Defend The Hill – Congressional Week Ahead (21 Feb 2016)

Tuesday February 23rd

9:30: U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea (SASC)

• Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander, United States Pacific Command

• General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Commander, United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command / United States Forces Korea

2:30: Defense Health Care Reform (SASC)

• Bernadette C. Loftus, Associate Executive Director and Executive-in-Charge for the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group

• Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, Director of the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design and Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan

• Mr. David J. McIntyre, Jr., President and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance

• Dr. John E. Whitley, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses

2:30: Department of Energy – Atomic Energy Defense Activities and Programs (SASC)

• Honorable Frank G. Klotz, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, Department of Energy

• Honorable Anne M. Harrington, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration

• Honorable Monica C. Regalbuto, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management, Department of Energy

• Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr., Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration

• Brigadier General Stephen L. Davis, Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration

• Mr. David C. Trimble, Director, U.S. and International Nuclear Security and Cleanup, Government Accountability Office

Wednesday February 24th

2:00: DoD Science and Technology Programs: Defense Innovation to Create the Future Force (HASC)

• Stephen Welby, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
• Mary Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology
• Rear Admiral Mathias W. Winter, Chief of Naval Research and Director, Innovation Technology Requirements, and Test & Evaluation (N84)
• David Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology and Engineering
• Arati Prabhakar, Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

2:30: CLOSED: Iran’s Intelligence and Unconventional Capabilities (SASC)

• Dr. Andrew Exum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy

• Mr. Christopher P. Maier, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism

• Brigadier General Gregg P. Olson, Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs (Middle East), J-5 Joint Staff

• Colonel Mark W. Visconi, Regional Operations Division Chief Deputy Director for Special Operations, J-3 Joint Staff

3:30: U.S. Strategic Forces Posture (HASC)

• The Honorable Brian McKeon, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
• Admiral Cecil Haney, Commander, U.S. STRATCOM

5:00: Defense Health Agency: Budgeting and Structure (HASC)

• Johnathan Woodson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
• Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono, Director, Defense Health Agency

Thursday February 25th

9:30: Confirmation Hearings (SASC)

• Honorable Brad R. Carson to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
• Ms. Jennifer M. O’Connor to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense
• Mr. Todd A. Weiler to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

10:00: Full Spectrum Security Challenges in Europe and their Effects on Deterrence and Defense (HASC)

• General Philip M. Breedlove, Commander, United States European Command

2:00: Department of the Navy 2017 Budget Request and Seapower and Projection Forces (HASC)

• The Honorable Sean J. Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development, and Acquisition
• Vice Admiral Joseph P. Mulloy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (N8)
• Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, Deputy Commandant, Capability Development and Integration

Friday February 26th

8:00: Department of the Army 2017 Budget Request and Readiness (HASC)

• General Daniel B. Allyn, Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
• Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (G3/5/7), U.S. Army
• Lieutenant General Gustave F. Perna, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army

9:00 Ensuring Medical Readiness in the Future (HASC)

• Major General Joseph Caravalho, The Joint Staff Surgeon General
• Rear Admiral Terry J. Moulton, Deputy Surgeon General
• Brigadier General Robert Tenhet, Deputy Surgeon General

 

 

 

Defend The Hill – Congressional Week Ahead (7 Feb 2016)

Major Hearings This Week

Worldwide Threats – Tuesday, February 9th, 9:30 AM

Witnesses

• Jim Clapper, Director of National Intelligence
• Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency

This hearing will survey threats around the world, although not in great detail (the classified threat hearing occurred last week). Expect any revelations made during this hearing to shake up the presidential campaign rhetoric over the coming weeks. This hearing is also LTG Stewart’s first public testimony since assuming command of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Nuclear Acquisition Programs – Tuesday, February 9th, 2:30 PM

Witnesses

• Honorable Robert M. Scher, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities
• Dr. Arthur T. Hopkins, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs
• Vice Admiral Terry J. Benedict, U.S. Navy, Director of Strategic Systems Programs
• General Robin Rand, U.S. Air Force, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command

This hearing should be a wide-ranging discussion of nuclear readiness, modernization programs, and broader strategy. The witnesses are not typically at the forefront of defense discussions, so make sure to watch this hearing.

National Commission on the Future of the Army – Thursday, February 11th, 9:30 AM

Witnesses

• General Carter F. Ham, USA (Ret.), Chairman of the National Commission on the Future of the Army
• Honorable Thomas R. Lamont, Vice Chairman of the National Commission on the Future of the Army
• General James D. Thurman, USA (Ret.), Commissioner of the National Commission on the Future of the Army
• Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, USA (Ret.), Commissioner of the National Commission on the Future of the Army

This hearing will address the findings and recommendations of the National Commission on the Future of the Army. Expect discussion around the more contentious aspects of the Commission’s final report including calls to integrate the Army National Guard and Reserves with the Active component.