduct, or
any other concern that they wish to raise?
Mr. Driscoll. I believe that all whistleblower laws should be
followed.
109. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, have you ever retaliated against
any individual for coming forward about an illegal order, sexual
assault or harassment, negligence, misconduct, or any other concern
that they wish to raise?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
110. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to protecting whistleblowers and
how will you do so?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will follow all laws related to
whistleblowers.
domestic deployments of u.s. military
111. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, in which circumstances do you
believe that the Insurrection Act should be used?
Mr. Driscoll. The Insurrection Act is a lawful authority of the
President of the United States given to him by the Congress. Its lawful
uses are spelled out in statute.
112. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that the
Insurrection Act should be used only as a ``last resort?''
Mr. Driscoll. Invocation of the Insurrection Act is a lawful
prerogative of the President of the United States and not that of the
Secretary of Army. The authority to use the Act is spelled out in U.S.
Code.
113. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that military
forces should be deployed to respond to civil unrest only in situations
where State and local authorities are overwhelmed?
Mr. Driscoll. Military forces, be they National Guard or
occasionally Active Duty Forces, have in our country historically been
employed to respond to civil unrest when the capacity and capabilities
of civil authorities have been stretched to the limit and there is a
complete or near complete breakdown of law and order.
114. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that the parties
best positioned to determine whether State and local authorities are
overwhelmed are those authorities? If not, why not?
Mr. Driscoll. That State and local authorities are overwhelmed will
often be clear to the general public merely by the scale of violence
and/or disorder. Further, State or local authorities may not be in a
position to convey that they are overwhelmed.
115. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, would you support
using the military for immigration enforcement, including for mass
deportations, despite the military's lack of relevant training and the
harm it would almost certainly do to military readiness?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will support and execute all lawful
direction and guidance from the President of the United States and the
Secretary of Defense.
impoundment control act
116. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, on January 27, 2025, President
Trump's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo calling for
all Federal financial assistance programs (excluding ``assistance
provided directly to individuals'') to be suspended. Do you agree with
OMB's decision to issue this memo?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will support and execute all lawful
direction and guidance from the President of the United States and the
Secretary of Defense.
117. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that the
Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Army has the legal
authority to block the disbursement of funds appropriated by Congress?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing on the disbursement
of funds appropriated by Congress. If confirmed, I will request a
briefing on the Army's requirements to follow all applicable laws.
118. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of
the Impoundment Control Act?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing on the Impoundment
Control Act. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the Army's
requirements to follow all applicable laws.
119. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you commit to following the
Impoundment Control Act?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will follow all laws.
120. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you commit notifying the
Senate and House Armed Services Committees, including the majority and
minority, if you are asked not to follow the Impoundment Control Act or
not to expend the money that Congress appropriates or authorizes?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will follow all applicable laws.
121. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, the Constitution's Spending
Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8, cl. 1) and Appropriations Clause (Art. I,
Sec. 9, cl. 7) give Congress, not the Executive, power of the purse.
The Supreme Court has unanimously upheld this power. Do you believe
that impoundments are constitutional?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will support and execute all lawful
direction and guidance from the President of the United States and the
Secretary of Defense.
122. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, the funding levels in
appropriations bills passed into law are not targets or ceilings;
instead, they are amounts the executive branch must spend, unless
stated otherwise. Congress could--if it wanted the President to have
discretion--write those amounts as ceilings. Do you agree?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will support and execute all lawful
direction and guidance from the President of the United States and the
Secretary of Defense.
123. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of
the requirements for DOD to obligate funding that Congress authorizes
and appropriates, in accordance with the time period that Congress
deems it to do so?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing on the requirements
and timelines for the Army to obligate funding that Congress authorizes
and appropriates. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the Army's
requirements and ensure the Army follows all applicable laws.
124. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you commit to expending the
money that Congress appropriates and authorizes?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will follow all applicable laws.
125. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you commit to following and
implementing the annual National Defense Authorization Act passed into
law?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will follow all applicable laws.
civilian harm
126. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you agree that one difference
between the United States and its potential adversaries is the greater
value that the U.S. Government puts on protecting human life and
liberty at home and abroad?
Mr. Driscoll. I'm supportive of the U.S. DOD CHMR effort.
127. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of
title 10 U.S.C. 184, which established the Civilian Protection Center
of Excellence?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received a briefing on the Civilian
Protection Center of Excellence. If confirmed, I will request a
briefing.
128. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, the U.S. military has spent many
years working to improve its ability to prevent and mitigate civilian
harm without sacrificing lethality--including through the development
of the DOD Instruction on Civilian Harm under the first Trump
administration, which I commend. These efforts received bipartisan
support from Congress and grew out of a recognition from the U.S.
military itself that, after over 2 decades of U.S. wars, warfighters
needed better tools and trustworthy systems to prevent civilian harm,
uphold U.S. values, and prevent the moral injury and psychological
trauma that too often comes with deadly mistakes. The Army has played a
critical role in these efforts by serving as the joint proponent for
civilian harm mitigation and response (CHMR) and housing the Civilian
Protection Center of Excellence (CPCOE), which provides direct support
to operational combatant commands on civilian harm issues. The CPCOE
has also been enshrined in U.S. law via the James M. Inhofe National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. If confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to continued Army leadership on
civilian harm issues, including housing and resourcing the CPCOE?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I commit to following all relevant laws
and DOD issuances relating to civilian harm mitigation and response.
129. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what do you understand to be
your roles and responsibilities regarding civilian harm mitigation and
response?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received a briefing on the Secretary of
the Army's specific roles and responsibilities regarding civilian harm
mitigation. If confirmed, I will request a briefing.
130. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what do you understand to be the
importance of mitigating civilian harm in military operations?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I am committed to meeting all legal and
regulatory requirements with respect to reporting on Department of
Defense efforts to mitigate civilian harm.
131. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed, will you
commit to supporting and protecting the Civilian Protection Center of
Excellence?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I commit to following all relevant laws
relating to the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence.
132. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, according to press reports the
Army is drafting proposals to defund and potentially disestablish the
Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, what do you understand to be
the Army's authority to do so?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing relating to the
Civilian Protection Center of Excellence. If confirmed, I will request
a briefing and will follow all relevant funding laws and DOD issuances
relating to civilian harm mitigation and response.
133. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if one of the options is to move
the office to another Service, how will you oversee the transition?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing relating to the
Civilian Protection Center of Excellence. If confirmed, I will request
a briefing and will follow all relevant laws and DOD issuances relating
to civilian harm mitigation and response.
134. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if the Civilian Protection
Center of Excellence is moved out of the Army, how will you oversee the
Army's compliance with title 10 U.S.C. 184 and the Civilian Harm
Mitigation Response and Action Plan (CHMR-AP)?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefing relating to the
Civilian Protection Center of Excellence. If confirmed, I will request
a briefing and will follow all relevant compliance laws and DOD
issuances relating to civilian harm mitigation and response.
135. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, how will you prevent and mitigate civilian harm?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the DOD
CHMR program, including the role of the Army in that program, and will
advocate for a culture that strives to improve its civilian harm
mitigation and response processes.
136. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to supporting and implementing
the CHMR-AP?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will follow all relevant laws and DOD
issuances relating to civilian harm mitigation and response.
137. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe that our troops
are at higher risk for retribution as the number of civilian deaths
from U.S. military operations or U.S.-led military operations
increases?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes.
blast overpressure
138. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to protecting servicemembers
from blast overpressure and increase their options for seeking care
after being exposed?
Mr. Driscoll. It is our sacred duty to care for our soldiers
suffering from service-related injuries. If confirmed, I will request a
briefing on the current options for care for Soldiers suffering from
blast overpressure and continue ongoing efforts that support mitigating
blast overpressure while maintaining the operational and training
standards of the Army.
139. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, what steps will you take to protect
servicemembers from blast overpressure and increase their options for
seeking care after being exposed?
Mr. Driscoll. It is our sacred duty to care for our soldiers
suffering from service-related injuries. If confirmed, I will request a
briefing on the current options for care for Soldiers suffering from
blast overpressure and, where necessary, work with this Committee to
advocate for increased mitigation and care options where appropriate.
140. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how do you plan to work with the
Department of Veterans Affairs to make sure that servicemembers,
veterans, and their families are aware of the risks of blast
overpressure and traumatic brain injury?
Mr. Driscoll. It is our sacred duty to care for our soldiers
suffering from service-related injuries. If confirmed, I will work with
the Department of Veterans Affairs, where necessary, to care for
Soldiers suffering from blast overpressure.
141. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you support establishing logs
for soldiers on blast overpressure exposure and traumatic brain injury?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the
current system for monitoring blast overpressure exposure and traumatic
brain injury and ongoing efforts to further improve tracking such
exposure.
142. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you support requiring
neurocognitive assessments of soldiers annually, before they begin
training to establish a baseline, and before they leave the military to
determine when their change in cognitive health over time?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the
current system for neurocognitive assessment for soldiers.
143. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, how will you address the links between blast
overpressure exposure and increased risks of suicide?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on any
current links between blast overpressure exposure and increased risks
of suicide. The Army should work, from the top down, to prevent all
suicides.
144. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, it appears that U.S. Army Green
Beret Master Sergeant Matthew Livelsberger, who died by suicide in a
cybertruck explosion on January 1, 2025, may have had a history of
traumatic brain injury. What do you understand to be the consequences
and long-term effects of blast overpressure exposure and brain injury
on servicemembers?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on any
current links between blast overpressure exposure and increased risks
of suicide. The Army should work, from the top down, to prevent all
suicides.
145. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you support addressing the
risks of blast overpressure to servicemembers through the swift
implementation of sections 721 through section 725 of the Fiscal Year
2025 NDAA?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the
current state of implementation of sections 721 through section 725 of
the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA and follow all applicable laws.
146. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, which occupational specialties
do you understand to be at the highest risk for blast overpressure
exposure in the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on the
current understanding of which occupational specialties have the
highest risk for blast overpressure exposure.
right-to-repair
147. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe giving the Army
access to the technical data rights needed to repair its own equipment
could advance the Army's readiness?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I believe that it could help advance the Army's
readiness. If confirmed, I will request a brief on the current state of
the Army's right-to-repair.
148. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe giving the Army
access to the technical data rights needed to repair its own equipment
could help reduce the Army's repair and sustainment costs?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, I believe that it could help reduce the Army's
repair and sustainment costs. If confirmed, I will request a brief on
the current state of the Army's right-to-repair to better understand
the scale of impact on repair and sustainment costs.
149. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how will you ensure soldiers who
are stationed abroad can timely and cost-effectively repair equipment
that is damaged, especially in a contested logistics environment?
Mr. Driscoll. Technological innovations may exist that can improve
equipment repairs. If confirmed, I will request a brief on the current
state of the Army's repair systems with a focus on repairs in a
contested logistics environment.
150. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to including right-to-repair/
technical data rights clauses in acquisition contracts that the Army
enters into?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a brief on the current
state of the Army's right-to-repair and advocate for contracting
language that can strengthen the Army.
151. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to ensuring contractors deliver
technical data rights to the Army when their contract requires or
allows it?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a brief on the current
state of the Army's technical data rights and advocate for data rights
that can strengthen the Army.
152. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed as
Secretary of the Army, will you commit to understanding the cost of not
having the right-to-repair/technical data rights for the Army's
equipment through an assessment, the results of which you would make
public for review by Congress and the Department of Government
Efficiency?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a brief on the current
state of the Army's right-to-repair/technical data rights and publicly
advocate for areas that can significantly strengthen the Army.
naming of confederate bases
153. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA
established a commission to rename Federal bases and other military
property named after Confederate figures. The Naming Commission
recommended new names for military installations and other property
named after Confederate soldiers. The Commission received bipartisan
support and worked with local communities to make these
recommendations, which the Department of Defense accepted. Section 1749
of the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA also prohibits the Department of Defense
from naming a new asset or renaming an old asset in reference to the
Confederacy. Do you support keeping the names of military property
designated by the Naming Commission?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will request a brief on the Naming
Commissions findings to better understand its recommendations.
army contracting
154. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, reporting on January 27, 2025,
indicated that Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth was ``halting all new
Army contract awards as well as solicitations for new programs'' and
that this pause ``could last as little as 10 days but could potentially
continue for months.'' The Army has since claimed that there is an
ongoing review but ``contracting activities continue to move forward.''
Do you support a pause in new Army contract awards and solicitations
for new programs?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on the Army's
current contracting positions. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing
to better understand the current state of the contract awards and
solicitations for new programs.
155. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you support a pause, how long
of a pause do you support and under what conditions?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on Army
contracting. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing to better
understand the current state of the contract awards and solicitations
for new programs.
156. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you support a pause, what do
you estimate to be the cost of such a halt in contracting?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on Army
contracting. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing to better
understand the current state of the contract awards and solicitations
and any possible cost implications.
157. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what do you understand to be the
ramifications of a pause in new Army contract awards and solicitations
for new programs, including both on the programmatic side and industry
side?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on Army
contracting. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing to better
understand the current state of the contract awards and solicitations
and any possible ramifications.
158. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what do you understand to be the
cost, including a dollar amount; effect on reputation; and time lost
that would result from a pause in new Army contract awards and
solicitations for new programs?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on Army
contracting. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing to better
understand the current state of the contract awards and solicitations
and any possible cost implications.
159. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what do you understand to be the
effect of a pause on new Army contracts awards and solicitations for
new programs on the ability of the Army to expend the money that has
been authorized and appropriated by Congress in a timely manner?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on Army
contracting. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing to better
understand which funds have been authorized and appropriated by
Congress.
160. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, in the past, the Army has called
for a ``Night Court'' process to consider retention, elimination, or
modification of weapons systems programs. Do you support this process
and how should the Army work to identify and prevent potential overlap
and duplication in its programs?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on Army
contracting, but I am very supportive of identifying and preventing
unnecessary overlap and duplication in Army programs. If confirmed, I
will receive a briefing to better understand the current state of the
contract awards and solicitations for new programs.
junior reserve officer training corps reforms
161. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, there are several reforms in the
Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA to better protect Junior Reserve Officer Training
Corps (JROTC) students from sexual misconduct by instructors and forced
enrollment after extensive reporting about these issues. Do you support
the swift and full implementation of sections 552, 555, and 556 of the
Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA?
Mr. Driscoll. All forms of sexual assault and sexual harassment
should be purged from the JROTC. I have not received any briefings on
sexual misconduct in JROTC, but if confirmed, I will receive a briefing
and work to reinforce a culture of zero tolerance.
162. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of
the responsibility of the Army and Department of Defense to coordinate
with the Department of Education on reports of sexual misconduct by
JROTC instructors?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on the reporting
requirements of sexual misconduct in JROTC, but if confirmed, I will
receive a briefing and follow all applicable reporting laws.
163. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of
the responsibility of the Army and Department of Defense to hold
schools accountable if they do not report an allegation of JROTC
instructor misconduct to the Military Service point of contract within
1 business day?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on the reporting
requirements of sexual misconduct in JROTC, but if confirmed, I will
receive a briefing and strive to ensure all schools follow applicable
reporting laws.
164. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, if you are confirmed, what is
your plan to ensure that JROTC Army students, parents, and others feel
they can come forward to the Army to report an allegation?
Mr. Driscoll. All forms of sexual assault and sexual harassment
should be purged from the Army and JROTC and students, parents, and
others should feel that they can come forward with any allegations. I
have not received any briefings on sexual misconduct in JROTC, but if
confirmed, I will receive a briefing and review the current reporting
model.
165. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you support climate surveys
of JROTC Army students to better understand concerns about and
incidences of sexual assault and harassment in the JROTC programs?
Mr. Driscoll. All forms of sexual assault and sexual harassment
should be purged from the Army and JROTC. I have not received any
briefings on sexual misconduct in JROTC, but if confirmed, I will
receive a briefing and work with this Committee to collect data that
can help reduce the risk of sexual assault and harassment in the JROTC
programs.
military health system genesis recruitment delays
166. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, what is your understanding of
the impact of Military Health System (MHS) Genesis on increasing
recruitment delays by flagging long-healed or manageable injuries of
recruits and requiring them to get a waiver to serve?
Mr. Driscoll. Any barrier that is unnecessarily harming recruiting
should be reviewed and, where possible, removed. If confirmed, I will
receive a briefing on the MHS Genesis and its impact on recruiting.
167. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, there are several reforms in the
Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA intended to address the recruitment delays caused
by MHS Genesis. Do you support the full and swift implementation of
section 738 and section 740?
Mr. Driscoll. Any applicable law that helps to remove recruiting
barriers should be implemented as quickly as practicable. If confirmed,
I will receive a briefing on sections 738 and section 740 of the Fiscal
Year 2025 NDAA.
housing
168. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how will you address the
affordability and supply issues within the military housing market?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I intend to review the current state of
military housing and oversight mechanisms for both on-and off-base
housing, and work with this Committee to take care of our Soldiers who
reside housing in and around Army installations.
169. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you believe it is acceptable
for servicemembers and their families to live in hazardous housing
conditions?
Mr. Driscoll. No.
170. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do hazardous housing conditions
like dangerous mold, lead-based paint, and rodent and insect
infestations violate DOD's existing housing agreements with private
companies?
Mr. Driscoll. While I have not received any briefings on the
current state of Army housing, I will work with this Committee to take
care of our Soldiers who reside in Army housing. The situation
described is unacceptable.
171. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, as Secretary of the Army, how
would you guarantee the habitability of servicemember's housing?
Mr. Driscoll. It is our sacred duty to care for our soldiers and
their families. I have not received any briefings on the Army housing,
but I will work with this Committee to take care of our Soldiers who
reside in Army housing.
172. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how would you address the
quality concerns in the military housing inventory?
Mr. Driscoll. Our soldiers and their families deserve the best
quality housing the Army can provide them. If confirmed, I intend to
review the current state of Army housing and oversight mechanisms, and
work with this Committee to take care of our military personnel who
reside in military housing.
173. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how should the Department of the
Army strengthen its oversight of the private military housing market?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I intend to review the current state of
military housing and oversight mechanisms, and work with this Committee
to take care of our soldiers who reside in Army housing.
174. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how would you guarantee the
implementation and enforcement of the Military Housing Privatization
Initiative (MHPI) Tenant Bill of Rights?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on the MHPI Tenant
Bill of Rights. If confirmed, I will receive a briefing on it and work
through the Army's oversight processes and with this Committee to
protect our soldiers and their families.
175. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how would you ensure MHPI
accountability given the recent invocation of the Federal enclave
doctrine to strip military families of their day in court?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on the MHPI
accountability impacts from the invocation of Federal enclave doctrine.
If confirmed, I will receive a briefing on it and work with this
Committee to protect our soldiers and their families.
176. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, will you agree to provide a
comprehensive overview of which military housing projects are subject
to the Federal enclave doctrine?
Mr. Driscoll. I have not received any briefings on which current
Army housing projects are subject to the Federal enclave doctrine and
work with this Committee to protect our soldiers and their families.
177. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, how would you ensure that
landlords do not take advantage of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
rates, including through the use of software like RealPage or collusive
rent-setting?
Mr. Driscoll. Soldiers should not be taken advantage of by their
landlords. I have not received any briefings on how software may impact
rent-setting. If confirmed, I will request a briefing and work with
this Committee to protect our soldiers and their families.
178. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you commit to ensuring no one
is retaliated against for submitting complaints to the DOD Housing
Feedback System (DHFS)?
I commit to ensuring all retaliation laws are followed.
179. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, do you think families should be
forced to sign nondisclosure agreements in order to get housing
deficiencies addressed?
Mr. Driscoll. It is our sacred duty to care for our soldiers'
families. I commit to working with this Committee to protect them. I
have not received any briefings on forced non-disclosure agreements in
the Army housing process. If confirmed, I will request a briefing on it
and advocate for our soldiers' families.
180. Senator Warren. Mr. Driscoll, will you seek to bar MHPI
landlords from requiring that families sign nondisclosure agreements in
order to get housing deficiencies addressed?
Mr. Driscoll. It is our sacred duty to care for our soldiers'
families. I commit to working with this Committee to protect them. I
have not received any briefings on non-disclosure agreement
requirements from MHPI landlords. If confirmed, I will request a
briefing on it and advocate for our soldiers' families.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Jacky Rosen
cyber workforce development
181. Senator Rosen. Mr. Driscoll, the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA
included my bipartisan legislation authorizing the Army to create a
Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve to provide U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM)
with qualified civilian personnel for surge capacity to ensure the U.S.
Government has the cyber talent needed to respond to malicious activity
and secure DOD's information and its systems. Understanding you are not
yet confirmed, what do you know of the status of the implementation
plan for the civilian cyber reserve?
Mr. Driscoll. To generate combat power in cyberspace, the Army has
a responsibility to build the best bench of superior cyber personnel
across both the uniformed and civilian workforce. If confirmed, I look
forward to learning more about this assessment and I commit to
providing an informed status update.
182. Senator Rosen. Mr. Driscoll, if confirmed, can I have your
commitment to see this through?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I commit to continuing the Army's work
to explore a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve, and to providing the
Congress briefings on these efforts, as required by law.
__________
Questions Submitted by Senator Mark Kelly
innovation and modernization efforts
183. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, Army modernization, across every
domain, is a top priority. Given the increasingly complex and
competitive global environment, the Army's ability to innovate is
critical for ensuring the United States stays ahead of adversaries. How
do you plan to address the challenges in developing and fielding new
technologies?
Mr. Driscoll. The Army needs to ensure a focus on integration, not
just innovation, to enable technology insertion across the
modernization enterprise including tight alignment across the full
lifecycle of an effort. We also must also expand integration of private
sector innovation beyond just the traditional defense primes and foster
teaming arrangements. If confirmed, I will review existing policies and
practices to explore how to better leverage existing tools or develop
new ones to ensure the Army is a lethal force and maintains it
competitive edge over adversaries.
184. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, what are your thoughts on
incentivizing major defense contractors to collaborate more with small
and non-traditional defense companies?
Mr. Driscoll. Encouraging major defense contractors to collaborate
with small and non-traditional defense companies is essential for
fostering innovation, competition, and supply chain resilience. By
leveraging the agility of small businesses alongside the scale of prime
contractors, we can accelerate technology adoption, reduce costs, and
enhance warfighter capabilities more effectively.
185. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, Russia has recently fielded
electronic warfare systems during the war in Ukraine. Do you believe
current Army systems and infrastructure is sufficient to perform
against our adversaries in a contested environment where we are
encountering electronic warfare?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I look forward to working closely
within the department to review Army systems and infrastructure to
ensure it is sufficient to perform against our adversaries in a
contested environment.
indo-pacific region
186. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, the Indo-Pacific region entails a
huge array of challenges, everything from vast distances to the
continental United States industrial and military base, to
disaggregated islands that require a novel campaign approach not seen
in contemporary conflicts. There are some within the Department of
Defense that feel the conventional Army is solely a logistics apparatus
to support the Joint Force in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). If
confirmed, what steps will you take to ensure the Army maintains
relevancy across all warfighting functions in INDOPACOM?
Mr. Driscoll. In the Indo-Pacific, the Army provides critical
formations and capabilities to the joint force across all warfighting
functions. If confirmed I will ensure the Army continues to work
closely with the joint force--commanders in theater, the Joint Staff,
as well as our sister services--to ensure that our capabilities,
formations, posture, training, and capacity reflect what is needed
across all warfighting functions in the Indo-Pacific region.
187. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, while we can acknowledge Ukraine
is a vastly different operating environment then INDOPACOM, there are
distinct lessons learned that we can tease out. How do you plan on
directing the Department to take lessons learned from Ukraine and
operationalize them in the more complex terrain that is the Indo-
Pacific?
Mr. Driscoll. It is my understanding the U.S. Army Training and
Doctrine Command collects and disseminates clear and focused lessons
learned from current conflicts--including the war in Ukraine. The Army,
with feedback from Army Commands, already uses the lessons learned to
determine the requirements to adopt changes that would affect how the
U.S. Army trains, equips, and organizes in preparation for combat
operations to include the Indo-Pacific. The lessons and observations
drawn from the war in Ukraine have certainly informed their approach to
doctrine development, Initial Military Training, unit training, and
system procurement. These lessons are theater agnostic and must
continue to be integrated into doctrine, organizations, training
strategies, exercises, leader development and education programs.
recruitment goals and improving retention
188.Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, the Department of the Army's
fiscal year 2024 recruitment goal was 55,000 recruits. Under you
predecessor, Secretary Wormuth's leadership, the Army recruited 55,300
new recruits, meeting that goal. What steps will you take, if
confirmed, to continue and improve upon the Army's recent efforts to
boost recruitment?
Mr. Driscoll. The goal for fiscal year 2025 is 61,000 recruits,
with an additional 10,000 entry pool to enter fiscal year 2026, and the
Army is already ahead of pace to achieve this goal. If confirmed, I
plan to expand our efforts by leveraging industry-leading technology
and AI initiatives, while grounding our strategy in robust training for
our recruiters. I will also assess the positioning of our recruiting
force on the ground to ensure we are making the most effective use of
our facilities. I also plan to leverage JROTC programs.
189. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, retention is equally important,
you yourself, are a third-generation soldier and by your testimony,
plan on encouraging your children to serve. What specific strategies
will you implement to ensure that newly recruited soldiers stay in
service for the long term, and how do you plan to improve overall
retention rates across the Army?
Mr. Driscoll. Yes, if confirmed I will prioritize ensuring soldiers
feel supported, valued, and motivated to stay in service. The Army will
continue to provide world-class training and equip our warriors with
leading-edge technology to enhance readiness and performance for any
global challenge our country faces. Key strategies for retention will
include personalized career development plans, clear pathways for
advancement, and competitive pay and benefits. In addition to retention
bonuses, we will continue to offer non-monetary incentives like
stabilization and station of choice to show soldiers they are valued.
I will also focus on career flexibility, allowing soldiers to
explore different roles, which increases satisfaction and engagement.
We must retain the right skills to stay competitive in the global
landscape, especially for warfighting. This means ongoing investment in
professional development to equip soldiers with the skills needed for
modern warfare. Finally, we will strengthen transition programs to
ensure soldiers are well-prepared for post-service careers, enhancing
retention and long-term commitment to the Army.
warrior board
190. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, President Trump has proposed a
plan to remove generals and career civil servants in the Department of
Defense if the proposed ``warrior board,'' tasked with reviewing these
individuals, determines they are disloyal to the Administration. How do
you think the purging of highly experienced military officers will
impact the Department of the Army's ability to meet its operational
goals?
Mr. Driscoll. The Administration and I share the view that the Army
should be a merit-based organization that promotes only the most
qualified and highest-performing men and women to senior leadership
positions. If confirmed, I intend to pursue that aim.
191. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, are you concerned that subjecting
military leaders and civil servants to this review might pull their
attention away from their operational goals by encouraging them to
focus more on political appeasement than on fulfilling their
professional duties?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will continue the administration's
efforts to build and maintain an Army where professional advancement is
based on merit, performance, and credentials. The Army has a long and
proud tradition of non-partisanship, and if confirmed, I will
strengthen that tradition. It is my intent for evaluations to be based
on the successful accomplishment of professional duties and other
performance-based metrics, thus ensuring only the most talented advance
and work to increase the operational capacity and lethality of the
Army.
army aviation
192. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, with the Army's cancellation of
the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, would you agree that we
still require that capability, and thus need to continue the
procurement of reliable manned attack aviation, such as the AH-64
Apache?
Mr. Driscoll. If confirmed, I will review the aviation portfolio in
detail to better understand the Army's requirements to support the
National Defense Strategy.
193. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, as part of the Aviation Branch's
rebalance last February, the cancellation of Future Attack
Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) allowed the shift of funding to procure
both more UH-60Ms and CH-47 Block IIs. However, the cancellation of the
Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade by Secretary Wormuth in September 2021
left a gap in the Block II Chinook's envisioned performance that could
be realized with a more powerful upgraded engine. What is the Army's
plan to move forward with Chinook Engine Enhancement program that
Congress helped fund in fiscal year 2022, fiscal year 2023 and fiscal
year 2024 and realize the full capability of this airframe with the
integration of a more powerful engine that contributes to improved
operational capabilities and cost savings?
Mr. Driscoll. It is my understanding that the Army is executing the
additional funding provided by Congress for the Chinook Engine
Enhancement program by conducting engine enhancement studies with those
resources. The current engine in the Chinook meets threshold
requirements for the Chinook Block II.
194. Senator Kelly. Mr. Driscoll, how will you work to improve the
Army's contracting processes to ensure timely delivery of capabilities
to United States and allied warfighters? For example, the Germans
finalized a procurement for 60 CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the
United States nearly 2 years ago (July 2023) and the Army still has not
initiated a contract with the manufacturer (Boeing) to build them. At a
time when we need to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base to
respond to global threats, the Army must become more agile and
adaptable.
Mr. Driscoll. The Army has made improvements to the Army's
contracting processes to ensure timely delivery of capabilities to U.S.
and allied warfighters. Our allies and foreign partnerships are crucial
to enhancing our industrial base and the Army plans to continue to
explore ways to improve the contracting processes both domestically and
internationally.
______
[The nomination reference of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll
follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
______
[The biographical sketch of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll, which
was transmitted to the Committee at the time the nomination was
referred, follows:]
Biographical Sketch of Daniel P. Driscoll
Raised in Boone, North Carolina, Dan spent much of his childhood in
a log cabin in the Appalachian Mountains. Dan attended Appalachian
Christian School and Watauga High School.
While a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill, and with America in the middle
of the War on Terror, Dan forwent the typical college experience to
commission as an Armor officer in the U.S. Army. Dan graduated With
Highest Distinction in 3 years. While most of his classmates were
enjoying Carolina basketball games, Dan was graduating from basic
training and officer candidate school and preparing to deploy for war.
After completing U.S. Army Ranger School, Dan was stationed at Fort
Drum, NY, with the 10th Mountain Light Infantry Division where he
served as a Cavalry Scout platoon leader. In 2009, Dan was deployed
with his unit to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After returning from combat, Dan enrolled at Yale Law School on the
post-9/11 GI Bill. During his time at law school, Dan worked at Yale's
Veterans Legal Services Clinic, providing free legal counsel to
veterans. While at Yale, Dan received the Joseph A. Chubb Faculty Prize
for excellence in legal draftsmanship and the Elliott Goldstein
Scholarship for excellence in the field of corporate law.
Since graduating, Dan has worked in investment banking, private
equity, and as the Chief Operating Officer at $200M venture capital
fund. He most recently has been serving as Senior Advisor to Vice
President-Elect JD Vance. He is a member of the North Carolina State
Bar, Rotary Club, VFW Post 1134 and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America (IAVA).
Dan is married to his high school sweetheart, Dr. Cassie Driscoll,
a plastic surgeon. They have two kids, Daniel Jr. and Lila and are
members of Reynolda Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, NC.
______
[The Committee on Armed Services requires all individuals
nominated from civilian life 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 Mr. Daniel P.
Driscoll in connection with his nomination follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
______
[The nominee responded to Parts B-F 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-F
are contained in the Committee's executive files.]
------
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
------
[The nomination of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll was reported to
the Senate by Chairman Wicker on February 11, 2025, with the
recommendation that the nomination be confirmed. The nomination
was confirmed by the Senate on February 25, 2025.]
[all]