WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), gave the following opening statement at a SASC hearing to consider the nominations of John Gibson to be the deputy chief management officer of the Department of Defense; Ellen Lord to be undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics; Lucian Niemeyer to be assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment; and Matthew Donovan to be undersecretary of the Air Force. 

Inhofe chaired the committee in absence of SASC Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) 

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr. Gibson, the challenges the Department of Defense faces when it comes to management, financial operations, and business transformation are enormous. The deputy chief management officer plays a critical role in helping to manage the business operations of the department—the largest, most complex organization in the world.  We look forward to hearing from you as to how your experience both in the private sector and at the department will inform your work to address these multifaceted issues, if confirmed.  

Ms. Lord, you have been nominated to lead a very complex—and often frustrating—office in the Department of Defense: Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. This committee has undertaken major acquisition reforms over the past two years, but the follow-through from the department’s implementation is not up to standard. This inability to change led Congress to require a reorganization of the DOD’s acquisition enterprise. If confirmed, we are looking for the next undersecretary to lead real reform—we cannot continue on our current path if we want to maintain our technological advantage and control cost overruns on major programs. 

Many of us know Mr. Niemeyer from his time working for this committee, where he was highly regarded. If confirmed as the assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment, he will oversee important matters for the department, including infrastructure and basing issues. If confirmed, you will be responsible for getting control of the cost overruns and schedule delays on major construction projects. We look forward to hearing how you would lead the department’s efforts on these issues. 

Mr. Donovan is also well-known to many on the committee given his years as a professional staff member. If confirmed as the undersecretary of the Air Force, he will be faced with a diverse set of challenges. Inadequate budgets combined with the continued high pace of operations have depleted readiness, stifled modernization, eroded our technological advantage, and resulted in the oldest, smallest, and least ready Air Force in our history. The pilot shortage in the Air Force is now a full blown crisis. If confirmed, this committee will expect you, Mr. Donovan, to provide the leadership our airmen deserve. 

Again, let me thank all of our witnesses for their willingness to serve our nation at this challenging time. We look forward to their testimonies.