[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5067-S5069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXECUTIVE SESSION
______
NOMINATION OF GENERAL JOHN A. GORDON, U.S. AIR FORCE, TO BE UNDER
SECRETARY FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now
go into executive session and proceed to the nomination of Gen. John A.
Gordon, which the clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read the nomination of Gen. John A. Gordon,
United States Air Force, to be Under Secretary for Nuclear Security,
Department of Energy.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hutchinson). Who yields time?
If no one yields time, time will be charged equally to both sides.
The distinguished Senator from Virginia.
Mr. WARNER. I thank the Chair. Under that ruling, without objection
on my part, time will be charged equally to both sides.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, momentarily, we will vote on the
nomination of a very distinguished citizen of our country. I want to
elaborate in these few minutes about his distinguished career.
We know he has been nominated to be the first Under Secretary for
Nuclear Security, as well as the first administrator of the National
Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. We are all
familiar with General Gordon's record. He took on many challenging
assignments over these years in the Department of Defense and currently
is Deputy Director for the Central Intelligence Agency.
I would like to go back and give a brief history of the establishment
of the National Nuclear Security Administration and the position for
which General Gordon has been nominated.
The Administration was established by title 32 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2000. That consolidated all
of the national security functions of the Department of Energy under a
single, semi-autonomous organizational unit. This reorganization
represents the most significant reorganization of the Department of
Energy in more than 20 years.
The Congress did not take this action lightly. We established this
new entity in response to a multitude of reports and assessments which
called for changes in the Department of Energy's ``dysfunctional''
organization structure. The reports include the 1997 ``120-day study''
issued by the Institute for Defense Analysis, the 1999 Chiles
Commission report, and the 1999 Foster Panel report--just to mention a
few. However, the most compelling report was issued by President
Clinton's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in June 1999. That
bipartisan report stated that:
. . . real and lasting security and counterintelligence
reform at the weapons labs is simply unworkable within DOE's
current structure and culture. To achieve the kind of
protection that these sensitive labs must have, they and
their functions must have their own autonomous operational
structure free of all the other obligations imposed by DOE
management.
The President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board went on to make
the following recommendations to the President and Congress, (1) create
a new semi-autonomous agency and (2) streamline the management of the
DOE weapons labs management structure by abolishing ties between the
weapons labs and all DOE regional, field and site offices, and all
contractor intermediaries. The committee was very careful to fully
implement the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board's
bipartisan recommendations, exactly as they were presented to President
Clinton.
The overarching goal was to establish, for the first time in many
years, a clear chain of command for the Department's national security
programs. Some disagree with the final product, but I believe we
accomplished that goal. It is now time for General Gordon to make this
new entity work.
I have been trying for some weeks to get this nomination up. Just
think: Last year, we passed structural reforms. It was signed into law
by the President. And here we are almost a year later--just today--
about to confirm the President's nominee to head this new entity.
We have vested a considerable amount of authority in the
Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration; that is,
General Gordon. We trust that he will use it in the best of U.S.
national security.
I have come to know this fine man very well over the months that I
have worked with him in connection with this nomination. I can tell the
Senate without any equivocation that I do not know of a more qualified
person, a man whose background, whose achievements, whose every step in
life better qualifies him, including a character I think that is beyond
question, to take on this important responsibility.
With regard to some details about him, the general entered the Air
Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program in 1968.
His early assignments were in research and development and
acquisition where he was involved in improving the Minuteman
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile--ICBM--and in developing and
acquiring the Peacekeeper ICBM. He served with the U.S. Department of
State in the politico-military affairs. Later, he commanded the 90th
Strategic Missile Wing, the only Peacekeeper ICBM unit. He served in
the National Security Council in the areas of defense and arms control,
including oversight and completion of START II negotiations. The
general then became senior member of the staff of the Secretary of
Defense, and later the Director of Operations, Air Force Space Command,
responsible for overseeing
[[Page S5068]]
and developing policy and guidance for the command's operational
missions.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record
the biography of General Gordon.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Biography--General John A. Gordon
General John A. Gordon is deputy director of central
intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
The general entered the Air Force through the Reserve
Officer Training Corps program in 1968. His early assignments
were in research, development and acquisition where he was
involved in improving the Minuteman Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and in developing and acquiring the
Peacekeeper ICBM. He was a long-range planner at Strategic
Air Command and served with the U.S. State Department in
politico-military affairs. Later, he commanded the 90th
Strategic Missile Wing, the only Peacekeeper ICBM unit. He
has served with the National Security Council in the areas of
defense and arms control, including the oversight and
completion of the START II negotiations. The general then
became a senior member of the secretary of defense's staff
and later, the director of operations, Air Force Space
Command, responsible for overseeing and developing policy and
guidance for the command's operational missions. He also has
served as special assistant to the Air Force chief of staff
for long-range planning, where he was responsible for
restarting and integrating a long-range planning process into
the Air Force. Prior to assuming his current position, he was
associate director of central intelligence for military
support, Central Intelligence Agency.
education
1968 Bachelor of science degree with honors in physics,
University of Missouri, Columbia.
1970 Master of science degree, Naval Postgraduate School,
Monterey, Calif.
1972 Master of arts degree in business administration, New
Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas.
1975 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence.
1978 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence.
1986 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
assignments
1. July 1968-June 1970, graduate student, Naval
Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif., and Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base, Ohio.
2. June 1970-June 1974, physicist, Air Force Weapons
Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
3. June 1974-April 1976, research associate at DOE, Sandia
Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.
4. April 1976-February 1979, long-range planner,
Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base,
Neb.
5. February 1979-August 1980, staff officer, research and
development, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
6. August 1980-May 1982, executive assistant to the
undersecretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
7. May 1982-January 1983, deputy director, Office of Policy
Analysis, Department of State, Washington, D.C.
8. January 1983-July 1985, office director for strategic
nuclear policy, and director for defense and arms control
matters, Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, Department of
State, Washington, D.C.
9. July 1985-July 1986, student, Air War College, Maxwell
Air Force Base, Ala.
10. July 1986-June 1987, assistant deputy commander for
maintenance, 44th Strategic Missile Wing, Ellsworth Air Force
Base, S.D.
11. June 1987-May 1989, vice commander, then commander,
90th Strategic Missile Wing, Francis E. Warren Air Force
Base, Wyo.
12. May 1989-January 1993, special assistant to the
president for national security affairs and senior director
for defense policy and arms control, National Security
Council, Washington, D.C.
13. January 1993-June 1994, deputy undersecretary of
defense and chief of staff for policy, Department of Defense,
Washington, D.C.
14. June 1994-September 1995, director of operations,
Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force
Base, Colo.
15. September 1995-September 1996, special assistant to the
chief of staff for long-range planning, Headquarters U.S. Air
Force, Washington, D.C.
16. September 1996-October 1997, associate director of
central intelligence for military support, Central
Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
17. October 1997-present, deputy director of central
intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
major awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Defense Superior Service Medal.
Legion of Merit.
Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Air Force Commendation Medal.
effective dates of promotion
Second Lieutenant Jun 4, 1968.
First Lieutenant Dec 4, 1969.
Captain Jun 4, 1971.
Major Sep 1, 1979.
Lieutenant Colonel Nov 1, 1981.
Colonel Dec 1, 1985.
Brigadier General Jun 1, 1992.
Major General May 25, 1995.
Lieutenant General Sep 20, 1996.
General Oct 31, 1997.
(Current as of September 1998).
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.
Mr. President, I join with Senator Warner in supporting the
President's nomination of Gen. John Gordon to be the Under Secretary
for Nuclear Security in the Department of Energy, and the first
administrator of the new National Nuclear Security Agency in the
Department of Energy.
General Gordon is an excellent choice to fill this very demanding
position. General Gordon has served his country for more than 30 years,
most recently as the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency. He was recommended for this position by a panel of highly
qualified experts headed by former Deputy Secretary of Energy Charles
Curtis.
It is hard to imagine an individual with more experience than General
Gordon with all aspects of the nuclear forces of the United States.
During his long and distinguished career in the United States Air
Force, General Gordon worked in the research and development of nuclear
weapons programs as a physicist and technician; he is familiar with the
operational requirements of our nuclear forces from his tours of duty
with U.S. strategic missile forces, including service as vice commander
and commander of a Strategic Missile Wing; and he worked at the highest
policy levels of the Executive Branch during his four years on the
National Security Council as special assistant to the President for
national security affairs and senior director for defense policy and
arms control.
Upon confirmation, General Gordon will take on one of the most
challenging assignments in the federal government. The Administrator of
the new National Nuclear Security Administration is responsible for
maintaining the safety and reliability of our nation's nuclear
warheads; for addressing security problems that continue to undermine
public confidence in the Department of Energy; for managing the
Department of Energy laboratories; and for cleaning up some of the
worst environmental problems in the country.
Moreover, the Administrator will face these assignments as the head
of an agency so plagued with ``convoluted, confusing and
contradictory'' reporting channels that the President's Foreign
Intelligence Advisory Board last year characterized the entire
Department of Energy as a ``dysfunctional'' organization. Although I
believe that some of the legislation Congress has passed and is
currently considering will make General Gordon's job harder and not
easier, I pledge to work with General Gordon, Secretary Richardson and
my colleagues in the Congress to do everything I can to give General
Gordon the support he will need to be successful in this demanding job.
I think all of us appreciate General Gordon's willingness to serve
his country on this continuing basis and to take on a very difficult
assignment.
I yield the floor.
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to show my support for
General John Gordon to be the Director of the National Nuclear Security
Administration or the NNSA. But before I do that, I need to mention a
related item, the lack of security protections at the Los Alamos lab.
On Monday, June 12, the New York Times reported that computer hard
drives containing valuable nuclear weapons data and other highly
sensitive information were found missing from the Los Alamos National
Laboratory on May 7th. These classified hard drives were stored in
locked containers in a vault at the weapons X Division at the lab. The
containers were found but the hard drives are gone. According to
reports, the material missing is American nuclear weapons data that the
Nuclear Emergency Search Team needs to disarm nuclear devices during
emergencies. Also missing is the intelligence information on the
Russian nuclear weapons program. To make matters worse, the Lab did not
begin an intensive search until May 24. I realize that a fire was
raging in the area and
[[Page S5069]]
that people were focused on that, but to wait that long makes little
sense. I understand that the law now requires that any such incident
must be reported to the Department of Energy within 8 hours. Finally,
DOE headquarters was informed of the missing data on June 1.
While it may seem premature to speculate foul play, I must say that
neither DOE nor the Administration have a strong track record in the
area of safeguards and security. Unfortunately, this is not the first
incident of lax security during this Administration.
Here are just a few of the reported incidents.
March 1999--It was determined that the Chinese had penetrated Los
Alamos Laboratory and stole our nuclear secrets.
Last December--A Russian diplomat is ordered to leave after a
microphone transmitter is discovered on the 7th floor of the State
Department, only a short walk from the office of Secretary Albright.
Then there is the case of the missing laptops at the State Department
and the situation with the former CIA Director John Deutch, who since
has lost all his clearances, of mishandling classified information.
While not all these cases are related to the newly created NNSA, they
do show that a new attitude and new ethic must be incorporated into
this Administration. We have had too many problems at too many places.
That is why I am glad that General Gordon is finally being voted on
by this Senate. I am sorry that this vote took so long to take place.
This vote was objected to by some who wanted to get a better deal on a
few items in the Defense authorization bill relating to the NNSA. It
was my belief there would be obstacles in this job, but I never
believed it would happen before he got to the NNSA. However, now that
the objection to General Gordon's nomination has been lifted, we can
finally move this nomination. Gen. Gordon's position is far too
valuable to be made a political pawn and the latest incident at Los
Alamos proves that.
Also, I let him know that I don't expect miracles, I just expect our
national security be treated as such. No longer should science and
personnel matters out rank security. We must change this culture and I
believe that General Gordon is the right person for this job. I want to
thank General Gordon for his dedication and commitment to his country
and for serving in this new position.
Lastly, Mr. President, I look forward to the hearings on the latest
incident at the lab. For too long I have heard this administration
crowing that they are taking care of the security problems, but this
latest incident shows that their actions don't match their words. While
this administration crowed they attempted to undermine what Congress
had done last year to strengthen security in the Department of Energy
through amendments in the Strategic Subcommittee of the Armed Services
Committee. As chairman of that committee I was appalled at the action
of Democrat members of the committee as well in their attempts to stop
the nomination of General Gordon. We must and will get to the bottom of
our nation's security problems.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
All time having expired, the question is, Will the Senate advise and
consent to the nomination of Gen. John A. Gordon, United States Air
Force, to be Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, Department of
Energy? On this question, the yeas and nays have been ordered, and the
clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. REID. I announce that the Senator from New York (Mr. Moynihan),
the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Reed), and the Senator from West
Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) are necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 97, nays 0, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 128 Ex.]
YEAS--97
Abraham
Akaka
Allard
Ashcroft
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Biden
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Breaux
Brownback
Bryan
Bunning
Burns
Byrd
Campbell
Chafee, L.
Cleland
Cochran
Collins
Conrad
Coverdell
Craig
Crapo
Daschle
DeWine
Dodd
Domenici
Dorgan
Durbin
Edwards
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Fitzgerald
Frist
Gorton
Graham
Gramm
Grams
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Harkin
Hatch
Helms
Hollings
Hutchinson
Hutchison
Inhofe
Inouye
Jeffords
Johnson
Kennedy
Kerrey
Kerry
Kohl
Kyl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Lott
Lugar
Mack
McCain
McConnell
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murray
Nickles
Reid
Robb
Roberts
Roth
Santorum
Sarbanes
Schumer
Sessions
Shelby
Smith (NH)
Smith (OR)
Snowe
Specter
Stevens
Thomas
Thompson
Thurmond
Torricelli
Voinovich
Warner
Wellstone
Wyden
NOT VOTING--3
Moynihan
Reed
Rockefeller
The nomination was confirmed.
____________________