“I welcome the President’s nomination today of Dr. Mara Karlin to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities. Dr. Karlin will serve as my team’s principal adviser on national security and defense strategy, and ensure the Department of Defense is aligning its priorities, capabilities, and contingency plans to today’s changing and dynamic threat landscape, including the pacing challenge from China. I am grateful for Dr. Karlin’s willingness to continue serving the country, and I look forward to working with her. I urge the Senate to confirm her as soon as possible so that she can take up this critical work for our nation.” — Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin