[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 59 (Monday, April 4, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NOMINATION OF ERIK KRISTOPHER RAVEN

  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
following statement be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           Introductory Remarks for Erik Raven (as delivered)


      u.s. senator jon tester--Senate Committee on Armed Services

                            (March 22, 2022)

       It is truly an honor to be introducing Erik Raven today at 
     his nomination hearing to be Undersecretary for the Navy.
       It is an honor because there is no one more qualified or 
     capable than Erik is to serve the women and men of our Navy.
       I know firsthand, because Erik is the Democratic Staff 
     Director for the Subcommittee on Defense of the Senate 
     Committee on Appropriations, and for the last year, I have 
     worked very, very closely with him in my role as Chairman on 
     that Committee. In that time, we've spoken every day--
     something I know Erik has enjoyed very much.
       Erik is a true professional. He is dedicated, he is whip-
     smart, and he knows the defense budget better than anybody.
       But that's only part of what makes Erik qualified and 
     deserving of being confirmed for this position at the 
     Department of Defense.
       What makes Erik exceptional is that he deeply understands 
     the challenges and the threats we face, and he has dedicated 
     his life to our military, our national security, and to our 
     country.
       For the last 24 years, Erik has served as a staff member 
     for some of the Giants of the Senate: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 
     Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Sen. Robert Byrd--you may have heard of 
     them.
       Erik served as Senator Byrd's Military and Foreign Affairs 
     Advisor from 2000 to 2007, and as his Legislative Director 
     from 2006-2007. He also served as a speechwriter for Senator 
     Byrd on national security matters.
       Some of you may not know this, but my office in Hart is 
     Senator Byrd's old office. And welcoming Erik back into that 
     office after I became SAC-D Chairman is a fitting symmetry to 
     the end of his Hill career before he sails off to the 
     Pentagon.
       But I'm not the only SAC-D Chairman who has benefitted from 
     Erik's wisdom and leadership.
       For the past 15 years--7 as a Professional Staff Member and 
     8 as Staff Director--Erik has served Senators, the Senate, 
     and our nation.
       As the Staff Director, he is the principal advisor to the 
     Committee on budgetary matters relating to the Department of 
     Defense and the national intelligence community.
       And during his time on the Committee, Erik has been 
     responsible for the oversight of national intelligence 
     programs, national security space programs, Special 
     Operations procurement, Army aviation, and Navy research and 
     development matters, as well as staff lead on wartime 
     intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance initiatives.
       Erik is as credentialed as he is experienced: he has 
     completed a master's thesis on the origins of China's nuclear 
     weapons program at the London School of Economics and 
     Political Science as well as an undergraduate honors thesis 
     on the international narcotics trade at Connecticut College.
       This dude is a smart guy.
       And he has good people in his corner: I want to recognize 
     his wife, Ann, who is here today--and thank you, Ann, for 
     sharing Erik with the Senate, and soon, I hope, with the 
     Department of Defense. The gratitude our country owes Erik 
     for his service, we also owe to you.
       The bottom line is this: Erik Raven will serve as 
     Undersecretary for the Navy honorably and well. He is 
     exceptionally qualified and deserving of this Committee's 
     favorable endorsement, and I'm sure that the distinguished 
     members of this Committee will agree after getting a chance 
     to question him.
       Erik, I just want to congratulate you on your nomination, 
     and get in there and give 'em hell, okay?
       Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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