1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:02,273 meeting will come to order . I'm 2 00:00:02,273 --> 00:00:04,273 supposed to do a countdown , so I'm 3 00:00:04,273 --> 00:00:06,329 going to do that really quick . 10 , 4 00:00:06,329 --> 00:00:10,270 987654321 5 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,360 So now we're officially , uh , to order 6 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,330 here . This meeting is going to be , uh , 7 00:00:16,340 --> 00:00:18,950 fully virtual . And so I'm going to go 8 00:00:18,950 --> 00:00:21,430 over a few housekeeping rules , Uh , 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,607 for today's meeting , the chair of the 10 00:00:23,607 --> 00:00:25,773 staff designated by the chair may mute 11 00:00:25,773 --> 00:00:28,550 participants microphones when they're 12 00:00:28,550 --> 00:00:30,661 not under recognition for the purpose 13 00:00:30,661 --> 00:00:32,772 of eliminating background . Everybody 14 00:00:32,772 --> 00:00:34,939 was really good last time , So I don't 15 00:00:34,939 --> 00:00:36,939 anticipate any problems this time , 16 00:00:36,939 --> 00:00:39,050 Members . So you're responsible for a 17 00:00:39,050 --> 00:00:41,570 muting yourself If you know , if we 18 00:00:41,580 --> 00:00:43,413 notice that you have not a muted 19 00:00:43,413 --> 00:00:45,524 yourself , I will ask you if you like 20 00:00:45,524 --> 00:00:47,580 the staff to one you , you , you can 21 00:00:47,580 --> 00:00:49,636 please indicate by nodding your head 22 00:00:49,636 --> 00:00:52,760 and the staff on your microphone . I 23 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,020 remind all members and witnesses they 24 00:00:55,020 --> 00:00:57,020 should see it on the screen if they 25 00:00:57,020 --> 00:00:59,350 don't , um , let us know there's a five 26 00:00:59,350 --> 00:01:01,461 minute clock in the five minute clock 27 00:01:01,461 --> 00:01:03,820 will apply . If there is a technical 28 00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:06,550 issue , we will move to the next member 29 00:01:06,550 --> 00:01:09,930 until the issue is resolved and you 30 00:01:09,930 --> 00:01:12,060 will keep the balance of your time . 31 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,262 Once again , you'll notice the clock on 32 00:01:15,262 --> 00:01:17,318 your screen , and it's going to show 33 00:01:17,318 --> 00:01:19,318 how much time is remaining . At one 34 00:01:19,318 --> 00:01:21,429 minute , the clock will turn yellow . 35 00:01:21,429 --> 00:01:23,762 At 30 seconds remaining , I will gently , 36 00:01:23,762 --> 00:01:26,160 uh , tap the gavel to remind members 37 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,460 that their time has almost expired . 38 00:01:28,470 --> 00:01:31,020 When your time has expired , the clock 39 00:01:31,020 --> 00:01:34,220 will turn red , and I will , when it 40 00:01:34,220 --> 00:01:36,960 turns red , recognize the next member 41 00:01:37,340 --> 00:01:39,420 in terms of speaking order . We're 42 00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:41,587 going to follow the order set forth in 43 00:01:41,587 --> 00:01:43,642 the House rules , beginning with the 44 00:01:43,642 --> 00:01:45,587 chair and the ranking member . The 45 00:01:45,587 --> 00:01:47,809 members present at the time the hearing 46 00:01:47,809 --> 00:01:49,920 is called to order will be recognized 47 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,142 in the order of seniority and finally , 48 00:01:52,142 --> 00:01:54,142 members not present at the time the 49 00:01:54,142 --> 00:01:56,309 hearing is called to order . Finally , 50 00:01:56,309 --> 00:01:58,364 House rules require me to remind you 51 00:01:58,364 --> 00:02:00,587 that we have set up an email address to 52 00:02:00,587 --> 00:02:02,642 which members can send anything they 53 00:02:02,642 --> 00:02:04,753 wish to submit in writing . At any of 54 00:02:04,753 --> 00:02:06,753 our hearings are mark ups . So this 55 00:02:06,753 --> 00:02:08,976 email address has been provided to your 56 00:02:08,976 --> 00:02:11,650 staff . One other piece of housekeeping . 57 00:02:11,650 --> 00:02:14,350 We are going to have votes during this 58 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,480 when the votes take place . Um , I will 59 00:02:17,490 --> 00:02:19,920 give a list of order of members to 60 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,700 speak . I will turn the gavel over to , 61 00:02:23,710 --> 00:02:26,870 um , the most senior member present . I 62 00:02:26,870 --> 00:02:28,870 will go vote , and then I will come 63 00:02:28,870 --> 00:02:31,430 right back . So we will keep this 64 00:02:31,430 --> 00:02:33,541 meeting going forward so everyone can 65 00:02:33,541 --> 00:02:37,050 ask their questions . So without 66 00:02:37,050 --> 00:02:39,161 further ado , I'm going to make a few 67 00:02:39,161 --> 00:02:41,250 remarks here . Um , this morning the 68 00:02:41,250 --> 00:02:43,472 subcommittee will receive testimony and 69 00:02:43,472 --> 00:02:45,806 an update on military service academies . 70 00:02:45,806 --> 00:02:47,806 And I welcome our three witnesses . 71 00:02:47,940 --> 00:02:49,551 Lieutenant Darryl Williams , 72 00:02:49,551 --> 00:02:51,718 superintendent of West Point , founded 73 00:02:51,718 --> 00:02:55,350 in 18 Oh , two , Admiral , Vice Admiral 74 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,527 Sean Box , superintendent of the Naval 75 00:02:57,527 --> 00:03:00,980 Academy . Founded in 18 for 18 . 76 00:03:00,990 --> 00:03:03,170 45 . Lieutenant Richard Clark , 77 00:03:03,170 --> 00:03:05,540 Superintendent , the Air Force Academy , 78 00:03:05,540 --> 00:03:09,070 founded in 1954 . So I do know the Air 79 00:03:09,070 --> 00:03:11,400 Force Academy is 66 years old , because 80 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,511 that's the year I was born to . So we 81 00:03:13,511 --> 00:03:15,511 were established at the same time . 82 00:03:15,540 --> 00:03:17,762 Gentlemen , I want to thank you all for 83 00:03:17,762 --> 00:03:19,984 being here today . And I appreciate you 84 00:03:19,984 --> 00:03:22,096 being here to share the current state 85 00:03:22,096 --> 00:03:24,870 of military service academies . Each of 86 00:03:24,870 --> 00:03:27,092 the service academies . How some of the 87 00:03:27,092 --> 00:03:29,280 best and brightest of our of our young 88 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,960 generation many of these young men and 89 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,182 women will hold leadership positions in 90 00:03:34,182 --> 00:03:36,349 their respective services for the next 91 00:03:36,349 --> 00:03:39,080 30 years . Given this fact , it's 92 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,024 imperative that there are all well 93 00:03:41,024 --> 00:03:43,530 educated and not and only executing 94 00:03:43,530 --> 00:03:45,641 military missions in the future , but 95 00:03:45,641 --> 00:03:47,697 also grounded in the ideals in which 96 00:03:47,697 --> 00:03:49,850 this nation has been built and to the 97 00:03:49,850 --> 00:03:52,980 oath that they take to serve . Each of 98 00:03:52,980 --> 00:03:55,036 these topics will discuss today will 99 00:03:55,036 --> 00:03:57,147 encompass how effectively each one of 100 00:03:57,147 --> 00:03:59,202 the academy's is striving to achieve 101 00:03:59,202 --> 00:04:01,313 these goals . Some topics for today's 102 00:04:01,313 --> 00:04:03,536 hearing include the admission structure 103 00:04:03,536 --> 00:04:05,640 and the academies that each of the 104 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,862 service academies and how our academies 105 00:04:07,862 --> 00:04:09,862 are reflecting the diversity of our 106 00:04:09,862 --> 00:04:12,196 country and preparing cadets midshipmen . 107 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,367 And I'll add Dooley's at the Air Force 108 00:04:14,367 --> 00:04:16,422 Academy for the Mira challenges that 109 00:04:16,422 --> 00:04:18,680 they face ahead some of the social 110 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,791 issues each academy is dealing with , 111 00:04:20,791 --> 00:04:23,390 notably sexual assault , racism , 112 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,140 diversity , character and the way 113 00:04:27,140 --> 00:04:29,450 forward for that to continue to 114 00:04:29,450 --> 00:04:32,280 progress . Congress is here to support 115 00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:34,502 you in these efforts , but we also know 116 00:04:34,502 --> 00:04:36,724 that you've been dealing with something 117 00:04:36,724 --> 00:04:38,947 new . The impact of Covid 19 at each of 118 00:04:38,947 --> 00:04:41,002 the service academies and how has it 119 00:04:41,002 --> 00:04:43,058 impacted learning operations and the 120 00:04:43,058 --> 00:04:45,113 well being of student body , faculty 121 00:04:45,113 --> 00:04:48,240 and campus workforce . And then I'd 122 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,240 like to have a robust discussion of 123 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:51,907 maintenance , restoration and 124 00:04:51,907 --> 00:04:54,073 resilience . Efforts for each of these 125 00:04:54,073 --> 00:04:55,962 campuses West Point and the Naval 126 00:04:55,962 --> 00:04:58,073 Academy have buildings over 100 years 127 00:04:58,073 --> 00:05:00,640 old and the Air Force Academy . Its 128 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,160 buildings are , on average , 60 years 129 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,850 old . The military service of campuses 130 00:05:05,850 --> 00:05:08,580 have not escaped the impacts of climate 131 00:05:08,580 --> 00:05:10,580 change , and we welcome each of the 132 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:12,802 superintendents to share their concerns 133 00:05:12,802 --> 00:05:14,636 and their ideas to address these 134 00:05:14,636 --> 00:05:18,110 environmental calamities . We also look 135 00:05:18,110 --> 00:05:20,277 forward to hearing what more we can do 136 00:05:20,277 --> 00:05:22,221 as members of Congress to help the 137 00:05:22,221 --> 00:05:24,388 service academies and their nomination 138 00:05:24,388 --> 00:05:26,610 process . It's an honor and a privilege 139 00:05:26,610 --> 00:05:29,150 that we have the ability to make these 140 00:05:29,150 --> 00:05:31,510 nominations once again . I want to 141 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:33,454 thank you for appearing before the 142 00:05:33,454 --> 00:05:35,788 committee today to discuss these issues . 143 00:05:35,788 --> 00:05:37,980 And now I want to recognize our 144 00:05:37,980 --> 00:05:39,870 distinguished ranking member , Mr 145 00:05:39,870 --> 00:05:41,870 Calvert , for any comments he might 146 00:05:41,870 --> 00:05:44,630 want to add . Mr . Calvert . Thank you . 147 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,807 Thank you . Chair . McCollum . Today . 148 00:05:46,807 --> 00:05:48,584 I'm very pleased to welcome the 149 00:05:48,584 --> 00:05:50,418 Superintendent of our incredible 150 00:05:50,418 --> 00:05:52,584 service academies . Lieutenant General 151 00:05:52,584 --> 00:05:54,696 Clark . Lieutenant Colonel Williams . 152 00:05:54,696 --> 00:05:56,807 Vice Admiral Buck , thank you all for 153 00:05:56,807 --> 00:05:59,630 taking time , will testify to us today 154 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,696 this subcommittee is responsible for 155 00:06:01,696 --> 00:06:04,580 ensuring our military has the tools it 156 00:06:04,580 --> 00:06:06,691 needs to protect our nation and carry 157 00:06:06,691 --> 00:06:08,858 out the national defense strategy . We 158 00:06:08,858 --> 00:06:10,469 hear from service chiefs and 159 00:06:10,469 --> 00:06:12,636 secretaries , combatant commanders and 160 00:06:12,636 --> 00:06:14,580 other leaders in the Department of 161 00:06:14,580 --> 00:06:16,469 Defense about critical resourcing 162 00:06:16,469 --> 00:06:18,413 requirements and threats . We must 163 00:06:18,413 --> 00:06:20,524 never lose sight that these emissions 164 00:06:20,524 --> 00:06:22,747 cannot be carried out without capable , 165 00:06:22,747 --> 00:06:25,000 intelligent and prepared soldiers , 166 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,170 sailors , Marines , airmen and now 167 00:06:27,180 --> 00:06:30,580 guardians . That is why today's hearing 168 00:06:30,650 --> 00:06:33,250 is so important . As our witnesses have 169 00:06:33,250 --> 00:06:35,361 noted in their respective testimonies 170 00:06:35,361 --> 00:06:37,970 are academies continue to thrive and 171 00:06:37,970 --> 00:06:40,026 produce the world's finest leaders , 172 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,060 but they also face a range of 173 00:06:42,060 --> 00:06:44,490 challenges that we must confront with a 174 00:06:44,490 --> 00:06:47,070 unified vision . Covid , 19 , has 175 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,210 undoubtedly reshaped the way all our 176 00:06:50,210 --> 00:06:52,377 education is done in this country is , 177 00:06:52,377 --> 00:06:54,154 the chairman noted . This is no 178 00:06:54,154 --> 00:06:56,260 different from our service academy . 179 00:06:56,270 --> 00:06:58,530 I'm sure we'll discuss these impacts in 180 00:06:58,530 --> 00:07:01,510 great detail today . I'm aware how well 181 00:07:01,510 --> 00:07:03,399 the academies have adjusted their 182 00:07:03,399 --> 00:07:05,650 curriculums to educate students in a 183 00:07:05,650 --> 00:07:07,900 new learning environment . This was 184 00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:10,122 made possible by the incredible leaders 185 00:07:10,122 --> 00:07:12,178 before us today and their experience 186 00:07:12,178 --> 00:07:14,560 and professional staff . So first off 187 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,782 I'd like to thank each of you . I would 188 00:07:16,782 --> 00:07:18,727 like to commend the future leaders 189 00:07:18,727 --> 00:07:20,838 currently studying at our academies . 190 00:07:20,838 --> 00:07:22,616 Your commitment to our nation , 191 00:07:22,616 --> 00:07:24,838 especially during a time such as this . 192 00:07:25,140 --> 00:07:26,790 It does not go unnoticed or 193 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,050 unappreciated . As we continue to fight 194 00:07:29,050 --> 00:07:31,590 against Covid 19 , the academies are 195 00:07:31,590 --> 00:07:33,257 faced with challenges such as 196 00:07:33,257 --> 00:07:35,320 addressing aging infrastructure , 197 00:07:35,330 --> 00:07:38,470 increasing inclusion , diversity and 198 00:07:38,470 --> 00:07:40,960 preparing our cadets and midshipmen for 199 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,450 the wars of the future . I have great 200 00:07:43,450 --> 00:07:45,450 confidence in the leaders before us 201 00:07:45,450 --> 00:07:47,450 today and their students as we work 202 00:07:47,450 --> 00:07:49,617 together to take on these challenges . 203 00:07:49,617 --> 00:07:51,783 I look forward to hearing from them in 204 00:07:51,783 --> 00:07:53,894 more detail today . Thank you , Madam 205 00:07:53,894 --> 00:07:56,250 Chair . Thank you very much . Well said , 206 00:07:56,740 --> 00:07:59,880 uh , for everyone , your full written 207 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,030 testimony that's being provided by our 208 00:08:03,030 --> 00:08:05,330 service academy superintendents will be 209 00:08:05,330 --> 00:08:07,552 placed in the record , and members have 210 00:08:07,552 --> 00:08:09,441 copies of their seats . So in the 211 00:08:09,441 --> 00:08:11,663 interest of time , I strongly encourage 212 00:08:11,663 --> 00:08:13,663 each of you to keep your summarized 213 00:08:13,663 --> 00:08:15,941 statement to five minutes or less , uh , 214 00:08:15,941 --> 00:08:17,663 to be complete but succinct in 215 00:08:17,663 --> 00:08:19,663 answering questions because we will 216 00:08:19,663 --> 00:08:21,830 have votes . We do want to get to your 217 00:08:21,830 --> 00:08:23,830 questions . So we're going to go in 218 00:08:23,830 --> 00:08:27,430 this order and , uh , as as a Vice 219 00:08:27,430 --> 00:08:30,590 admiral , Buck , uh , you will come 220 00:08:30,590 --> 00:08:33,160 after Lieutenant General Williams and 221 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,940 then General Clark , you will . You 222 00:08:35,940 --> 00:08:38,110 will close it up . So , um , thank you 223 00:08:38,110 --> 00:08:40,710 for your testimony , and I'll defer my 224 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,600 my questions up to the end . So , um , 225 00:08:44,610 --> 00:08:46,666 I can go vote , and we can keep this 226 00:08:46,666 --> 00:08:49,110 moving . Um , so I would like at this 227 00:08:49,110 --> 00:08:51,520 time to ask , um , Lieutenant General 228 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,090 Williams to kick off the testimony . 229 00:08:54,090 --> 00:08:56,146 And then the rest of you fall in the 230 00:08:56,146 --> 00:08:57,923 order I mentioned . Thank you , 231 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,040 Chair McCollum , a ranking member . 232 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,096 Calvert distinguished members of the 233 00:09:05,096 --> 00:09:06,762 committee . Thank you for the 234 00:09:06,762 --> 00:09:08,651 opportunity to discuss the United 235 00:09:08,651 --> 00:09:10,762 States Military Academy and thank you 236 00:09:10,762 --> 00:09:12,651 for your continued support to its 237 00:09:12,651 --> 00:09:14,707 programs . If you were at West Point 238 00:09:14,707 --> 00:09:16,540 today , you would see an academy 239 00:09:16,540 --> 00:09:18,484 thriving as it develops leaders of 240 00:09:18,484 --> 00:09:20,651 character . Despite the constraints of 241 00:09:20,651 --> 00:09:23,010 the global pandemic , the Academy's 242 00:09:23,010 --> 00:09:24,899 mission is to educate , train and 243 00:09:24,899 --> 00:09:26,899 inspire the corps of cadets so that 244 00:09:26,899 --> 00:09:29,380 each graduate is a commission leader of 245 00:09:29,380 --> 00:09:32,280 character , committed to both army 246 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,030 values and the ideals of duty , honor , 247 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,040 country and prepared for a career of 248 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,300 professional excellence and service to 249 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:43,170 the nation as army officers , our 250 00:09:43,170 --> 00:09:45,226 vision is to be the nation's premier 251 00:09:45,226 --> 00:09:47,760 leader development institution . We do 252 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,760 this through a process where cadets 253 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,870 developed the academic , military 254 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,070 physical and character foundation 255 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,050 necessary for continuing professional 256 00:09:57,050 --> 00:10:00,250 growth and service while internalizing 257 00:10:00,250 --> 00:10:03,510 the values necessary to live honorably , 258 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,560 lead honorably and demonstrate 259 00:10:05,570 --> 00:10:08,590 excellence . Our faculty and staff 260 00:10:08,590 --> 00:10:10,550 model is deliberately focused on 261 00:10:10,550 --> 00:10:12,760 developing leaders of character , and 262 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,038 we have an outstanding team of faculty , 263 00:10:15,038 --> 00:10:17,250 coaches , tactical officers and non 264 00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:19,510 commissioned officers , all hands 265 00:10:19,510 --> 00:10:22,280 selected , a blend of soldier and 266 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,670 civilian talent and expertise committed 267 00:10:25,680 --> 00:10:28,060 to our mission and to cadet excellence . 268 00:10:29,140 --> 00:10:31,362 We have operationalized our mission and 269 00:10:31,362 --> 00:10:33,418 strategy around five lines of effort 270 00:10:33,418 --> 00:10:35,650 that constitute my priorities . One . 271 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,040 Developing leaders of character who 272 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,151 were prepared to fight and win in the 273 00:10:40,151 --> 00:10:42,560 crucible of ground combat to 274 00:10:42,570 --> 00:10:44,514 cultivating a culture of character 275 00:10:44,514 --> 00:10:47,310 growth necessary to build and sustain 276 00:10:47,370 --> 00:10:50,560 cohesive teams built on trust , 277 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:55,030 dignity and respect . Three . Building 278 00:10:55,030 --> 00:10:57,197 diverse and effective winning teams by 279 00:10:57,197 --> 00:10:59,308 leveraging the talent of every member 280 00:10:59,308 --> 00:11:02,190 of the organization for 281 00:11:02,430 --> 00:11:04,780 modernizing , sustaining and securing 282 00:11:04,780 --> 00:11:06,891 our capabilities and infrastructure , 283 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,240 and strengthening partnerships with 284 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,030 academia , our alumni , the American 285 00:11:12,030 --> 00:11:14,490 people and our international partners . 286 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:16,611 While continuing to contribute to the 287 00:11:16,611 --> 00:11:19,540 Army profession . All five lines of 288 00:11:19,540 --> 00:11:21,596 effort ultimately support the army's 289 00:11:21,596 --> 00:11:23,780 mission , enhance army readiness and 290 00:11:23,780 --> 00:11:25,580 relying with army strategy and 291 00:11:25,580 --> 00:11:27,636 initiatives , including its people , 292 00:11:27,636 --> 00:11:30,160 first mentality and winning matters 293 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,000 attitude . Over the past year , we 294 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:34,960 successfully continued our mission 295 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,440 while adapting to the realities and 296 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,607 overcoming the challenges of the covid 297 00:11:39,607 --> 00:11:41,930 19 environment challenges that have 298 00:11:41,930 --> 00:11:44,200 made our entire community stronger , 299 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,940 more resilient and cohesive . This was 300 00:11:47,940 --> 00:11:49,900 possible because of our deliberate 301 00:11:50,010 --> 00:11:52,410 discipline and comprehensive approach 302 00:11:52,420 --> 00:11:54,620 throughout the pandemic that ensured 303 00:11:54,620 --> 00:11:57,120 the health and safety of the core and 304 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,910 the West Point community at large . We 305 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:02,390 quickly regained the critical human 306 00:12:02,390 --> 00:12:04,557 interactions that are essential to the 307 00:12:04,557 --> 00:12:06,446 success of our leader development 308 00:12:06,446 --> 00:12:08,700 experience . After our remote education 309 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:11,810 last spring . Reluctantly , over the 310 00:12:11,810 --> 00:12:13,754 past year , we had to contract our 311 00:12:13,754 --> 00:12:16,050 engagement with our alumni , parents 312 00:12:16,060 --> 00:12:18,050 and the local community on post to 313 00:12:18,050 --> 00:12:20,950 protect the core and the community . We 314 00:12:20,950 --> 00:12:22,672 look forward to reestablishing 315 00:12:22,672 --> 00:12:25,940 connections as conditions allow . Over 316 00:12:25,940 --> 00:12:27,718 the past year , we sustain army 317 00:12:27,718 --> 00:12:29,773 readiness by successfully graduating 318 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,250 1000 new officers into the army , 319 00:12:32,940 --> 00:12:34,884 executed our academic , military , 320 00:12:34,884 --> 00:12:36,884 physical and character programs and 321 00:12:36,884 --> 00:12:39,360 competed in intercollegiate athletics . 322 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,240 Our cadets have excelled across the 323 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,100 board , notably in our Graduate 324 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:47,090 Scholars program . To date , West Point 325 00:12:47,090 --> 00:12:48,770 proudly boasts 13 winners of 326 00:12:48,770 --> 00:12:51,450 prestigious graduate scholarship chips 327 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,660 to include to Rhodes scholars . 328 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:55,962 Additionally , we have several 329 00:12:55,962 --> 00:12:58,240 semifinalists and ongoing competitions , 330 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,462 including 18 semifinalists for the full 331 00:13:00,462 --> 00:13:03,490 bike scholarship . In fact , the 332 00:13:03,490 --> 00:13:05,657 Fulbright Commission has recognized us 333 00:13:05,657 --> 00:13:07,770 as the top producing institution for 334 00:13:07,770 --> 00:13:10,810 the 2021 academic here . These 335 00:13:10,810 --> 00:13:12,532 inspiring young minimum in our 336 00:13:12,532 --> 00:13:14,699 motivated and demonstrating excellence 337 00:13:14,699 --> 00:13:16,754 every day . I'm so proud to be their 338 00:13:16,754 --> 00:13:18,921 soup , and you can be proud of them as 339 00:13:18,921 --> 00:13:20,921 well . Character development is the 340 00:13:20,921 --> 00:13:22,866 most important thing we do at West 341 00:13:22,866 --> 00:13:25,410 Point because ultimately character 342 00:13:25,410 --> 00:13:27,410 development is critical to building 343 00:13:27,410 --> 00:13:29,521 army readiness . We meet cadets where 344 00:13:29,521 --> 00:13:31,688 they are and immerse them in a culture 345 00:13:31,688 --> 00:13:33,799 of character growth . This means that 346 00:13:33,799 --> 00:13:35,632 character development is ongoing 347 00:13:35,632 --> 00:13:37,910 throughout West Point in the classroom , 348 00:13:37,910 --> 00:13:39,799 during military training , on the 349 00:13:39,799 --> 00:13:42,021 athletic fields and in the locker rooms 350 00:13:42,021 --> 00:13:44,243 and barracks , character development is 351 00:13:44,243 --> 00:13:46,466 deliberately woven into every aspect of 352 00:13:46,466 --> 00:13:48,466 the cadet experience . To ensure we 353 00:13:48,466 --> 00:13:50,760 develop them into leaders of our army 354 00:13:50,770 --> 00:13:53,260 and our nation require trained 355 00:13:53,270 --> 00:13:56,040 discipline and fit . Officers who lead 356 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,670 by example , create cozy , cohesive 357 00:13:58,670 --> 00:14:01,130 teams built on trust , dignity and 358 00:14:01,130 --> 00:14:03,280 respect , and we take care of our 359 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,502 army's greatest strength , its people . 360 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,351 Over the last two years , we mobilize 361 00:14:08,351 --> 00:14:10,573 the candy resources to better integrate 362 00:14:10,573 --> 00:14:12,462 our character development efforts 363 00:14:12,462 --> 00:14:14,629 throughout all aspects of cadet Leader 364 00:14:14,629 --> 00:14:16,796 development , we created the Character 365 00:14:16,796 --> 00:14:18,740 Integration Advisory Group , which 366 00:14:18,740 --> 00:14:20,462 elevates character development 367 00:14:20,462 --> 00:14:22,518 resources to my level of command for 368 00:14:22,518 --> 00:14:24,740 additional emphasis and synchronization 369 00:14:24,740 --> 00:14:27,510 across all programs . Additionally , 370 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,742 aligned with the Army , we continue our 371 00:14:29,742 --> 00:14:31,464 efforts toward eliminating the 372 00:14:31,464 --> 00:14:33,409 corrosive behaviors that undermine 373 00:14:33,409 --> 00:14:35,353 trust , such as sexual assault and 374 00:14:35,353 --> 00:14:37,960 harassment , racism and extremism . 375 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,551 We're making progress in this space , 376 00:14:40,551 --> 00:14:42,718 but recognize we still have a long way 377 00:14:42,718 --> 00:14:45,280 to go in closing . I remain confident 378 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,447 we are preparing our cadets well , too 379 00:14:47,447 --> 00:14:49,558 late in the 21st Century Army , while 380 00:14:49,558 --> 00:14:51,447 cultivating the culture that puts 381 00:14:51,447 --> 00:14:53,558 people first so that they're ready to 382 00:14:53,558 --> 00:14:55,700 build and lead cohesive teams , teams 383 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,589 made up of the sons and daughters 384 00:14:57,589 --> 00:14:59,670 entrusted to our army . I thank you 385 00:14:59,670 --> 00:15:01,726 again for the opportunity to discuss 386 00:15:01,726 --> 00:15:04,059 the state of our academy with you today . 387 00:15:04,059 --> 00:15:06,003 I look forward to your questions . 388 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:13,940 Yeah , Chairwoman McCollum , ranking 389 00:15:13,950 --> 00:15:15,820 member Calvert and distinguished 390 00:15:15,820 --> 00:15:18,140 members of the subcommittee Thank you 391 00:15:18,140 --> 00:15:20,196 for the opportunity to appear before 392 00:15:20,196 --> 00:15:22,084 you today on behalf of the United 393 00:15:22,084 --> 00:15:24,350 States Naval Academy . Our mission is 394 00:15:24,350 --> 00:15:26,239 to development shipment morally , 395 00:15:26,239 --> 00:15:28,440 mentally and physically , and to imbue 396 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,960 them with the highest ideals of duty , 397 00:15:30,970 --> 00:15:33,860 honor and loyalty , I'm pleased to 398 00:15:33,860 --> 00:15:35,804 report to you today that the Naval 399 00:15:35,804 --> 00:15:37,971 Academy is succeeding in its mission . 400 00:15:38,540 --> 00:15:40,750 The Covid 19 pandemic has presented 401 00:15:40,750 --> 00:15:43,250 incredible obstacles to achieving that 402 00:15:43,250 --> 00:15:45,760 mission over the last 12 months . We 403 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,930 had to rapidly adapt our organization 404 00:15:47,930 --> 00:15:49,790 to meet the threat of covid and 405 00:15:49,790 --> 00:15:52,100 continue to execute our mission safely 406 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:54,930 and effectively . However , despite 407 00:15:54,930 --> 00:15:57,310 these challenges and obstacles , our 408 00:15:57,310 --> 00:16:00,730 faculty , staff and coaches and most 409 00:16:00,730 --> 00:16:02,952 importantly , our brigade of midshipmen 410 00:16:02,952 --> 00:16:05,174 have endured , often creating their own 411 00:16:05,174 --> 00:16:07,530 success . This past year we 412 00:16:07,530 --> 00:16:09,752 successfully graduated and commissioned 413 00:16:09,752 --> 00:16:12,310 1000 and two members of the class of 414 00:16:12,310 --> 00:16:14,670 2020 into the fleet , and they are now 415 00:16:14,670 --> 00:16:16,400 serving as Ensign's and second 416 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,344 lieutenants in our Navy and Marine 417 00:16:18,344 --> 00:16:20,520 Corps . We also brought aboard the 418 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,590 class of 2024 for an in person , please 419 00:16:23,590 --> 00:16:26,480 summer experience . We are proud of the 420 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,650 resilience and dedication displayed by 421 00:16:28,650 --> 00:16:31,120 our newest Naval Academy class , who 422 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:32,898 were inducted in the midst of a 423 00:16:32,898 --> 00:16:36,260 pandemic . It is our firm belief at the 424 00:16:36,260 --> 00:16:38,371 Naval Academy that you cannot develop 425 00:16:38,371 --> 00:16:41,180 leaders online . This is why we made it 426 00:16:41,180 --> 00:16:43,710 a priority and a mandate to return the 427 00:16:43,710 --> 00:16:46,650 entire brigade to Annapolis this past 428 00:16:46,650 --> 00:16:50,060 fall for the 2020 2021 academic year . 429 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,262 In order to do this , the Naval Academy 430 00:16:53,262 --> 00:16:55,280 reimagined how our most basic 431 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,500 operations are conducted in order to 432 00:16:57,500 --> 00:17:00,170 keep the entire brigade , as well as 433 00:17:00,170 --> 00:17:02,850 our faculty , staff and coaches safe on 434 00:17:02,850 --> 00:17:06,120 the yard . This ran the gamut and 435 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:08,360 included hybrid socially distance 436 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:11,380 learning . Instituting a robust COVID 437 00:17:11,380 --> 00:17:13,950 19 surveillance testing protocol . 438 00:17:14,540 --> 00:17:16,760 Dedicating one of our eight dormitory 439 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,060 wings for quarantine and isolation , 440 00:17:19,540 --> 00:17:21,850 and shifting our meals to a non 441 00:17:21,850 --> 00:17:25,230 communal grab and go format . Because 442 00:17:25,230 --> 00:17:27,119 of our adherence to public health 443 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,174 guidelines , across our entire Naval 444 00:17:29,174 --> 00:17:31,640 academy community are covid 19 . 445 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:34,270 Positivity rates have remained very low 446 00:17:34,270 --> 00:17:36,381 throughout the majority of the school 447 00:17:36,381 --> 00:17:38,103 year , well below those of our 448 00:17:38,103 --> 00:17:40,290 surrounding community . Well , we have 449 00:17:40,290 --> 00:17:42,401 seen an uptick in the number of cases 450 00:17:42,401 --> 00:17:44,401 within the brigade during this past 451 00:17:44,401 --> 00:17:46,623 week . We are confident that we will be 452 00:17:46,623 --> 00:17:48,679 able to reduce our numbers using the 453 00:17:48,679 --> 00:17:50,810 same strict mitigation protocols 454 00:17:50,820 --> 00:17:53,450 employed by our Navy's fleet units to 455 00:17:53,450 --> 00:17:57,340 contain the spread of Covid 19 . We 456 00:17:57,340 --> 00:17:59,007 recently began the process of 457 00:17:59,007 --> 00:18:01,229 vaccinating volunteers from our faculty 458 00:18:01,229 --> 00:18:03,460 and staff and hope to start our 459 00:18:03,460 --> 00:18:05,760 midshipman vaccination process soon , 460 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,340 an imperative if we are to execute 461 00:18:08,340 --> 00:18:10,340 fleet training this coming summer . 462 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:12,951 We're looking forward to win the cove 463 00:18:12,951 --> 00:18:14,784 in vaccine allows us to regain a 464 00:18:14,784 --> 00:18:16,673 greater sense of normalcy here in 465 00:18:16,673 --> 00:18:18,940 Annapolis . In the meantime , we will 466 00:18:18,940 --> 00:18:20,662 continue to prioritize our mid 467 00:18:20,662 --> 00:18:22,900 shipments , physical and mental well 468 00:18:22,900 --> 00:18:25,980 being during this difficult period . In 469 00:18:25,980 --> 00:18:27,980 addition to the challenges posed by 470 00:18:27,980 --> 00:18:30,036 Covid 19 , the Naval Academy has not 471 00:18:30,036 --> 00:18:32,630 lost focus on our long term and ongoing 472 00:18:32,630 --> 00:18:34,519 priority of developing leaders of 473 00:18:34,519 --> 00:18:37,170 character . The racial justice movement 474 00:18:37,170 --> 00:18:39,480 in America that rose this past summer 475 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,820 impacted many members of our Naval 476 00:18:41,820 --> 00:18:44,260 Academy community and the associated 477 00:18:44,260 --> 00:18:45,982 events have provoked important 478 00:18:45,982 --> 00:18:48,500 conversations regarding diversity , 479 00:18:48,510 --> 00:18:50,770 equity and inclusion on our campus . 480 00:18:51,540 --> 00:18:53,540 The Naval Academy must be a visible 481 00:18:53,540 --> 00:18:56,290 cornerstone of a value based naval 482 00:18:56,290 --> 00:18:59,060 culture of dignity and mutual respect , 483 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,384 and that includes improving sexual 484 00:19:01,384 --> 00:19:03,110 assault prevention efforts and 485 00:19:03,110 --> 00:19:05,120 continuing to strengthen response 486 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:07,990 support for victims . There is 487 00:19:07,990 --> 00:19:10,157 continued work to be done at the Naval 488 00:19:10,157 --> 00:19:12,379 Academy so that we can attract , retain 489 00:19:12,379 --> 00:19:14,510 and develop a diverse Kadre of future 490 00:19:14,510 --> 00:19:16,850 Navy and Marine Corps officers who are 491 00:19:16,850 --> 00:19:19,590 resilient , innovated and equipped to 492 00:19:19,590 --> 00:19:21,980 lead in a highway diverse , socially 493 00:19:21,980 --> 00:19:24,010 complex and multi generational 494 00:19:24,010 --> 00:19:27,480 workforce . Lastly , we remain 495 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,730 vigilant of the long term existential 496 00:19:29,730 --> 00:19:31,920 threat that climate change and sea 497 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:33,940 level rise posed to our continued 498 00:19:33,940 --> 00:19:36,720 operations . Here in Annapolis , we 499 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,630 have studied the science , We've 500 00:19:38,630 --> 00:19:41,410 implemented several resiliency projects , 501 00:19:41,420 --> 00:19:43,642 and we're in the process of formulating 502 00:19:43,642 --> 00:19:46,770 a military installation resiliency plan 503 00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:48,901 that is due to be complete at the end 504 00:19:48,901 --> 00:19:52,540 of this calendar year . For 175 years , 505 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:54,811 the Naval Academy has met its mission 506 00:19:54,811 --> 00:19:56,900 for our nation . However , we still 507 00:19:56,900 --> 00:19:59,970 face many challenges ahead . I believe 508 00:19:59,970 --> 00:20:01,859 that our top notch team of senior 509 00:20:01,859 --> 00:20:03,940 leaders , faculty and staff are 510 00:20:03,940 --> 00:20:06,420 prepared to meet those challenges using 511 00:20:06,420 --> 00:20:09,010 the same ingenuity , flexibility and 512 00:20:09,010 --> 00:20:11,210 adaptability that has allowed us to 513 00:20:11,210 --> 00:20:13,321 continue our mission in the face of a 514 00:20:13,321 --> 00:20:15,600 global pandemic . Thank you for your 515 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,489 time today and thank you for your 516 00:20:17,489 --> 00:20:19,656 enduring support of all of our service 517 00:20:19,656 --> 00:20:21,878 academies . I'm prepared to answer your 518 00:20:21,878 --> 00:20:23,878 questions as their post . Thank you 519 00:20:23,878 --> 00:20:24,878 very much . 520 00:20:34,140 --> 00:20:36,620 Chairwoman McCullum , ranking member 521 00:20:36,620 --> 00:20:38,842 Calvert and other distinguished members 522 00:20:38,842 --> 00:20:41,009 of the committee Good morning from the 523 00:20:41,009 --> 00:20:43,030 United States Air Force Academy and 524 00:20:43,030 --> 00:20:45,197 thank you to my fellow superintendents 525 00:20:45,197 --> 00:20:47,308 for your statement . I'm grateful for 526 00:20:47,308 --> 00:20:49,474 this opportunity to update you on some 527 00:20:49,474 --> 00:20:51,870 of our recent successes and to share 528 00:20:51,870 --> 00:20:53,926 some of the obstacles we face in the 529 00:20:53,926 --> 00:20:56,340 coming years . thank you for all that 530 00:20:56,340 --> 00:20:58,640 you do to support our cadets and to 531 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,070 enable the mission success of not only 532 00:21:01,070 --> 00:21:03,210 our academy , but our air and space 533 00:21:03,210 --> 00:21:05,830 forces as well . The interest in 534 00:21:05,830 --> 00:21:07,886 support of this committee is greatly 535 00:21:07,886 --> 00:21:09,886 appreciated . I look forward to our 536 00:21:09,886 --> 00:21:11,941 discussion today . About five months 537 00:21:11,941 --> 00:21:14,950 ago , it was my great honor to take 538 00:21:14,950 --> 00:21:17,172 command of the institution . I am proud 539 00:21:17,172 --> 00:21:19,910 to call my alma mater nearly four 540 00:21:19,910 --> 00:21:21,966 decades ago as a cadet at the United 541 00:21:21,966 --> 00:21:23,966 States Air Force Academy myself , I 542 00:21:23,966 --> 00:21:25,980 found my purpose and established a 543 00:21:25,980 --> 00:21:28,050 foundation of character and service 544 00:21:28,070 --> 00:21:30,126 that I could not have built anywhere 545 00:21:30,126 --> 00:21:32,540 else . I've returned to superintendent 546 00:21:32,540 --> 00:21:35,060 to academy on an outstanding trajectory , 547 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,750 but also one facing great challenges . 548 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,070 Some unique to our mission and others 549 00:21:40,070 --> 00:21:42,300 that we share with other campuses are 550 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:43,911 fellow service academies and 551 00:21:43,911 --> 00:21:46,740 communities across our country . In 552 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:48,629 these initial months , I laid out 553 00:21:48,629 --> 00:21:51,750 priorities that seek to recognize and 554 00:21:51,750 --> 00:21:53,750 overcome not only the challenges we 555 00:21:53,750 --> 00:21:56,310 face at our academy , but also those 556 00:21:56,310 --> 00:21:58,680 that are graduates will soon encounter 557 00:21:58,690 --> 00:22:01,500 as decision makers in an era of great 558 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:05,240 power competition and rapid change . My 559 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,430 first priority is one that is 560 00:22:07,430 --> 00:22:10,440 fundamental and unwavering , even as 561 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,230 the world changes around us . We will 562 00:22:13,230 --> 00:22:15,010 continue to develop leaders of 563 00:22:15,010 --> 00:22:17,300 character . Character is the 564 00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:19,522 cornerstone of leadership and should be 565 00:22:19,522 --> 00:22:21,633 the hallmark of an academy graduate . 566 00:22:22,140 --> 00:22:24,362 Each element of our mission must remain 567 00:22:24,362 --> 00:22:26,362 aligned with the moral compass that 568 00:22:26,362 --> 00:22:28,110 character provides . Without a 569 00:22:28,110 --> 00:22:29,777 commitment to character , the 570 00:22:29,777 --> 00:22:31,777 leadership foundation we build here 571 00:22:31,777 --> 00:22:33,832 will not be strong enough to support 572 00:22:33,832 --> 00:22:36,060 the weight of our goals and ambitions . 573 00:22:37,140 --> 00:22:39,140 My second priority is our immediate 574 00:22:39,140 --> 00:22:41,250 tactical challenge and one of the 575 00:22:41,250 --> 00:22:43,361 toughest our academy has ever faced . 576 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:47,670 We must defeat Covid 19 . I'm proud 577 00:22:47,670 --> 00:22:49,940 that our response to this crisis is 578 00:22:49,940 --> 00:22:52,160 utilizing the amazing brain power we 579 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,970 have within our faculty , our staff and 580 00:22:54,970 --> 00:22:57,820 our cadets . Trusting the science , 581 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,010 putting our math skills to work and 582 00:23:00,010 --> 00:23:02,390 strict adherence to guidelines will be 583 00:23:02,390 --> 00:23:04,780 our continued approach , and the health 584 00:23:04,780 --> 00:23:07,002 and safety of our entire community will 585 00:23:07,002 --> 00:23:09,058 remain at the center of our decision 586 00:23:09,058 --> 00:23:11,600 making process . Some of us may be done 587 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,310 with Covid 19 , but Covid , 19 is not 588 00:23:14,310 --> 00:23:18,010 done with us . Third , we must 589 00:23:18,010 --> 00:23:20,190 prepare leaders who will fight and win 590 00:23:20,190 --> 00:23:23,810 in future conflicts . These conflicts 591 00:23:23,810 --> 00:23:25,921 will look different than any of those 592 00:23:25,921 --> 00:23:28,320 experienced by any of us today . We're 593 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,640 in an era where our freedom to operate 594 00:23:30,650 --> 00:23:33,360 in the air and space cannot be taken 595 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:36,070 for granted . As our Air Force Chief of 596 00:23:36,070 --> 00:23:38,237 Staff General Charles Brown , stated , 597 00:23:38,237 --> 00:23:41,270 We must accelerate , change or lose . 598 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,670 Our academy will do just that , 599 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,780 developing innovative , creative and 600 00:23:46,780 --> 00:23:48,891 bold thinkers and leaders prepared to 601 00:23:48,891 --> 00:23:51,169 solve the unknown problems of tomorrow . 602 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,850 Finally , we must foster a culture of 603 00:23:55,850 --> 00:23:58,610 dignity and respect . This will not 604 00:23:58,610 --> 00:24:01,170 only make our campus a better place to 605 00:24:01,170 --> 00:24:04,480 work , live and learn , but it also is 606 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,520 a strategic imperative for our air 607 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,100 force and our space force . The cadets 608 00:24:09,100 --> 00:24:11,590 on our campus formed the most diverse 609 00:24:11,590 --> 00:24:13,812 classes we've ever had at our academy , 610 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,262 and they will lead increasingly diverse 611 00:24:16,262 --> 00:24:19,440 airmen and guardians . They must enable 612 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,496 and empower the diversity of thought 613 00:24:21,496 --> 00:24:23,662 that can be derived from this uniquely 614 00:24:23,662 --> 00:24:25,773 American strength . They must also be 615 00:24:25,773 --> 00:24:27,700 able to relate to and thrive in 616 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:29,940 partnerships with other cultures and 617 00:24:29,940 --> 00:24:31,829 allied nations and increasingly , 618 00:24:31,829 --> 00:24:34,950 collaborative combat operations . If 619 00:24:34,950 --> 00:24:37,172 dignity and respect is not ingrained in 620 00:24:37,172 --> 00:24:39,339 our culture , we will not only fail in 621 00:24:39,339 --> 00:24:41,506 these collective efforts , but we will 622 00:24:41,506 --> 00:24:43,990 also fail in the proper development of 623 00:24:43,990 --> 00:24:47,160 future leaders . In the longer 624 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,327 statement submitted for the record . I 625 00:24:49,327 --> 00:24:51,382 have elaborated in greater detail on 626 00:24:51,382 --> 00:24:53,549 some of the programs , initiatives and 627 00:24:53,549 --> 00:24:55,771 actions that we have taken or will take 628 00:24:55,771 --> 00:24:57,771 to implement these priorities . I'm 629 00:24:57,771 --> 00:24:59,938 proud of our direction , and I'm fully 630 00:24:59,938 --> 00:25:02,049 confident in the skills and abilities 631 00:25:02,049 --> 00:25:04,640 of our cadet faculty and staff . But 632 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,640 there are areas where we still have 633 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,862 work to do to uphold the high standards 634 00:25:08,862 --> 00:25:11,480 that our society rightfully expects of 635 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,350 us . Our 4221 cadets , 636 00:25:15,940 --> 00:25:18,930 206 preparatory school cadet candidates 637 00:25:18,940 --> 00:25:20,996 and the infrastructure that makes up 638 00:25:20,996 --> 00:25:23,020 our campus represent a critical 639 00:25:23,020 --> 00:25:25,090 investment in the future of our 640 00:25:25,090 --> 00:25:27,730 national security . I welcome the 641 00:25:27,730 --> 00:25:29,670 opportunity to discuss how we can 642 00:25:29,670 --> 00:25:31,781 ensure our mission success together . 643 00:25:32,140 --> 00:25:34,307 Thank you . And I look forward to your 644 00:25:34,307 --> 00:25:37,420 questions . Thank you very much . 645 00:25:37,420 --> 00:25:39,800 Gentlemen , for the first question , as 646 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,689 I said , I had the opportunity of 647 00:25:41,689 --> 00:25:43,800 speaking to the three of you over the 648 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,911 past several days . So I'm gonna go . 649 00:25:45,911 --> 00:25:47,967 I'm going to reserve my question for 650 00:25:47,967 --> 00:25:47,470 the end . And I'm going to turn to Mr 651 00:25:47,470 --> 00:25:49,526 Ruppersberger first for a question . 652 00:25:51,540 --> 00:25:54,720 Okay . I can hear you there . I can 653 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:56,900 hear you . Okay . Great . Well , first 654 00:25:56,900 --> 00:25:59,780 thing I want to want to thank all three 655 00:25:59,790 --> 00:26:02,270 for the job that you do and preparing . 656 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,336 You know , our former leaders of the 657 00:26:04,336 --> 00:26:07,290 military An excellent job . Um , I want 658 00:26:07,290 --> 00:26:09,860 to thank you , Uh , Chairwoman McCollum , 659 00:26:09,860 --> 00:26:11,860 ranking member Calvert for for your 660 00:26:11,860 --> 00:26:14,440 leadership . Um , and my first question 661 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,440 is going to be about climate change 662 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,610 Related . You mentioned that in your 663 00:26:19,620 --> 00:26:23,580 remarks , uh , rebuff . Um , and 664 00:26:23,580 --> 00:26:26,310 I'm going to speak to the broader 665 00:26:26,310 --> 00:26:28,910 context of an infrastructure budget . 666 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,320 Now . I'm president of the Naval Cavity 667 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,940 Board of Visitors , and we speak often 668 00:26:33,940 --> 00:26:35,996 about many of the challenges that we 669 00:26:35,996 --> 00:26:37,884 have there , but I'm particularly 670 00:26:37,884 --> 00:26:39,996 concerned with the issue of sea level 671 00:26:39,996 --> 00:26:43,060 rise . I know that both Air Force and 672 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,900 West Point I don't have that issue and 673 00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:47,844 have plenty of land there with the 674 00:26:47,844 --> 00:26:50,450 naval . County is surrounded by by 675 00:26:50,460 --> 00:26:52,404 water , and it's getting worse and 676 00:26:52,404 --> 00:26:55,170 worse . Um uh , Admiral Buck , can you 677 00:26:55,170 --> 00:26:57,310 explain to us the magnitude of this 678 00:26:57,310 --> 00:27:00,370 issue , uh , for the record and what 679 00:27:00,370 --> 00:27:02,790 steps that you're taking to address 680 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,190 these concerns ? What your knees are , 681 00:27:05,190 --> 00:27:07,357 and you might want to discuss also the 682 00:27:07,357 --> 00:27:09,357 new building . One of the first new 683 00:27:09,357 --> 00:27:11,301 buildings that was built the Naval 684 00:27:11,301 --> 00:27:13,079 Academy in many years the cyber 685 00:27:13,079 --> 00:27:15,023 security building and how that was 686 00:27:15,023 --> 00:27:17,370 designed , Uh , and to protect what ? 687 00:27:17,380 --> 00:27:19,436 The interior of the building and the 688 00:27:19,436 --> 00:27:21,491 equipment in the building . Um , but 689 00:27:21,491 --> 00:27:24,500 how that can repel or or save the 690 00:27:24,500 --> 00:27:26,870 building from the sea level . Rise 691 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,047 occurs on a regular basis . Abu Buck . 692 00:27:30,740 --> 00:27:32,850 Okay , Congressman Ruppersberger , 693 00:27:32,850 --> 00:27:35,072 thank you very much for the question is 694 00:27:35,072 --> 00:27:36,850 great to see you . At least two 695 00:27:36,850 --> 00:27:38,739 dimensionally and hopefully three 696 00:27:38,739 --> 00:27:40,906 dimensionally sooner than later . With 697 00:27:40,906 --> 00:27:43,072 regards to the series of questions you 698 00:27:43,072 --> 00:27:45,294 asked , all related to climate change , 699 00:27:45,294 --> 00:27:47,660 uh , you have identified are our 700 00:27:47,660 --> 00:27:49,660 greatest vulnerabilities . It's our 701 00:27:49,660 --> 00:27:53,050 geographic location were built on a lot 702 00:27:53,050 --> 00:27:55,390 of reclaimed land . We're at the 703 00:27:55,390 --> 00:27:57,980 confluence of one of Maryland's major 704 00:27:57,980 --> 00:28:00,091 rivers and the Chesapeake Bay . Large 705 00:28:00,091 --> 00:28:02,220 bodies of water . And we're also 706 00:28:02,220 --> 00:28:05,760 affected throughout the entire day 365 707 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:07,704 days of the year by the prevailing 708 00:28:07,704 --> 00:28:09,816 winds that have existed for centuries 709 00:28:10,140 --> 00:28:12,160 easterly and southeasterly winds , 710 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,770 which , when you combine that weather 711 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,450 with sea level , rise with 712 00:28:19,450 --> 00:28:22,470 subsidence that is pretty significant 713 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:25,950 in the Chesapeake Bay area here on the 714 00:28:25,950 --> 00:28:29,220 East coast and in the mid Atlantic . We 715 00:28:29,220 --> 00:28:31,880 are continually experiencing the 716 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:35,490 negative effects of high tide flooding 717 00:28:35,500 --> 00:28:39,170 almost , uh , on a regular basis 718 00:28:39,740 --> 00:28:42,040 to touch on the one question you asked 719 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:44,740 about the magnitude of it for an 720 00:28:44,740 --> 00:28:47,260 example to kind of give a compelling 721 00:28:47,260 --> 00:28:50,520 statistic . In the entire decade of the 722 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,570 nineties , the Naval Academy was 723 00:28:53,570 --> 00:28:56,700 negatively affected by high tide 724 00:28:56,700 --> 00:29:00,670 flooding 41 times in a decade . 725 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,030 Now we're experiencing 41 726 00:29:05,660 --> 00:29:08,710 instances of high tide flooding per 727 00:29:08,710 --> 00:29:11,470 year . And as we look at all of the 728 00:29:11,470 --> 00:29:14,190 projections from all of the science , 729 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,110 uh , and those that are looking at this , 730 00:29:17,110 --> 00:29:18,990 especially on the East Coast and 731 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,278 looking at it for naval infrastructure , 732 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:25,740 it is projected by 2050 that we'll 733 00:29:25,740 --> 00:29:27,796 see this high tide flooding negative 734 00:29:27,796 --> 00:29:29,907 effect every single day of the year . 735 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:33,210 What does that mean ? It floods out 736 00:29:33,220 --> 00:29:35,610 some of our roads . Some of the key 737 00:29:35,610 --> 00:29:37,832 networks that we bring our workforce on 738 00:29:37,832 --> 00:29:40,310 the campus day in and day out . It 739 00:29:40,310 --> 00:29:42,477 affects some of our parking lots where 740 00:29:42,477 --> 00:29:44,588 they try to park , and it affects the 741 00:29:44,588 --> 00:29:46,532 entrances and exits to some of our 742 00:29:46,532 --> 00:29:50,260 buildings . Um , so it is a reality , 743 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:52,807 And I'm very proud to tell you that my 744 00:29:52,807 --> 00:29:54,862 predecessor formed the U . S . Naval 745 00:29:54,862 --> 00:29:57,300 Academy Sea Level Rise Advisory Council 746 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:00,780 in 2015 , and I have the pleasure of 747 00:30:00,780 --> 00:30:03,002 the hou and the imperative to carry the 748 00:30:03,002 --> 00:30:06,090 work of that advisory council . It's 749 00:30:06,090 --> 00:30:08,200 made up of scientists from the Naval 750 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,200 Academy , engineers , different 751 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,560 stakeholders and my Naval Academy team , 752 00:30:13,940 --> 00:30:16,051 as well as stakeholders from the city 753 00:30:16,051 --> 00:30:18,329 of Annapolis and the state of Maryland . 754 00:30:18,329 --> 00:30:20,410 It's informed by the Army Corps of 755 00:30:20,410 --> 00:30:22,410 Engineers and other experts that we 756 00:30:22,410 --> 00:30:25,330 bring in to get after a study that they 757 00:30:25,330 --> 00:30:28,260 have embarked on now that we that we 758 00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:30,640 intend to see or expect to see at the 759 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,040 end of this calendar year that will 760 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,270 help us create a military installation 761 00:30:35,270 --> 00:30:37,670 resiliency plan they're going to 762 00:30:37,670 --> 00:30:39,900 present to us different courses of 763 00:30:39,900 --> 00:30:43,170 action engineering solutions that we 764 00:30:43,170 --> 00:30:45,420 can take around the yard . They might 765 00:30:45,420 --> 00:30:49,420 be building up cement seawalls higher 766 00:30:49,430 --> 00:30:52,600 and and better . It might be creating 767 00:30:52,610 --> 00:30:55,390 earth and berms or levies and raising 768 00:30:55,390 --> 00:30:57,501 the level of roads to block different 769 00:30:57,501 --> 00:31:00,610 areas . And it may be in combination 770 00:31:00,610 --> 00:31:02,832 with correcting some of our storm water 771 00:31:02,832 --> 00:31:05,480 drainage systems that maybe has not had 772 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,050 a good look at a modernization in a 773 00:31:08,050 --> 00:31:10,900 number of years . We understand that as 774 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:13,210 we combine all of those recommended 775 00:31:13,210 --> 00:31:16,140 engineering solutions and understand 776 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:18,530 and appreciate their associated costs 777 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:20,791 that we can present to you to members 778 00:31:20,791 --> 00:31:23,360 of Congress and to my Navy for help 779 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:26,130 that if we do that very deliberately 780 00:31:26,130 --> 00:31:28,890 over the next 30 years , very 781 00:31:28,890 --> 00:31:31,620 consistently , deliberately and and and 782 00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:34,080 with conviction , we can ensure that we 783 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,247 not only protect the infrastructure at 784 00:31:36,247 --> 00:31:38,358 the Naval Academy , but also with our 785 00:31:38,358 --> 00:31:40,240 host city , the historic city of 786 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,100 Annapolis . Okay , you're back . My 787 00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:45,267 time's up . Thank you for those . Uh , 788 00:31:45,540 --> 00:31:47,970 it's a great question , and we will be 789 00:31:47,970 --> 00:31:50,190 following up on it . And I think we 790 00:31:50,190 --> 00:31:52,246 need a different , in my opinion , a 791 00:31:52,246 --> 00:31:54,301 different time frame that's a little 792 00:31:54,301 --> 00:31:56,357 quicker than 30 years because that's 793 00:31:56,357 --> 00:31:58,579 the best case scenario . I think that , 794 00:31:58,579 --> 00:32:02,240 um we heard from that Mr Calvert , 795 00:32:02,710 --> 00:32:06,510 that thank you . And I thank the 796 00:32:06,510 --> 00:32:08,621 superintendents for their testimony . 797 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,330 Uh , it's been pointed out . We're 798 00:32:11,340 --> 00:32:14,060 currently in the age of rapidly 799 00:32:14,540 --> 00:32:17,870 evolving technology , unseen in 800 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,040 human history , impacting warfare 801 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:23,590 domains in almost every single way 802 00:32:23,590 --> 00:32:26,820 imaginable course . Duchess . As an 803 00:32:26,820 --> 00:32:28,931 installation , it's in his district . 804 00:32:28,931 --> 00:32:31,270 It's involved in that every single day . 805 00:32:32,370 --> 00:32:35,750 Cyber is a huge issue that we have to 806 00:32:35,750 --> 00:32:37,750 face every single day and now space 807 00:32:37,750 --> 00:32:39,920 domains and each of you give us 808 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,690 examples of how respective institutions 809 00:32:42,690 --> 00:32:44,770 are preparing our future leaders to 810 00:32:44,770 --> 00:32:47,430 adapt to this type of environment . Are 811 00:32:47,430 --> 00:32:49,374 you making curriculum changes that 812 00:32:49,374 --> 00:32:51,670 focus more heavily on that technology ? 813 00:32:52,940 --> 00:32:55,680 I guess that's for all all three or one 814 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:57,736 of you representing one each other . 815 00:33:01,140 --> 00:33:03,473 Yes , sir . Thank you for that question . 816 00:33:03,473 --> 00:33:05,640 I'll start off with general items here 817 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:07,751 at West Point . Sir , we as we talked 818 00:33:07,751 --> 00:33:09,973 yesterday Thank you for that question . 819 00:33:09,973 --> 00:33:12,029 We absolutely are here at West Point 820 00:33:12,029 --> 00:33:13,918 thinking about the future in very 821 00:33:13,918 --> 00:33:15,973 critical ways I would start with and 822 00:33:15,973 --> 00:33:17,696 thanks to Congress , our cyber 823 00:33:17,696 --> 00:33:19,807 engineering and academic center which 824 00:33:19,807 --> 00:33:22,080 will transform how we think about the 825 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,470 future invariable ways and will also 826 00:33:24,470 --> 00:33:26,920 allow us to continue to attract the 827 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:29,031 best and brightest from our country . 828 00:33:29,031 --> 00:33:31,710 We just broke ground about two months 829 00:33:31,710 --> 00:33:33,877 ago . And thanks to Congress , we have 830 00:33:33,877 --> 00:33:35,877 the ability to do that . So we look 831 00:33:35,877 --> 00:33:38,570 forward to having the space to develop 832 00:33:38,570 --> 00:33:40,810 and provide a forum . We're not only 833 00:33:40,810 --> 00:33:42,643 where our cadets will be able to 834 00:33:42,643 --> 00:33:44,699 interact with the best and brightest 835 00:33:44,699 --> 00:33:46,754 around the world and invite folks to 836 00:33:46,754 --> 00:33:49,020 continue that discussion , but also 837 00:33:49,020 --> 00:33:51,130 their daily conversation will be 838 00:33:51,130 --> 00:33:53,130 influenced and shaped by this great 839 00:33:53,130 --> 00:33:55,560 facility . And so , in terms of how we 840 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:57,680 do our curriculum in terms of the 841 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,300 academy , we have , uh , new majors . 842 00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:02,750 We have a space science major , uh , a 843 00:34:02,750 --> 00:34:04,720 space science minor just recently 844 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:06,620 that's under the direction of our 845 00:34:06,620 --> 00:34:08,398 physics and nuclear engineering 846 00:34:08,398 --> 00:34:10,620 department . Uh , they've made a lot of 847 00:34:10,620 --> 00:34:12,842 great Enron's with that have been there 848 00:34:12,842 --> 00:34:14,842 for some time . Uh , currently , we 849 00:34:14,842 --> 00:34:17,064 have 70 cadets enrolled in the mind and 850 00:34:17,064 --> 00:34:19,064 the major 20 cadets enrolled in the 851 00:34:19,064 --> 00:34:20,953 minor . We also have a geospatial 852 00:34:20,953 --> 00:34:23,176 information science major where we have 853 00:34:23,176 --> 00:34:25,231 85 cadets currently enrolled . So we 854 00:34:25,231 --> 00:34:27,342 are producing the young men and women 855 00:34:27,342 --> 00:34:29,900 who will be leaders in this , uh , 856 00:34:29,910 --> 00:34:32,021 space , if you will . In the future . 857 00:34:32,021 --> 00:34:34,132 We feel very comfortable about that . 858 00:34:34,132 --> 00:34:37,320 We also have were also enjoy the Army's 859 00:34:37,330 --> 00:34:39,700 Cyber Institute , which is co located 860 00:34:39,700 --> 00:34:42,260 here . It's the Army's think tank to 861 00:34:42,260 --> 00:34:44,482 how we think about , and that really is 862 00:34:44,482 --> 00:34:46,500 a nexus where we bring the best and 863 00:34:46,500 --> 00:34:49,100 brightest , and they routinely provide 864 00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:51,630 to the literature about what we should 865 00:34:51,630 --> 00:34:54,740 be thinking about to , uh , compete and 866 00:34:54,750 --> 00:34:57,550 defeat our adversaries in the future in 867 00:34:57,550 --> 00:34:59,772 the cyber domain . So those are some of 868 00:34:59,772 --> 00:35:01,828 the things internal West Point , the 869 00:35:01,828 --> 00:35:04,050 brick and mortar projects which you all 870 00:35:04,050 --> 00:35:05,994 have helped fund . And then , more 871 00:35:05,994 --> 00:35:08,050 importantly , the adjunct , our Army 872 00:35:08,050 --> 00:35:10,272 Cyber Institute just outside the gate , 873 00:35:10,272 --> 00:35:12,272 and cadets are allowed to interface 874 00:35:12,272 --> 00:35:14,217 with the Army Cyber Institute . So 875 00:35:14,217 --> 00:35:16,383 folks come in and out of that in their 876 00:35:16,383 --> 00:35:18,161 classroom , and the instructors 877 00:35:18,161 --> 00:35:20,980 actually rotate on on my staff as well . 878 00:35:20,990 --> 00:35:22,990 Thank you for your question , sir . 879 00:35:22,990 --> 00:35:25,101 Thank you . Uh , Navy Air Force , any 880 00:35:25,101 --> 00:35:27,640 addition to that ? Yes , sir . Thank 881 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,510 you for the opportunity . Um , and what 882 00:35:30,510 --> 00:35:32,732 I'll start with is our national defense 883 00:35:32,732 --> 00:35:35,960 strategy that that tells us as as a 884 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:38,127 country that we have to be prepared to 885 00:35:38,127 --> 00:35:40,071 compete in an environment of great 886 00:35:40,071 --> 00:35:42,127 power competition . And our chief of 887 00:35:42,127 --> 00:35:44,293 staff , General Brown , has charged us 888 00:35:44,293 --> 00:35:46,660 in his order to accelerate , change or 889 00:35:46,660 --> 00:35:48,680 lose to develop airmen that are 890 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:51,360 prepared to compete in that environment . 891 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:54,110 So at the academy , much like West 892 00:35:54,110 --> 00:35:56,790 Point and Annapolis , we are developing 893 00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:59,100 leaders , um , that are looking to the 894 00:35:59,100 --> 00:36:01,044 future . And that is one of my top 895 00:36:01,044 --> 00:36:04,470 priorities . We have 50% of our majors 896 00:36:04,470 --> 00:36:07,650 or stem majors . 50% of our core 897 00:36:07,650 --> 00:36:10,320 courses are stem courses . But beyond 898 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:12,542 that , we're also developing leaders to 899 00:36:12,542 --> 00:36:14,764 think boldly to be innovative and solve 900 00:36:14,764 --> 00:36:17,042 problems that we don't even know about . 901 00:36:17,042 --> 00:36:18,820 And we've recently stood up and 902 00:36:18,820 --> 00:36:21,070 institute for future conflict to help 903 00:36:21,070 --> 00:36:23,292 us to meet the needs and to prepare our 904 00:36:23,292 --> 00:36:25,292 cadets so that they're not ready to 905 00:36:25,292 --> 00:36:27,570 meet challenge for five years from now . 906 00:36:27,570 --> 00:36:29,740 But but challenges 25 years from now . 907 00:36:29,750 --> 00:36:32,530 And we're very excited about the 908 00:36:32,540 --> 00:36:34,596 direction that we're taking and that 909 00:36:34,596 --> 00:36:36,762 we're moving . In fact , we just hired 910 00:36:36,762 --> 00:36:39,370 a director , a new director of that 911 00:36:39,380 --> 00:36:42,380 institute . So , um , I think we are in 912 00:36:42,380 --> 00:36:44,790 a great place to have our leaders ready 913 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,520 to lead us into the future and compete 914 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,890 well on the future stage of our global 915 00:36:49,890 --> 00:36:52,900 environment . Thank you , sir . Well , 916 00:36:52,900 --> 00:36:54,956 thank you . It looks like my time is 917 00:36:54,956 --> 00:36:57,067 just about up . Uh , madam Chair . So 918 00:36:57,067 --> 00:36:59,160 I'll go back to balance of my time . 919 00:37:01,430 --> 00:37:03,652 Well , that's good . Maybe we will have 920 00:37:03,652 --> 00:37:05,819 an opportunity to catch up on the last 921 00:37:05,819 --> 00:37:08,097 service we didn't hear from his captor . 922 00:37:14,230 --> 00:37:16,452 Thank you very much , Madam Chair . And 923 00:37:16,452 --> 00:37:19,290 thank you for hosting us this morning 924 00:37:19,300 --> 00:37:21,810 with these really outstanding leaders 925 00:37:21,810 --> 00:37:23,270 for our country . All the 926 00:37:23,270 --> 00:37:25,530 superintendent's . My two questions , 927 00:37:25,540 --> 00:37:28,840 uh , involve , um , diversity and 928 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:31,780 culture at the academies . The first is . 929 00:37:31,780 --> 00:37:34,180 Could each of our guests please 930 00:37:34,190 --> 00:37:37,090 summarize their progress in terms of 931 00:37:37,090 --> 00:37:39,201 diversity , which has been one of the 932 00:37:39,201 --> 00:37:41,368 most challenging aspects of my work as 933 00:37:41,368 --> 00:37:43,146 a congresswoman relative to the 934 00:37:43,146 --> 00:37:44,923 academy's ? Despite the diverse 935 00:37:44,923 --> 00:37:46,979 district , I represent getting young 936 00:37:46,979 --> 00:37:50,050 people to apply who would be more 937 00:37:50,050 --> 00:37:52,161 representative of the district that I 938 00:37:52,161 --> 00:37:54,272 represent . And believe me , it isn't 939 00:37:54,272 --> 00:37:56,494 for lack of trying . It has been very , 940 00:37:56,494 --> 00:37:58,550 very hard . So just talk to us about 941 00:37:58,550 --> 00:38:00,494 your in each of the academy's your 942 00:38:00,494 --> 00:38:03,050 progress in terms of recruitment , um , 943 00:38:03,060 --> 00:38:05,116 for admission and then Secondly , in 944 00:38:05,116 --> 00:38:06,960 terms of culture , I was very 945 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:09,300 interested in Superintendent Williams 946 00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:11,356 use of the word character developing 947 00:38:11,356 --> 00:38:13,530 character . I'm interested in your 948 00:38:13,530 --> 00:38:17,090 views at the Academy of the types of 949 00:38:17,090 --> 00:38:19,440 students that are being admitted and 950 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,440 some of your challenges there . I'm 951 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:23,770 familiar with some of the drug problems 952 00:38:23,770 --> 00:38:25,937 that have occurred at West Point , but 953 00:38:25,937 --> 00:38:27,937 it's not the only place where those 954 00:38:27,937 --> 00:38:30,048 have happened , and I'm interested in 955 00:38:30,048 --> 00:38:32,140 your talking about the cheating that 956 00:38:32,140 --> 00:38:34,760 has occurred on many of the tests in 957 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:37,970 each of the academies and how , in fact , 958 00:38:37,980 --> 00:38:40,340 you can educate to character dear 959 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:44,640 admissions , not possess those traits . 960 00:38:44,650 --> 00:38:46,872 Do you have to teach to that ? Has this 961 00:38:46,872 --> 00:38:49,340 changed in the last 40 years ? I'm very 962 00:38:49,340 --> 00:38:51,062 interested in your comments on 963 00:38:51,062 --> 00:38:54,340 diversity and on developing cadets 964 00:38:54,720 --> 00:38:58,350 with character . Yes , 965 00:38:58,350 --> 00:39:00,461 ma'am , thank you for the opportunity 966 00:39:00,461 --> 00:39:03,010 to talk about that . Diversity is , as 967 00:39:03,010 --> 00:39:05,260 I mentioned in my opening comments is a 968 00:39:05,260 --> 00:39:07,690 line of effort . It's a priority . Um , 969 00:39:07,700 --> 00:39:09,811 I think it's very important for young 970 00:39:09,811 --> 00:39:12,033 men and women to come here that we look 971 00:39:12,033 --> 00:39:13,867 like the United States Army . We 972 00:39:13,867 --> 00:39:16,100 represent the country . I actively in 973 00:39:16,100 --> 00:39:18,820 this space , Uh , we have a very active 974 00:39:18,830 --> 00:39:21,870 outreach program . Uh , I would love to , 975 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,890 uh , reach out and help you in that 976 00:39:24,890 --> 00:39:26,870 effort . And as we go forward , I 977 00:39:26,870 --> 00:39:30,100 actively , uh , in this virtual space , 978 00:39:30,100 --> 00:39:32,322 it's a little difficult , but we hold a 979 00:39:32,322 --> 00:39:34,267 number of online webinars . I just 980 00:39:34,267 --> 00:39:36,433 usually participate them on Saturday . 981 00:39:36,433 --> 00:39:39,010 And I actually talk and recruit people 982 00:39:39,010 --> 00:39:42,190 of different diversity . 983 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:45,370 Um , man , we need or exceed , although 984 00:39:45,370 --> 00:39:47,426 the officer percentages here at West 985 00:39:47,426 --> 00:39:49,592 Point in terms of what we mean . So if 986 00:39:49,592 --> 00:39:52,270 you have , um , for African American , 987 00:39:52,270 --> 00:39:54,492 for Asians and Hispanics , we are at or 988 00:39:54,492 --> 00:39:56,603 over the percentage that are actively 989 00:39:56,603 --> 00:39:58,880 represented in the active duty Army 990 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:01,102 officer corps right now at West Point , 991 00:40:01,102 --> 00:40:04,950 24% women , 17% African American 992 00:40:05,180 --> 00:40:07,347 and I can share with you more of those 993 00:40:07,347 --> 00:40:09,124 details later . So diversity is 994 00:40:09,124 --> 00:40:11,500 something that I think is critical to 995 00:40:11,500 --> 00:40:14,440 winning . And especially as we look at 996 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:16,496 complex problems in the future , you 997 00:40:16,496 --> 00:40:18,551 have to have folks that have diverse 998 00:40:18,551 --> 00:40:20,662 backgrounds and ethnicities . I think 999 00:40:20,910 --> 00:40:23,520 in terms of culture , uh , before how 1000 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:25,576 we've elevated culture , it's a very 1001 00:40:25,576 --> 00:40:27,940 deliberate effort . We have a highly 1002 00:40:27,940 --> 00:40:30,720 qualified individual who integrates 1003 00:40:30,730 --> 00:40:32,841 across the enterprise not only in the 1004 00:40:32,841 --> 00:40:35,280 academic departments but in my physical 1005 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,920 department and my military department 1006 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:41,060 who answers to me about culture . Uh , 1007 00:40:41,060 --> 00:40:43,282 and we have nine highly qualified . The 1008 00:40:43,282 --> 00:40:45,450 Army allowed us to have these folks to 1009 00:40:45,450 --> 00:40:47,930 come in here , and they are part of our 1010 00:40:47,930 --> 00:40:50,200 program . And it's a very deliberate 1011 00:40:50,210 --> 00:40:53,320 way to take young men and women who 1012 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,376 right now there's a There's a set of 1013 00:40:55,376 --> 00:40:57,598 high school seniors who will be here in 1014 00:40:57,598 --> 00:40:59,653 about four months , and we take them 1015 00:40:59,653 --> 00:41:01,820 where they are , and over the 47 month 1016 00:41:01,820 --> 00:41:04,042 experience , we develop them to leaders 1017 00:41:04,042 --> 00:41:03,940 of character . So it's a very 1018 00:41:03,940 --> 00:41:06,051 deliberate effort . I can talk to you 1019 00:41:06,051 --> 00:41:08,107 more about that in more detail . And 1020 00:41:08,107 --> 00:41:10,107 finally have you asked about on our 1021 00:41:10,107 --> 00:41:12,440 last spring ? Our young men and women , 1022 00:41:12,810 --> 00:41:15,143 we're gonna remote learning environment , 1023 00:41:15,143 --> 00:41:16,977 and we're challenged . Some were 1024 00:41:16,977 --> 00:41:18,980 challenged in terms of home life at 1025 00:41:18,980 --> 00:41:21,820 home , um , and a variety of issues 1026 00:41:21,820 --> 00:41:23,987 which I can go in more detail later if 1027 00:41:23,987 --> 00:41:26,042 you would like , they were away from 1028 00:41:26,042 --> 00:41:28,209 their coaches , their teachers , their 1029 00:41:28,209 --> 00:41:30,098 tax , they're taxing CEOs and the 1030 00:41:30,098 --> 00:41:32,680 structures that provide the way ahead . 1031 00:41:32,690 --> 00:41:35,440 And from my perspective , these young 1032 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:37,329 men and women have only been here 1033 00:41:37,329 --> 00:41:39,710 semester . And , um , there's no excuse 1034 00:41:39,710 --> 00:41:41,780 for violating United States Military 1035 00:41:41,780 --> 00:41:44,040 Academy honor code . And I have all the 1036 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:46,260 tools I need to hold them accountable 1037 00:41:46,260 --> 00:41:48,800 for that . And we will , and the ones 1038 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:50,800 that are that remain here . We will 1039 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,133 develop them , the leaders of character , 1040 00:41:53,133 --> 00:41:55,189 and they will learn from this , uh , 1041 00:41:55,189 --> 00:41:57,022 experience . Thank you , ma'am . 1042 00:41:57,022 --> 00:41:59,133 General , what about drug use at West 1043 00:41:59,133 --> 00:42:01,300 Point ? Man ? I haven't seen that . We 1044 00:42:01,300 --> 00:42:03,970 have some , uh , small instance . It's 1045 00:42:03,970 --> 00:42:07,890 not , uh , raging right now 1046 00:42:07,900 --> 00:42:10,340 to use that word . There are the normal 1047 00:42:10,340 --> 00:42:12,507 kinds of challenges that any commander 1048 00:42:12,507 --> 00:42:14,670 faces . Um , this is not something 1049 00:42:14,670 --> 00:42:18,170 that's a , uh , very high currently 1050 00:42:18,180 --> 00:42:20,291 raging at West Point in terms of have 1051 00:42:20,291 --> 00:42:22,624 you expelled anyone because of drug use ? 1052 00:42:22,624 --> 00:42:25,300 I have not this year , but in in my in 1053 00:42:25,300 --> 00:42:27,411 my past three years . Yes , ma'am , I 1054 00:42:27,411 --> 00:42:31,020 have . Thank you , Mr Rogers . 1055 00:42:32,900 --> 00:42:36,470 Yeah . Thank you , madam Chair and on 1056 00:42:36,470 --> 00:42:40,460 there . Hear 1057 00:42:40,460 --> 00:42:44,160 you , sir . I thank the gentleman for 1058 00:42:44,170 --> 00:42:45,840 their appearance before our 1059 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:48,140 subcommittee and for the great job 1060 00:42:48,140 --> 00:42:50,110 you're doing and your respective 1061 00:42:50,110 --> 00:42:52,720 academies , let me ask you about 1062 00:42:52,720 --> 00:42:55,880 something that's unpleasant . One 1063 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,820 aspect , big aspect of the covid 1064 00:42:59,820 --> 00:43:03,660 19 problem . And that is the mental 1065 00:43:03,660 --> 00:43:06,940 well being of our 1066 00:43:06,940 --> 00:43:10,870 world in these times . But especially , 1067 00:43:10,870 --> 00:43:13,160 of course , at the Academy is with your 1068 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:16,320 personnel . The mental health 1069 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:19,430 in the spring of 2020 1070 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:24,200 as Covid . 19 forced the 1071 00:43:24,200 --> 00:43:26,610 academies to change how they operated , 1072 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:29,590 looking down campus , locking down 1073 00:43:29,590 --> 00:43:32,360 campus , quarantining cadets and 1074 00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:36,020 midshipmen , moving classes online 1075 00:43:36,700 --> 00:43:38,922 and ultimately sending the student body 1076 00:43:38,922 --> 00:43:42,160 home early for the school year , while 1077 00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:44,271 the cadets and it should have been at 1078 00:43:44,271 --> 00:43:46,590 West Point and the Naval Academy were 1079 00:43:46,590 --> 00:43:49,300 sent home in March , the Air Force 1080 00:43:49,300 --> 00:43:52,820 Academy kept senior cadets on campus . 1081 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:57,410 Uh , and in March , two Air 1082 00:43:57,410 --> 00:44:00,310 Force Academy seniors were found dead 1083 00:44:01,390 --> 00:44:04,710 and suspected suicides while under 1084 00:44:04,720 --> 00:44:07,210 strict lockdown because of covid 19 . 1085 00:44:07,990 --> 00:44:10,212 That led , of course , to conversations 1086 00:44:10,212 --> 00:44:13,320 about the impact of the pandemic on 1087 00:44:13,330 --> 00:44:16,330 mental health . Both West Point and the 1088 00:44:16,330 --> 00:44:19,800 Naval Academy reported , saying 1089 00:44:19,810 --> 00:44:22,610 indicators of mental health decline 1090 00:44:23,490 --> 00:44:25,440 and the cadets and midshipmen 1091 00:44:25,450 --> 00:44:28,750 throughout the Carve on US Corner 1092 00:44:28,750 --> 00:44:32,650 Veronica's Pandemic How are the 1093 00:44:32,650 --> 00:44:36,180 academy's dealing with this obvious 1094 00:44:36,180 --> 00:44:39,440 problem ? Uh uh , 1095 00:44:39,450 --> 00:44:42,200 following , uh , covid 19 safety 1096 00:44:42,200 --> 00:44:45,580 protocols as well as keeping your 1097 00:44:45,580 --> 00:44:48,380 campus is safe and the well being of 1098 00:44:48,380 --> 00:44:51,800 cadets and , uh , in good shape . 1099 00:44:52,390 --> 00:44:56,240 Mm . Congressman Rogers , Admiral Buck 1100 00:44:56,240 --> 00:44:59,010 here from Annapolis . I'll take the 1101 00:44:59,010 --> 00:45:00,954 lead on on answering that from our 1102 00:45:00,954 --> 00:45:02,843 perspective here at the Academy . 1103 00:45:03,190 --> 00:45:05,880 Looking back chronologically when we 1104 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:09,050 did shift very rapidly to an online 1105 00:45:09,050 --> 00:45:11,710 environment back in the spring , the 1106 00:45:11,710 --> 00:45:15,380 spring semester of 2020 I'm very , very 1107 00:45:15,380 --> 00:45:17,800 proud to tell you that our team here 1108 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:21,730 are very collective team of people that 1109 00:45:21,730 --> 00:45:23,619 can help Midshipman develop their 1110 00:45:23,619 --> 00:45:26,000 resiliency and respond to them in their 1111 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,330 times of need . Quickly converted every 1112 00:45:29,330 --> 00:45:31,530 single service that we have to an 1113 00:45:31,530 --> 00:45:33,930 online environment , and I don't 1114 00:45:33,930 --> 00:45:36,280 believe we missed a beat with regards 1115 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:38,460 to making ourselves available to each 1116 00:45:38,460 --> 00:45:40,740 and every mid shipment , and it's a 1117 00:45:40,740 --> 00:45:43,300 large cohort of folks . It's their it's 1118 00:45:43,300 --> 00:45:45,356 their shipmates , their their fellow 1119 00:45:45,356 --> 00:45:47,840 midshipmen . It's their company 1120 00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:50,290 leadership or the commissioned officers 1121 00:45:50,290 --> 00:45:52,290 and enlisted leaders in the brigade 1122 00:45:52,490 --> 00:45:55,920 that usually see them on a near an hour 1123 00:45:55,920 --> 00:45:58,580 by hour basis each day . It's our 1124 00:45:58,580 --> 00:46:01,550 chaplain corps . It's our Midshipman 1125 00:46:01,550 --> 00:46:03,661 Development Center , which is staffed 1126 00:46:03,661 --> 00:46:06,200 by psychiatrists , psychologists , 1127 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:09,230 nutritionists , uh , social workers and 1128 00:46:09,230 --> 00:46:11,780 sexual assault . Uh , folks that can 1129 00:46:11,780 --> 00:46:15,500 help all of those people were to were 1130 00:46:15,500 --> 00:46:17,640 able to immediately make themselves 1131 00:46:17,650 --> 00:46:19,890 available to the mid shipment during 1132 00:46:19,890 --> 00:46:22,223 that distance environment in the spring . 1133 00:46:22,223 --> 00:46:25,870 In the summer , what we saw was a rise 1134 00:46:25,870 --> 00:46:29,610 in a request for services not arise at 1135 00:46:29,610 --> 00:46:32,320 all for specific appointments for 1136 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:34,960 therapists and that that should be 1137 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:37,800 noted . It was a significant difference 1138 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:40,280 in their request to try to learn to 1139 00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:42,950 cope with them , for themselves , to 1140 00:46:42,950 --> 00:46:45,120 cope amongst their family environment 1141 00:46:45,130 --> 00:46:47,420 or wherever they were operating from 1142 00:46:47,420 --> 00:46:51,340 two to take school online . But as 1143 00:46:51,340 --> 00:46:53,451 I said in my opening statement , it's 1144 00:46:53,451 --> 00:46:55,618 an imperative to bring these young men 1145 00:46:55,618 --> 00:46:57,940 and women back and develop them and 1146 00:46:57,940 --> 00:47:01,090 care for them in person . And we began 1147 00:47:01,090 --> 00:47:04,110 that right near the end of June with 1148 00:47:04,120 --> 00:47:06,900 police summer , uh , with some summer 1149 00:47:06,900 --> 00:47:08,678 school with a bit of our summer 1150 00:47:08,678 --> 00:47:10,789 training and then the fall semester , 1151 00:47:11,580 --> 00:47:13,270 and that allowed all of those 1152 00:47:13,270 --> 00:47:16,590 stakeholders to once again reach out 1153 00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:19,410 and help midshipmen in person . 1154 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:23,600 Um , it's a It's a very robust network , 1155 00:47:23,980 --> 00:47:26,280 and I also have differentiated to 1156 00:47:26,280 --> 00:47:28,900 myself and to my senior leadership team . 1157 00:47:29,580 --> 00:47:31,580 It's one thing to talk about mental 1158 00:47:31,580 --> 00:47:33,810 health . It's another thing to talk 1159 00:47:33,810 --> 00:47:36,590 about morale , and there's a very big 1160 00:47:36,590 --> 00:47:39,100 difference there . We take their mental 1161 00:47:39,100 --> 00:47:41,322 health of our mid shipment and even our 1162 00:47:41,322 --> 00:47:43,544 faculty and our staff , our whole Naval 1163 00:47:43,544 --> 00:47:45,489 Academy family . We take that very 1164 00:47:45,489 --> 00:47:47,600 seriously and try to look out for one 1165 00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:49,656 another and address it when we can . 1166 00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:51,913 It's incumbent upon my comment , 1167 00:47:51,913 --> 00:47:53,969 Ottoman shipment in myself and other 1168 00:47:53,969 --> 00:47:56,410 senior leaders to also work to improve 1169 00:47:56,410 --> 00:47:59,890 morale . When we have to impose certain 1170 00:47:59,890 --> 00:48:02,320 things like the lockdown to the campus , 1171 00:48:02,330 --> 00:48:05,250 when we have spikes of covid to try to 1172 00:48:05,250 --> 00:48:08,050 mitigate it , knock it down And we've 1173 00:48:08,050 --> 00:48:10,300 seen success in addressing both a 1174 00:48:10,300 --> 00:48:13,070 morale issue as well as a mental health 1175 00:48:13,070 --> 00:48:16,840 issue . Sir , there is a 1176 00:48:16,850 --> 00:48:18,400 huge stigma , 1177 00:48:19,170 --> 00:48:22,970 uh , with human beings in general 1178 00:48:22,970 --> 00:48:26,410 that speaking now of military 1179 00:48:26,420 --> 00:48:30,270 personnel , a huge stigma about asking 1180 00:48:30,270 --> 00:48:33,000 for mental health Help . 1181 00:48:34,070 --> 00:48:37,070 How are you ? How are you able to 1182 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:40,670 overcome that problem ? Sir ? I'm , 1183 00:48:40,680 --> 00:48:43,250 uh , in my past as a flag officer in 1184 00:48:43,250 --> 00:48:45,720 the Navy . I was given an assignment to 1185 00:48:45,730 --> 00:48:49,090 to lead the 21st century sailor office , 1186 00:48:49,570 --> 00:48:51,514 which looked at all of destructive 1187 00:48:51,514 --> 00:48:53,681 behaviors of Navy sailors . And one of 1188 00:48:53,681 --> 00:48:55,848 those was I was the suicide prevention 1189 00:48:55,848 --> 00:48:58,190 officer for the United States Navy . 1190 00:48:58,970 --> 00:49:01,380 And I'm proud to tell you that what we 1191 00:49:01,380 --> 00:49:03,400 realized was we needed to work 1192 00:49:03,410 --> 00:49:07,050 diligently to reduce that stigma and to 1193 00:49:07,050 --> 00:49:09,730 instead advertise to Navy sailors to 1194 00:49:09,730 --> 00:49:12,560 all of us that it's okay to ask for 1195 00:49:12,560 --> 00:49:15,530 help . In fact , the way we branded 1196 00:49:15,530 --> 00:49:19,160 that was it's a sign of strength to 1197 00:49:19,160 --> 00:49:22,710 ask for help . And what we're seeing is 1198 00:49:22,720 --> 00:49:25,300 over 50% of the battle is just to be 1199 00:49:25,300 --> 00:49:27,244 able to have an ability to talk to 1200 00:49:27,244 --> 00:49:29,189 somebody , to get you some of your 1201 00:49:29,189 --> 00:49:31,411 problems and your demons off your chest 1202 00:49:31,411 --> 00:49:34,020 by talking to someone so learning to be 1203 00:49:34,020 --> 00:49:35,990 a good , active listener making 1204 00:49:35,990 --> 00:49:38,550 yourself available and ensuring that 1205 00:49:38,550 --> 00:49:41,190 everyone realizes that the minute you 1206 00:49:41,190 --> 00:49:43,650 ask for help with a mental health issue , 1207 00:49:43,660 --> 00:49:45,716 you're not going to be thrown out of 1208 00:49:45,716 --> 00:49:47,827 the Naval Academy or you're not going 1209 00:49:47,827 --> 00:49:49,882 to be tossed out of the Navy . We've 1210 00:49:49,882 --> 00:49:52,049 made such a big investment in you . We 1211 00:49:52,049 --> 00:49:55,510 see such great potential in you that 1212 00:49:55,510 --> 00:49:57,454 we'd like to help you through your 1213 00:49:57,454 --> 00:49:59,399 demons and help you through what's 1214 00:49:59,399 --> 00:50:01,566 stressing you and then get you back up 1215 00:50:01,566 --> 00:50:03,621 on that horse that threw you off and 1216 00:50:03,621 --> 00:50:05,788 make you a productive midshipmen . And 1217 00:50:05,788 --> 00:50:08,350 then hence a productive naval officer 1218 00:50:08,360 --> 00:50:10,690 out in the fleet . Thank you so much 1219 00:50:10,690 --> 00:50:12,857 for that thoughtful question . Uh , Mr 1220 00:50:12,857 --> 00:50:15,079 Rogers , we went a little over , but it 1221 00:50:15,079 --> 00:50:18,050 was well worth hearing in mental health 1222 00:50:18,060 --> 00:50:20,430 is something in our military we know we 1223 00:50:20,430 --> 00:50:22,870 want to cut down on people feeling that 1224 00:50:22,870 --> 00:50:25,300 they can ask . So thank you . And I'm 1225 00:50:25,300 --> 00:50:27,740 sure the committee members appreciate 1226 00:50:27,740 --> 00:50:29,851 the fact that we took an extra minute 1227 00:50:29,851 --> 00:50:31,851 to get that answer . Thank you very 1228 00:50:31,851 --> 00:50:32,851 much , Mr Kwehr . 1229 00:50:36,460 --> 00:50:40,440 Thank you so much , Madam Chair . Uh , 1230 00:50:40,450 --> 00:50:42,700 I wanted to go from the question of 1231 00:50:42,700 --> 00:50:45,980 diversity that I believe represent , uh , 1232 00:50:47,060 --> 00:50:50,980 Marcy Kaptur brought up , Uh , can you 1233 00:50:50,980 --> 00:50:53,990 tell us a little bit about prep schools 1234 00:50:53,990 --> 00:50:56,690 and how we all use prep schools to get 1235 00:50:57,560 --> 00:51:01,100 diversity into your academies ? I know 1236 00:51:01,100 --> 00:51:03,500 there's some prep schools and different 1237 00:51:03,500 --> 00:51:07,250 parts of the the country . 1238 00:51:07,320 --> 00:51:10,150 But there are areas that there's really 1239 00:51:10,150 --> 00:51:12,700 no prep schools at all . And they have 1240 00:51:12,700 --> 00:51:14,930 to travel a long way to get some of 1241 00:51:14,930 --> 00:51:17,530 those students to get the diversity . 1242 00:51:17,540 --> 00:51:20,290 Could y'all tell us what you all do and 1243 00:51:20,300 --> 00:51:22,411 how you all set up some of those prep 1244 00:51:22,411 --> 00:51:24,590 schools ? Or is it all private sector 1245 00:51:24,600 --> 00:51:26,822 involved or their partnerships with the 1246 00:51:26,822 --> 00:51:30,070 academies ? Yeah . Uh , sir , this is 1247 00:51:30,080 --> 00:51:32,191 Lieutenant General Clark from the Air 1248 00:51:32,191 --> 00:51:34,358 Force Academy . And I can address that 1249 00:51:34,358 --> 00:51:37,370 our prep school is significant in 1250 00:51:37,370 --> 00:51:39,440 helping us to shape , uh , the 1251 00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:42,440 diversity and the makeup of our cadet 1252 00:51:42,440 --> 00:51:45,340 population as they come in . And , uh , 1253 00:51:45,350 --> 00:51:47,910 they are on campus . It's about 200 1254 00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:51,290 prep school , uh , cadet candidates 1255 00:51:51,290 --> 00:51:53,780 that are there . But we also have 1256 00:51:53,790 --> 00:51:56,012 opportunities that other prep schools , 1257 00:51:56,012 --> 00:51:58,720 as you mentioned throughout the country , 1258 00:51:58,720 --> 00:52:02,140 where we can , uh , garner , uh , cadet 1259 00:52:02,140 --> 00:52:04,029 candidates from to bring into the 1260 00:52:04,029 --> 00:52:06,190 academy . And we have an organization 1261 00:52:06,200 --> 00:52:08,270 called the Our Falcon Foundation , 1262 00:52:08,270 --> 00:52:11,050 which is comprised of a lot of 1263 00:52:11,050 --> 00:52:14,510 graduates and volunteers who help us to 1264 00:52:14,510 --> 00:52:17,300 shepherd people into those other prep 1265 00:52:17,300 --> 00:52:19,420 schools so that we can have the 1266 00:52:19,420 --> 00:52:21,642 opportunity to reach from all districts 1267 00:52:21,642 --> 00:52:23,770 of our country to bring them into the 1268 00:52:23,770 --> 00:52:26,260 academy , help them to achieve if 1269 00:52:26,260 --> 00:52:28,038 there's any shortfalls in their 1270 00:52:28,038 --> 00:52:30,260 admissions or any issues that they need 1271 00:52:30,260 --> 00:52:31,982 to deal with to make them more 1272 00:52:31,982 --> 00:52:34,204 competitive for the Air Force Academy , 1273 00:52:34,204 --> 00:52:36,371 we bring them into those schools , and 1274 00:52:36,371 --> 00:52:38,371 they really do help us to shape not 1275 00:52:38,371 --> 00:52:40,920 only from an ethnic and racial but 1276 00:52:40,920 --> 00:52:43,660 gender . Um , and and our Falcon 1277 00:52:43,660 --> 00:52:45,827 Foundation is that organization that I 1278 00:52:45,827 --> 00:52:48,049 talked about That helps us to do that . 1279 00:52:48,049 --> 00:52:50,271 Um , they really meet any needs that we 1280 00:52:50,271 --> 00:52:53,940 have . So if we see shortfalls in the 1281 00:52:53,950 --> 00:52:56,420 makeup of our cadet population , 1282 00:52:56,420 --> 00:52:58,770 they're they're very responsive to us 1283 00:52:58,780 --> 00:53:01,460 and help us to shape it , uh , to make 1284 00:53:01,460 --> 00:53:04,160 our class everything we wanted to be in . 1285 00:53:04,170 --> 00:53:06,226 And frankly , it's working . Our our 1286 00:53:06,226 --> 00:53:09,950 current class of 2024 our freshman is 1287 00:53:09,950 --> 00:53:12,061 the most diverse class we've ever had 1288 00:53:12,061 --> 00:53:13,894 at the Air Force Academy . So we 1289 00:53:13,894 --> 00:53:17,590 continue to lean on external partners 1290 00:53:17,590 --> 00:53:20,370 to help us to shape our class over . 1291 00:53:21,350 --> 00:53:24,010 So I'll take a shot at as well , uh , 1292 00:53:24,020 --> 00:53:26,500 much like rich . We depend on the prep 1293 00:53:26,500 --> 00:53:29,770 school use maps . It's up the hill . Um , 1294 00:53:29,780 --> 00:53:31,891 my son went to the prep school before 1295 00:53:31,891 --> 00:53:34,113 he came here . It's a vital part of how 1296 00:53:34,113 --> 00:53:36,224 we build diversity here at the United 1297 00:53:36,224 --> 00:53:38,447 States Military Academy . The purpose . 1298 00:53:38,447 --> 00:53:41,320 Like rich , we have about 225 places up 1299 00:53:41,320 --> 00:53:43,487 there every year . As you know , sir , 1300 00:53:43,510 --> 00:53:46,180 you apply to West Point . And if you're 1301 00:53:46,650 --> 00:53:49,260 if you're lacking in some of the skills 1302 00:53:49,260 --> 00:53:51,790 that you need to succeed down the hill , 1303 00:53:51,790 --> 00:53:54,180 as we call here , that's a perfect year 1304 00:53:54,550 --> 00:53:56,772 for you to do better . And we do use it 1305 00:53:56,772 --> 00:53:58,939 as well to get at diversity . Not only 1306 00:53:58,939 --> 00:54:00,828 is Rich mentioned , but also from 1307 00:54:00,828 --> 00:54:02,828 soldiers from the regular Army . We 1308 00:54:02,828 --> 00:54:05,050 have about 40 of that 225 soldiers from 1309 00:54:05,050 --> 00:54:07,106 the regular Army and a lot of things 1310 00:54:07,106 --> 00:54:09,106 that we talked about earlier . They 1311 00:54:09,106 --> 00:54:11,272 bring a maturity to some of the things 1312 00:54:11,272 --> 00:54:13,272 that we talked about earlier sexual 1313 00:54:13,272 --> 00:54:15,272 assault , sexual harassment because 1314 00:54:15,272 --> 00:54:17,328 they have real life experience , and 1315 00:54:17,328 --> 00:54:19,383 they are mentors down in the core in 1316 00:54:19,383 --> 00:54:21,717 that next year . So I would add another , 1317 00:54:21,717 --> 00:54:23,883 uh , sort of layered . I don't know if 1318 00:54:23,883 --> 00:54:27,810 my Navy shipment has anything that very 1319 00:54:27,810 --> 00:54:31,000 similar to to my sister . Academies are 1320 00:54:31,000 --> 00:54:34,250 magnitude about 250 young men and women 1321 00:54:34,260 --> 00:54:36,427 matriculate to the academy through the 1322 00:54:36,427 --> 00:54:38,649 Naval Academy prep school . Ours is not 1323 00:54:38,649 --> 00:54:40,816 co located with Annapolis . It's up in 1324 00:54:40,816 --> 00:54:42,871 Newport , Rhode Island , and we also 1325 00:54:42,871 --> 00:54:45,160 affiliate with 17 private prep schools 1326 00:54:45,160 --> 00:54:47,049 around the country . We call them 1327 00:54:47,049 --> 00:54:49,330 foundation schools . So on any given 1328 00:54:49,330 --> 00:54:52,920 year , sir , 300 Midshipman , we'll 1329 00:54:52,920 --> 00:54:55,490 have further their academic skills and 1330 00:54:55,490 --> 00:54:58,430 allow us to garner greater diversity in 1331 00:54:58,430 --> 00:55:00,486 the brigade by coming through either 1332 00:55:00,486 --> 00:55:02,374 our prep school or our foundation 1333 00:55:02,374 --> 00:55:04,430 program . And the purpose of that is 1334 00:55:04,430 --> 00:55:06,319 exactly as my two colleagues have 1335 00:55:06,319 --> 00:55:10,170 described you . All right , Let 1336 00:55:10,170 --> 00:55:12,330 me before my time sober . I got about 1337 00:55:12,330 --> 00:55:14,552 30 seconds . First of all , thank you . 1338 00:55:14,552 --> 00:55:18,270 And I'm really happy that we work well , 1339 00:55:18,270 --> 00:55:20,381 just like the other members with your 1340 00:55:20,381 --> 00:55:22,437 academy . So I want to thank you for 1341 00:55:22,437 --> 00:55:25,030 diversifying . Uh , the academy's , uh 1342 00:55:25,040 --> 00:55:27,710 could I ask each of you all to provide ? 1343 00:55:27,710 --> 00:55:29,654 I don't know if anybody else wants 1344 00:55:29,654 --> 00:55:31,766 copies of this , but , uh , I like to 1345 00:55:31,766 --> 00:55:33,877 be provided by all three of your your 1346 00:55:33,877 --> 00:55:35,766 your work with prep schools , the 1347 00:55:35,766 --> 00:55:38,410 different schools you have , uh , the 1348 00:55:38,420 --> 00:55:40,642 foundation of Falcon Foundation and all 1349 00:55:40,642 --> 00:55:42,753 that . Y'all can send that over to me 1350 00:55:42,753 --> 00:55:45,430 because there are areas by times over . 1351 00:55:45,430 --> 00:55:47,374 But let me just say this . There's 1352 00:55:47,374 --> 00:55:49,390 areas along the border , highly 1353 00:55:49,390 --> 00:55:52,760 Hispanic areas . Uh , you know , Laredo , 1354 00:55:52,760 --> 00:55:55,170 for example , is 96% Hispanic . And I'm 1355 00:55:55,170 --> 00:55:58,950 sure some of the folks have very high 1356 00:55:58,960 --> 00:56:01,190 minority areas and , uh , love to see 1357 00:56:01,190 --> 00:56:03,468 if we can partner up with you all , uh , 1358 00:56:03,468 --> 00:56:05,690 on some of those prep schools on that . 1359 00:56:05,690 --> 00:56:07,746 So if you all can send that over , I 1360 00:56:07,746 --> 00:56:10,023 really would appreciate it . Thank you , 1361 00:56:10,023 --> 00:56:11,968 madam Chair . Yeah , that would be 1362 00:56:11,968 --> 00:56:14,134 fabulous . I think the whole committee 1363 00:56:14,134 --> 00:56:16,301 with like that and I also know there's 1364 00:56:16,301 --> 00:56:18,357 some high school programs , too , so 1365 00:56:18,357 --> 00:56:20,523 that would be wonderful if you , which 1366 00:56:20,523 --> 00:56:22,746 would share that . Thank you for asking 1367 00:56:22,746 --> 00:56:22,560 that question . It was a great question , 1368 00:56:22,570 --> 00:56:25,850 Mr Womack , Who took me to West ? Uh , 1369 00:56:26,330 --> 00:56:29,320 West Point . You're up . Thank you . 1370 00:56:29,330 --> 00:56:31,497 Thank you , Madam . Chair . Thanks for 1371 00:56:31,497 --> 00:56:33,608 the hearing . Thanks to the suits for 1372 00:56:33,608 --> 00:56:35,830 what you're doing and for being with us 1373 00:56:35,830 --> 00:56:37,830 today , Henry , you would be , uh , 1374 00:56:37,830 --> 00:56:39,830 pleased to know , uh , and they and 1375 00:56:39,830 --> 00:56:41,830 they've spoken to this . These prep 1376 00:56:41,830 --> 00:56:44,163 schools are are wonderful opportunities . 1377 00:56:44,163 --> 00:56:46,163 I kind of call them red Shirt years 1378 00:56:46,163 --> 00:56:48,386 because they do some things that really 1379 00:56:48,386 --> 00:56:50,940 prepare a lot of these young men and 1380 00:56:50,940 --> 00:56:54,240 women for for the opportunity without 1381 00:56:54,240 --> 00:56:56,407 just throwing him in his direct admits 1382 00:56:56,407 --> 00:56:58,462 and putting them in a very difficult 1383 00:56:58,462 --> 00:57:00,684 situation . So I think from a diversity 1384 00:57:00,684 --> 00:57:02,684 standpoint , these prep schools are 1385 00:57:02,684 --> 00:57:04,740 great also , and I don't know , uh , 1386 00:57:04,740 --> 00:57:06,907 Gerald Williams . I don't know what we 1387 00:57:06,907 --> 00:57:08,740 call it , but there's also a the 1388 00:57:08,740 --> 00:57:10,907 ability to send some of these kids out 1389 00:57:10,907 --> 00:57:13,180 to other schools , like Marion Military 1390 00:57:13,180 --> 00:57:15,291 Academy , those kinds of places for a 1391 00:57:15,291 --> 00:57:17,290 freshman year , uh , and then re 1392 00:57:17,290 --> 00:57:19,012 compete for a direct admit the 1393 00:57:19,012 --> 00:57:20,957 following year , kind of like prep 1394 00:57:20,957 --> 00:57:22,790 school , but in a in a different 1395 00:57:22,790 --> 00:57:24,623 setting . So , uh , they're just 1396 00:57:24,623 --> 00:57:26,846 they're wonderful . Uh , as a matter of 1397 00:57:26,846 --> 00:57:29,020 disclosure , I chair the board of the 1398 00:57:29,030 --> 00:57:31,440 border visitors at West Point . So I 1399 00:57:31,440 --> 00:57:34,090 own that . And , uh , and , uh , and 1400 00:57:34,090 --> 00:57:36,090 that forms the basis for some of my 1401 00:57:36,090 --> 00:57:38,257 understanding of what goes on at these 1402 00:57:38,257 --> 00:57:40,312 academies , particularly up there on 1403 00:57:40,312 --> 00:57:42,479 the Hudson . Uh , and I want everybody 1404 00:57:42,479 --> 00:57:44,590 on the call to know on the zoom today 1405 00:57:44,590 --> 00:57:46,757 to know that the current holder of the 1406 00:57:46,757 --> 00:57:48,780 commander in chief's trophy are the 1407 00:57:48,780 --> 00:57:50,724 Black Knights of the United States 1408 00:57:50,724 --> 00:57:52,891 Military Academy at West point . Can I 1409 00:57:52,891 --> 00:57:55,058 get a who on that General Williams ? A 1410 00:57:55,058 --> 00:57:57,180 congressman ? Yes , sir . All right . 1411 00:57:57,260 --> 00:58:01,100 Um , I'm going to go back to the to the 1412 00:58:01,110 --> 00:58:03,260 issue that was brought up earlier 1413 00:58:03,270 --> 00:58:05,790 regarding the cheating scandals . And 1414 00:58:05,790 --> 00:58:07,846 I'm gonna give each one of the soups 1415 00:58:07,846 --> 00:58:11,260 about a minute , uh , to fashion , uh , 1416 00:58:11,270 --> 00:58:13,860 an answer . And chair McCullum , we may 1417 00:58:13,860 --> 00:58:16,820 go over just a little bit . Um , it's 1418 00:58:16,820 --> 00:58:20,450 one thing to have a an attrition model 1419 00:58:20,920 --> 00:58:23,031 where you make a mistake , you're out 1420 00:58:23,031 --> 00:58:25,310 of here . It's a whole another thing to 1421 00:58:25,310 --> 00:58:27,450 have a developmental model where we 1422 00:58:27,450 --> 00:58:30,140 take young men and women from society , 1423 00:58:30,150 --> 00:58:32,261 bring them in his freshman , and then 1424 00:58:32,261 --> 00:58:34,317 begin the grooming process . Then if 1425 00:58:34,317 --> 00:58:36,094 all these kids were ready to be 1426 00:58:36,094 --> 00:58:38,150 lieutenants , we wouldn't spend four 1427 00:58:38,150 --> 00:58:40,372 years trying to groom all , uh , So I'm 1428 00:58:40,372 --> 00:58:42,594 a big believer that when they come in , 1429 00:58:42,594 --> 00:58:44,761 if they , you know , skin their knee , 1430 00:58:44,761 --> 00:58:46,817 they make some mistakes that that we 1431 00:58:46,817 --> 00:58:48,928 work with them . So tell me , and I'm 1432 00:58:48,928 --> 00:58:51,039 gonna start with General Clark . Tell 1433 00:58:51,039 --> 00:58:53,039 me what you have at your disposal . 1434 00:58:53,039 --> 00:58:55,560 What you do to help kids . Because all 1435 00:58:55,560 --> 00:58:57,727 the academies have had , uh , you know 1436 00:58:57,727 --> 00:58:59,880 about with a cheating scandal . Many 1437 00:58:59,880 --> 00:59:02,047 thanks to Covid , but tell me what you 1438 00:59:02,047 --> 00:59:04,270 do in terms of bringing these kids 1439 00:59:04,270 --> 00:59:06,280 through an honor program and and re 1440 00:59:06,280 --> 00:59:08,391 acquainting them with the values that 1441 00:59:08,391 --> 00:59:10,920 we espouse at the Academy . Yes , sir . 1442 00:59:10,920 --> 00:59:13,170 Thank you for that question . And I 1443 00:59:13,170 --> 00:59:15,490 know that I can speak for my , uh , my 1444 00:59:15,490 --> 00:59:18,020 fellow superintendents that we are all 1445 00:59:18,030 --> 00:59:20,680 approaching a developmental model of 1446 00:59:20,680 --> 00:59:23,750 honor rather than a fear based or a 1447 00:59:23,760 --> 00:59:26,180 punitive model . Now , there is 1448 00:59:26,180 --> 00:59:29,230 obviously punitive elements to our 1449 00:59:29,240 --> 00:59:31,650 honor systems . But like you said , we 1450 00:59:31,650 --> 00:59:33,840 have to bring our cadets . We bring 1451 00:59:33,840 --> 00:59:35,951 them in . It's a matter of developing 1452 00:59:35,951 --> 00:59:38,940 them to that honorable living , uh , 1453 00:59:38,950 --> 00:59:42,600 capacity or desire that we have . So we 1454 00:59:42,600 --> 00:59:44,630 have a very robust on our education 1455 00:59:44,630 --> 00:59:46,686 system that starts from the day that 1456 00:59:46,686 --> 00:59:49,000 they walk into the academy . And it 1457 00:59:49,000 --> 00:59:51,750 consists of instructional opportunities , 1458 00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:54,510 um , different mentorship opportunities . 1459 00:59:54,520 --> 00:59:56,464 And it goes all the way throughout 1460 00:59:56,464 --> 00:59:59,650 their their time as cadets . Now , um , 1461 00:59:59,660 --> 01:00:02,860 if they are found in violation of the 1462 01:00:02,860 --> 01:00:04,916 honor code , especially in the early 1463 01:00:04,916 --> 01:00:07,530 years , we have a strong probationary 1464 01:00:07,710 --> 01:00:10,280 program that we help them to develop , 1465 01:00:10,280 --> 01:00:12,224 help them to recognize where their 1466 01:00:12,224 --> 01:00:14,780 shortfalls were and and to bring them 1467 01:00:14,780 --> 01:00:17,620 to a place where they understand how to 1468 01:00:17,620 --> 01:00:19,842 continue to live honorably and abide by 1469 01:00:19,842 --> 01:00:23,240 our code . We've had a 95% success rate , 1470 01:00:23,240 --> 01:00:25,150 meaning cadets who get into that 1471 01:00:25,150 --> 01:00:27,910 probationary status they never have 1472 01:00:27,910 --> 01:00:29,854 another incident or issue with the 1473 01:00:29,854 --> 01:00:32,190 honor code . So we're very proud of it . 1474 01:00:32,200 --> 01:00:34,320 The developmental aspects are key and 1475 01:00:34,320 --> 01:00:36,376 critical , and we want our cadets to 1476 01:00:36,376 --> 01:00:38,376 respect , not fear , the honor code 1477 01:00:38,810 --> 01:00:39,830 over the book . 1478 01:00:42,310 --> 01:00:44,199 Likewise , sir , we have an honor 1479 01:00:44,199 --> 01:00:46,940 concept at the Naval Academy . I will 1480 01:00:46,940 --> 01:00:49,660 address that . We , uh we sense that we 1481 01:00:49,660 --> 01:00:53,280 had a cheating issue on a final exam 1482 01:00:53,280 --> 01:00:55,336 that was administered just this last 1483 01:00:55,336 --> 01:00:58,120 December , A couple months ago . I'm 1484 01:00:58,120 --> 01:01:00,176 right near the end of concluding the 1485 01:01:00,176 --> 01:01:01,953 investigation of that to better 1486 01:01:01,953 --> 01:01:04,430 understand the magnitude and appreciate 1487 01:01:04,430 --> 01:01:07,010 exactly what happened . It was with a 1488 01:01:07,010 --> 01:01:09,000 younger cohort of midshipmen , the 1489 01:01:09,000 --> 01:01:11,830 sophomores with the physics exam . 1490 01:01:12,510 --> 01:01:15,540 Like my colleagues , we completely 1491 01:01:15,540 --> 01:01:18,420 embraced the developmental model . I 1492 01:01:18,420 --> 01:01:21,640 would suggest that you probably get a 1493 01:01:21,640 --> 01:01:23,584 little bit more understanding when 1494 01:01:23,584 --> 01:01:26,430 you're a freshman or a sophomore . But 1495 01:01:26,430 --> 01:01:29,080 as you spend more time in your 47 month 1496 01:01:29,080 --> 01:01:31,640 journey at the Naval Academy , immersed 1497 01:01:31,650 --> 01:01:35,220 on a daily basis in In a culture of 1498 01:01:35,220 --> 01:01:38,220 character and a culture of honor that 1499 01:01:38,220 --> 01:01:40,280 our expectations of you as you get 1500 01:01:40,280 --> 01:01:42,169 closer to entering the fleet as a 1501 01:01:42,169 --> 01:01:44,760 junior and a senior that there may not 1502 01:01:44,760 --> 01:01:47,980 be as much of a look for remediation 1503 01:01:47,980 --> 01:01:50,950 and second chances . But we do want to 1504 01:01:50,950 --> 01:01:53,990 look at each case individually . Um , 1505 01:01:54,000 --> 01:01:56,760 if you're found or alleged to have 1506 01:01:56,760 --> 01:01:59,490 violated our honor concept , your case 1507 01:01:59,490 --> 01:02:02,040 goes in front of a midshipman lead on 1508 01:02:02,040 --> 01:02:04,320 our committee . They mid shipment , 1509 01:02:04,320 --> 01:02:06,542 your peers make a determination of your 1510 01:02:06,542 --> 01:02:09,150 guilt or your innocence . And if it 1511 01:02:09,150 --> 01:02:11,372 comes out that you're guilty , you then 1512 01:02:11,372 --> 01:02:14,540 go into consideration by the Commission 1513 01:02:14,550 --> 01:02:17,270 chain of command . Whether you're 1514 01:02:17,280 --> 01:02:19,610 chosen to for remediation and retained 1515 01:02:20,000 --> 01:02:22,056 or whether you are recommended to be 1516 01:02:22,056 --> 01:02:24,860 separated from the Academy , Uh , I we 1517 01:02:24,860 --> 01:02:27,250 share almost the exact same statistic 1518 01:02:27,250 --> 01:02:31,110 as Air Force . We have a 95% success 1519 01:02:31,110 --> 01:02:33,690 rate of those that enter the honor 1520 01:02:33,700 --> 01:02:35,970 system for a violation . Once in their 1521 01:02:35,970 --> 01:02:38,030 time here , they don't ever enter it 1522 01:02:38,030 --> 01:02:40,610 again , and they matriculate very well . 1523 01:02:40,610 --> 01:02:42,777 And by the time we release them to the 1524 01:02:42,777 --> 01:02:44,832 fleet , we're confident that we have 1525 01:02:44,832 --> 01:02:46,940 some honorable young leaders , and 1526 01:02:46,940 --> 01:02:48,890 you've heard us say , leaders of 1527 01:02:48,890 --> 01:02:52,780 character , Yeah , well , Look . Thank 1528 01:02:52,780 --> 01:02:56,040 you . 30 seconds . Okay ? And I'm gonna 1529 01:02:56,050 --> 01:02:58,580 I never want to speak for the 1530 01:02:58,580 --> 01:03:00,802 superintendent at West Point because he 1531 01:03:00,802 --> 01:03:03,024 speaks well for himself , but I'll save 1532 01:03:03,024 --> 01:03:05,247 the time on this one . Um , let me just 1533 01:03:05,247 --> 01:03:06,969 say this for the benefit of my 1534 01:03:06,969 --> 01:03:09,191 colleagues . You will hear from time to 1535 01:03:09,191 --> 01:03:11,469 time from graduates of these academies . 1536 01:03:11,469 --> 01:03:13,580 We call them old grads . Uh , for the 1537 01:03:13,580 --> 01:03:15,802 most part and many times , the opinions 1538 01:03:15,802 --> 01:03:18,090 of the old grads are more based on 1539 01:03:18,090 --> 01:03:19,868 attrition models , and they are 1540 01:03:19,868 --> 01:03:21,923 developmental models because they've 1541 01:03:21,923 --> 01:03:24,420 been through it . And you know , So I 1542 01:03:24,430 --> 01:03:26,374 think we have to be very careful , 1543 01:03:26,374 --> 01:03:29,520 madam Chairwoman , to , uh , to to be 1544 01:03:29,520 --> 01:03:31,742 terribly judgmental . Particularly when 1545 01:03:31,742 --> 01:03:33,853 these kids come to these academies as 1546 01:03:33,853 --> 01:03:35,853 freshmen and particularly when they 1547 01:03:35,853 --> 01:03:38,120 come from , uh , some less than ideal 1548 01:03:38,120 --> 01:03:40,170 circumstances . And that's why I 1549 01:03:40,170 --> 01:03:41,559 congratulate each of the 1550 01:03:41,559 --> 01:03:43,726 superintendents for what they're doing 1551 01:03:43,726 --> 01:03:45,781 regarding this developmental model . 1552 01:03:45,781 --> 01:03:48,114 And I'll yield back my time . Thank you , 1553 01:03:48,114 --> 01:03:49,114 Mr at a halt . 1554 01:03:52,100 --> 01:03:55,850 Oh , I'm sorry , Miss Kirkpatrick . Mr . 1555 01:03:55,850 --> 01:03:58,183 And a whole year after Miss Kirkpatrick . 1556 01:03:58,500 --> 01:04:00,700 Thank you . Thank you . Uh , single . 1557 01:04:00,710 --> 01:04:03,320 Uh , please , go ahead . My , my , my , 1558 01:04:03,330 --> 01:04:06,990 My mistake . Thank you , madam . Chair 1559 01:04:06,990 --> 01:04:09,450 and ranking over Calvert , I have a 1560 01:04:09,450 --> 01:04:12,810 question about sexual harassment . So 1561 01:04:12,820 --> 01:04:14,709 when I looked through many of the 1562 01:04:14,709 --> 01:04:17,370 programs built to combat sexual 1563 01:04:17,370 --> 01:04:20,910 harassment , an assault , a lot of them 1564 01:04:20,910 --> 01:04:23,810 focus on service provided , provided 1565 01:04:23,810 --> 01:04:27,610 the victims after they suffer abuse . I 1566 01:04:27,610 --> 01:04:29,721 agree . It's absolutely critical that 1567 01:04:29,721 --> 01:04:32,390 we provide every possible resource to 1568 01:04:32,390 --> 01:04:34,920 survivors , but I do believe that we 1569 01:04:34,920 --> 01:04:37,200 are overlooking opportunities in 1570 01:04:37,200 --> 01:04:40,310 prevention . Uh , Lieutenant General 1571 01:04:40,310 --> 01:04:42,490 Williams , you discuss the lack of 1572 01:04:42,490 --> 01:04:44,890 relationship and interpersonal skills 1573 01:04:44,920 --> 01:04:47,031 that have been in some young cadets , 1574 01:04:47,390 --> 01:04:50,320 which can enable corrosive behaviors to 1575 01:04:50,320 --> 01:04:52,500 take root . So can you share with us 1576 01:04:52,990 --> 01:04:55,920 how the academies are prioritizing 1577 01:04:56,390 --> 01:04:58,950 training focused on developing healthy 1578 01:04:58,950 --> 01:05:02,080 relationships to prevent sexual assault 1579 01:05:02,080 --> 01:05:04,380 and harassment ? And if you are looking 1580 01:05:04,380 --> 01:05:08,090 outside of these internal created 1581 01:05:08,090 --> 01:05:10,910 programs to civilian entities that 1582 01:05:10,910 --> 01:05:14,140 specialized in developing these skills 1583 01:05:14,300 --> 01:05:17,540 in today's young adults , that's for 1584 01:05:17,540 --> 01:05:20,630 everybody on that panel . Yes , ma'am . 1585 01:05:20,630 --> 01:05:22,686 Thank you for your question . I will 1586 01:05:22,686 --> 01:05:25,150 tell you that leadership matters in 1587 01:05:25,150 --> 01:05:28,480 this space . And , uh uh , my 1588 01:05:28,480 --> 01:05:30,536 secretary , the chief of staff , the 1589 01:05:30,536 --> 01:05:33,160 army Sergeant Major , uh , of the army 1590 01:05:33,160 --> 01:05:36,070 have been very clear in terms of , uh , 1591 01:05:36,080 --> 01:05:38,490 how do we get at this ? When we brought 1592 01:05:38,490 --> 01:05:42,220 our cadets back from winter leave in 1593 01:05:42,220 --> 01:05:45,070 January , I took a look at the Fort 1594 01:05:45,070 --> 01:05:47,750 Hood Independent Review , which I know 1595 01:05:47,750 --> 01:05:49,583 many of the members are most all 1596 01:05:49,583 --> 01:05:52,190 members probably are aware of . And , 1597 01:05:52,200 --> 01:05:54,720 um and we talked to every single cadet 1598 01:05:54,720 --> 01:05:57,640 when they came back from the leash . I 1599 01:05:57,650 --> 01:05:59,761 let off the session and then I had my 1600 01:05:59,761 --> 01:06:01,928 experts , my sharp director and others 1601 01:06:01,928 --> 01:06:03,983 talk . And I said , This isn't about 1602 01:06:03,983 --> 01:06:06,094 for the This could be any fort . This 1603 01:06:06,094 --> 01:06:08,130 could be Fort West Point . And we 1604 01:06:08,130 --> 01:06:10,186 talked to him about personal courage 1605 01:06:10,186 --> 01:06:12,241 and what it takes to hold each other 1606 01:06:12,241 --> 01:06:15,000 accountable , as as peers here at the 1607 01:06:15,000 --> 01:06:17,111 United States Military Academy . So I 1608 01:06:17,111 --> 01:06:19,167 think leadership matters . I know it 1609 01:06:19,167 --> 01:06:21,680 matters , and I know that , um , all of 1610 01:06:21,680 --> 01:06:24,120 the Karos is that the chief talks about 1611 01:06:24,130 --> 01:06:26,241 the secretary of the S m . A and that 1612 01:06:26,241 --> 01:06:28,540 we also take on here . The only way to 1613 01:06:28,540 --> 01:06:31,330 combat that ma'am is for peer 1614 01:06:31,330 --> 01:06:33,386 leadership and for leadership at the 1615 01:06:33,386 --> 01:06:35,330 very top . I will also tell you we 1616 01:06:35,330 --> 01:06:37,330 pilot it last summer . A relational 1617 01:06:37,580 --> 01:06:39,469 character course . We're going to 1618 01:06:39,469 --> 01:06:41,740 expand it this summer to talk exactly 1619 01:06:41,740 --> 01:06:43,962 what you mentioned in there . How do we 1620 01:06:43,962 --> 01:06:46,129 relate with each other when the cadets 1621 01:06:46,129 --> 01:06:48,184 came back last summer , we allowed . 1622 01:06:48,184 --> 01:06:50,462 Our cadets were brilliant in the space . 1623 01:06:50,462 --> 01:06:52,573 We have trust and peer leaders in the 1624 01:06:52,573 --> 01:06:54,740 cadet companies , and they're the ones 1625 01:06:54,740 --> 01:06:56,796 that are at . They are resources for 1626 01:06:56,796 --> 01:06:58,962 young men and women to talk to . So we 1627 01:06:58,962 --> 01:07:00,962 allowed our cadets last summer . We 1628 01:07:00,962 --> 01:07:02,962 will do the same thing with the new 1629 01:07:02,962 --> 01:07:05,470 classes to come in a time , the space 1630 01:07:05,470 --> 01:07:08,070 to talk about tough subjects . It 1631 01:07:08,070 --> 01:07:10,070 really is about these young men and 1632 01:07:10,070 --> 01:07:12,292 women looking each other in the eye . I 1633 01:07:12,292 --> 01:07:14,459 know it's difficult during these covid 1634 01:07:14,459 --> 01:07:16,660 experiences here , but in the eye and 1635 01:07:16,660 --> 01:07:19,290 saying , Look , I care about you and I 1636 01:07:19,290 --> 01:07:21,512 expect you to treat me with dignity and 1637 01:07:21,512 --> 01:07:23,734 respect . And so that's what we do here 1638 01:07:23,734 --> 01:07:25,734 at West Point . We provide them the 1639 01:07:25,734 --> 01:07:28,068 opportunity in a space to talk about it . 1640 01:07:28,068 --> 01:07:30,123 But I am in this space , and I'm not 1641 01:07:30,123 --> 01:07:32,401 leaving this space as a superintendent . 1642 01:07:32,401 --> 01:07:32,370 The United States military county . 1643 01:07:32,370 --> 01:07:36,160 Thank you , ma'am . Congresswoman 1644 01:07:36,160 --> 01:07:40,050 Kirkpatrick , Sean Buck from Navy . Um , 1645 01:07:40,060 --> 01:07:43,180 just very like what General Williams 1646 01:07:43,180 --> 01:07:47,050 just said . The number one way for us 1647 01:07:47,050 --> 01:07:49,740 to get after preventing sexual assault 1648 01:07:49,740 --> 01:07:52,840 or sexual harassment is through peer 1649 01:07:52,840 --> 01:07:55,500 leadership . What we have found over 1650 01:07:55,500 --> 01:07:57,950 and over again in in the formal surveys 1651 01:07:57,950 --> 01:08:00,172 that are given at the Naval Academy and 1652 01:08:00,172 --> 01:08:02,680 all of our academies , our that our mid 1653 01:08:02,680 --> 01:08:05,120 shipment in our cadets . They trust the 1654 01:08:05,120 --> 01:08:07,110 commissioned leadership at the 1655 01:08:07,110 --> 01:08:08,999 academies . They trust the senior 1656 01:08:08,999 --> 01:08:11,221 enlisted leaders , but they're having a 1657 01:08:11,221 --> 01:08:13,830 difficult time trusting their peer 1658 01:08:13,830 --> 01:08:16,380 leadership . Most of the sexual 1659 01:08:16,380 --> 01:08:19,560 assaults over time at my academy have 1660 01:08:19,560 --> 01:08:22,540 been midshipman on midshipmen , and 1661 01:08:22,540 --> 01:08:24,760 that's very distressing that it's blue 1662 01:08:24,760 --> 01:08:27,700 on blue . So in our prevention efforts , 1663 01:08:27,700 --> 01:08:29,960 which is now the preponderance of the 1664 01:08:29,960 --> 01:08:32,730 effort in the military , across all the 1665 01:08:32,730 --> 01:08:34,786 services and across all three of our 1666 01:08:34,786 --> 01:08:37,650 academies is getting after prevention 1667 01:08:37,660 --> 01:08:40,480 and strengthening the confidence and 1668 01:08:40,480 --> 01:08:43,430 the ability of our midshipman leaders 1669 01:08:43,440 --> 01:08:46,060 to lead themselves with adult 1670 01:08:46,060 --> 01:08:48,227 supervision . That's where we're going 1671 01:08:48,227 --> 01:08:50,670 to nip it in the bud . You did ask one 1672 01:08:50,670 --> 01:08:53,130 particular question . If any of us are 1673 01:08:53,130 --> 01:08:56,920 leaning on external resources and 1674 01:08:56,920 --> 01:08:59,460 innovation and creativity from maybe 1675 01:08:59,490 --> 01:09:01,500 other university systems around the 1676 01:09:01,500 --> 01:09:04,560 country or any other asset that might 1677 01:09:04,560 --> 01:09:06,570 be helping organizations get after 1678 01:09:06,570 --> 01:09:08,681 sexual assault . And yes , ma'am , we 1679 01:09:08,681 --> 01:09:11,530 are there is a very robust um , 1680 01:09:11,540 --> 01:09:13,762 investment by the Department of Defense 1681 01:09:13,762 --> 01:09:16,330 and all of our services to allow us to 1682 01:09:16,330 --> 01:09:19,580 do best practices wherever they may be 1683 01:09:19,590 --> 01:09:21,812 to get after this scourge and make it , 1684 01:09:21,812 --> 01:09:24,146 uh , make it go away from our academies , 1685 01:09:24,146 --> 01:09:25,146 man . 1686 01:09:29,970 --> 01:09:32,590 And ma'am , I don't know . Uh , this is 1687 01:09:32,590 --> 01:09:34,757 General Clark . I don't know if I know 1688 01:09:34,757 --> 01:09:36,812 our time is up . If you'd like me to 1689 01:09:36,812 --> 01:09:38,923 make a short statement , Yes , if you 1690 01:09:38,923 --> 01:09:41,257 could , please . Yes , 30 seconds . Yes , 1691 01:09:41,257 --> 01:09:43,479 ma'am . I'll just say that we We are in 1692 01:09:43,479 --> 01:09:46,890 the same mode of thinking as both Navy 1693 01:09:46,890 --> 01:09:49,400 and West Point . And we look at a 1694 01:09:49,410 --> 01:09:51,490 sexual assault prevention framework 1695 01:09:51,670 --> 01:09:53,614 where we can actually address this 1696 01:09:53,614 --> 01:09:55,640 issue with our cadets both pre 1697 01:09:55,640 --> 01:09:58,000 admission , um , through programs that 1698 01:09:58,000 --> 01:10:00,222 we have them involved in . We work with 1699 01:10:00,222 --> 01:10:03,020 parents on alcohol related issues so 1700 01:10:03,020 --> 01:10:05,430 that parents can work with their , um , 1701 01:10:05,440 --> 01:10:07,662 young high school graduates before they 1702 01:10:07,662 --> 01:10:10,940 come . We work during their time here . 1703 01:10:10,940 --> 01:10:13,170 Throughout , we have great programs 1704 01:10:13,180 --> 01:10:15,860 that address healthy relationship 1705 01:10:15,860 --> 01:10:18,580 training that address personal skills 1706 01:10:18,590 --> 01:10:21,520 and that also address bystander um , 1707 01:10:21,530 --> 01:10:23,750 intervention skills for a whole cadet 1708 01:10:23,750 --> 01:10:26,940 wing so that nobody stands by just to 1709 01:10:26,940 --> 01:10:29,530 let these horrible events happen . And 1710 01:10:29,530 --> 01:10:33,030 we also have a series of pilot programs 1711 01:10:33,040 --> 01:10:35,550 that allow us to assess each program 1712 01:10:35,550 --> 01:10:37,850 that we implement so that we understand 1713 01:10:37,850 --> 01:10:39,850 exactly the type of effect we could 1714 01:10:39,850 --> 01:10:42,750 expect , but also , um , to use our 1715 01:10:42,750 --> 01:10:45,090 time wisely so that we can target 1716 01:10:45,090 --> 01:10:47,670 exactly the problems that we have to 1717 01:10:47,670 --> 01:10:51,220 address in this case . So I think all 1718 01:10:51,220 --> 01:10:54,810 of us are committed to , uh , 1719 01:10:54,820 --> 01:10:57,070 decreasing and , in fact , defeating 1720 01:10:57,070 --> 01:10:59,270 the scourge and making our academies 1721 01:10:59,270 --> 01:11:02,030 and our forces better . Thank you so 1722 01:11:02,030 --> 01:11:05,310 much . Um , I am going to , uh , do a 1723 01:11:05,310 --> 01:11:07,620 bit of housekeeping before we hear from 1724 01:11:07,630 --> 01:11:10,770 Mr Alcohols . Question . Mr . Ryan , Um , 1725 01:11:10,780 --> 01:11:14,720 your present . I'm going to go and vote . 1726 01:11:14,730 --> 01:11:17,640 The staff will send you , uh , the list 1727 01:11:17,640 --> 01:11:19,751 of the next speakers . It's at a hold 1728 01:11:19,760 --> 01:11:21,927 regular Carter , and then the rest are 1729 01:11:21,927 --> 01:11:24,038 listed . I know we're in good hands , 1730 01:11:24,038 --> 01:11:27,950 and with that I will . I'll be 1731 01:11:27,950 --> 01:11:29,839 going to vote . Thank you , sir . 1732 01:11:31,960 --> 01:11:35,230 Thank you . Thank you , madam Chair and , 1733 01:11:35,240 --> 01:11:37,780 uh , thanks everyone for being before 1734 01:11:37,780 --> 01:11:40,680 the subcommittee today , I would have 1735 01:11:40,680 --> 01:11:43,630 been in contact with my colleague , 1736 01:11:43,640 --> 01:11:45,860 Congressman , uh , desjarlais of 1737 01:11:45,860 --> 01:11:48,180 Tennessee , and , uh , one of the 1738 01:11:48,180 --> 01:11:51,900 issues that has come up , uh , is 1739 01:11:51,910 --> 01:11:54,021 just wondering if you could provide a 1740 01:11:54,021 --> 01:11:55,966 little bit of a timeline about the 1741 01:11:55,966 --> 01:11:58,870 covid 19 vaccines that will be 1742 01:11:58,870 --> 01:12:01,530 available for the academy members . I 1743 01:12:01,530 --> 01:12:03,760 know a couple of you may mention that a 1744 01:12:03,760 --> 01:12:06,580 little bit , um , in your comments 1745 01:12:06,950 --> 01:12:10,560 earlier on , but as far as a timeline , 1746 01:12:10,570 --> 01:12:14,490 it's when you foresee the members being 1747 01:12:14,490 --> 01:12:17,850 able to actually receive the shots or 1748 01:12:17,850 --> 01:12:19,794 if they have started receiving the 1749 01:12:19,794 --> 01:12:22,170 shots . Um , could you please just give 1750 01:12:22,170 --> 01:12:24,740 us a brief outline as far as what 1751 01:12:24,740 --> 01:12:26,740 you're looking at right now at your 1752 01:12:26,740 --> 01:12:29,140 particular academy ? Yes , sir . This 1753 01:12:29,140 --> 01:12:31,251 is Lieutenant General Clark . I can I 1754 01:12:31,251 --> 01:12:34,480 can start with that one . Uh , we all 1755 01:12:34,480 --> 01:12:36,758 of us , all three of us . General Buck . 1756 01:12:36,758 --> 01:12:39,020 General Williams . Um , we talk 1757 01:12:39,030 --> 01:12:42,560 regularly about our , uh , issues with 1758 01:12:42,560 --> 01:12:45,330 covid 19 , and I believe that we are 1759 01:12:45,330 --> 01:12:48,170 all in very similar situations as far 1760 01:12:48,170 --> 01:12:50,281 as the impacts of it on our mission , 1761 01:12:50,281 --> 01:12:52,710 how we're testing , and then now , 1762 01:12:52,710 --> 01:12:55,000 vaccines which have come our way . We 1763 01:12:55,000 --> 01:12:58,000 are all , um , adhering to the d o d 1764 01:12:58,000 --> 01:13:00,000 scheme of the Department of Defense 1765 01:13:00,000 --> 01:13:02,330 schema that lays out the priorities of 1766 01:13:02,330 --> 01:13:05,360 who should get the vaccines when so it 1767 01:13:05,360 --> 01:13:08,150 starts off with first responders . It 1768 01:13:08,150 --> 01:13:10,250 cascades down to mission essential 1769 01:13:10,250 --> 01:13:13,190 members , um , and dip lawyers . It 1770 01:13:13,190 --> 01:13:15,450 gets into medical beneficiaries , and 1771 01:13:15,450 --> 01:13:18,400 then our cadets actually fall into the 1772 01:13:18,410 --> 01:13:20,632 the lowest category because they're all 1773 01:13:20,632 --> 01:13:23,310 healthy , others they are the most 1774 01:13:23,310 --> 01:13:25,380 healthy of our population , and they 1775 01:13:25,380 --> 01:13:27,380 fall into the lower level of that 1776 01:13:27,380 --> 01:13:30,370 schema . So we all get , um , 1777 01:13:30,650 --> 01:13:33,090 vaccines that are filtered to us . We 1778 01:13:33,090 --> 01:13:35,800 get them periodically , Um , as is the 1779 01:13:35,800 --> 01:13:37,967 rest of the installations and at least 1780 01:13:37,967 --> 01:13:40,189 the Air Force and the Space Force . And 1781 01:13:40,189 --> 01:13:42,467 I think the Army and Navy are the same . 1782 01:13:42,467 --> 01:13:44,522 We fall into a system that when they 1783 01:13:44,522 --> 01:13:46,900 come , we execute the vaccines and get 1784 01:13:46,900 --> 01:13:49,170 them into arms as quickly as possible . 1785 01:13:49,180 --> 01:13:51,236 But in accordance with the scheme of 1786 01:13:51,236 --> 01:13:53,291 that , the Department of Defense has 1787 01:13:53,291 --> 01:13:55,402 given us . So right now for us at the 1788 01:13:55,402 --> 01:13:57,569 Air Force Academy , it's primarily our 1789 01:13:57,569 --> 01:13:59,460 first responders , our staff and 1790 01:13:59,460 --> 01:14:01,490 faculty who we consider missing 1791 01:14:01,490 --> 01:14:03,657 essential who have been the folks that 1792 01:14:03,657 --> 01:14:05,768 have gotten the vaccine so far . Um , 1793 01:14:05,768 --> 01:14:08,080 eventually , though , as we get more 1794 01:14:08,080 --> 01:14:11,360 vaccines into arms are cadets will be 1795 01:14:11,370 --> 01:14:13,800 recipients of that vaccine , and I'll 1796 01:14:13,800 --> 01:14:16,080 yield the floor to , uh , my other 1797 01:14:16,090 --> 01:14:18,060 superintendent colleagues over . 1798 01:14:21,240 --> 01:14:23,351 Congressman , we're getting fantastic 1799 01:14:23,351 --> 01:14:25,407 support from the army and D o D . In 1800 01:14:25,407 --> 01:14:27,840 this space to date , we have vaccinated 1801 01:14:27,840 --> 01:14:30,340 just over 4000 here at West Point . 1802 01:14:30,340 --> 01:14:32,270 That is not the corps of cadets . 1803 01:14:32,640 --> 01:14:34,473 That's much as rich laid out the 1804 01:14:34,473 --> 01:14:37,000 framework , our first responders and 1805 01:14:37,000 --> 01:14:39,222 such , and folks that are in vulnerable 1806 01:14:39,222 --> 01:14:42,490 populations . I have 4400 cadets here , 1807 01:14:42,490 --> 01:14:44,712 but in the community writ large at West 1808 01:14:44,712 --> 01:14:46,600 Point , about 8000 , uh , in the 1809 01:14:46,600 --> 01:14:49,840 community and such . So we're on path . 1810 01:14:49,850 --> 01:14:52,440 Um , Rich laid it out in terms of when 1811 01:14:52,440 --> 01:14:54,662 it's available . We will do it . As you 1812 01:14:54,662 --> 01:14:56,773 know , we're under emergency use , so 1813 01:14:56,773 --> 01:14:58,829 we cannot mandate . But , sir , I've 1814 01:14:58,829 --> 01:15:01,140 got very high . The cadets . I want 1815 01:15:01,140 --> 01:15:04,030 this vaccination . It's well over 90% 1816 01:15:04,030 --> 01:15:06,197 that are gonna so I When ? When we get 1817 01:15:06,197 --> 01:15:08,363 it when it's available . I'm confident 1818 01:15:08,363 --> 01:15:10,308 that we will be vaccinated here at 1819 01:15:10,308 --> 01:15:12,252 United States Military Academy and 1820 01:15:12,252 --> 01:15:14,363 contribute to Army readiness as we go 1821 01:15:14,363 --> 01:15:18,170 forward . Thank you . Yeah . And 1822 01:15:18,170 --> 01:15:20,337 Congressman Adam Holt . What I've done 1823 01:15:20,337 --> 01:15:23,080 is is I have the same schema . It's a d 1824 01:15:23,080 --> 01:15:25,380 o d schema . It's going well , I would 1825 01:15:25,380 --> 01:15:28,790 suggest it's slow and steady . We went 1826 01:15:28,790 --> 01:15:31,070 after the same prioritization as 1827 01:15:31,070 --> 01:15:33,950 General Clark articulated to you . I've 1828 01:15:33,950 --> 01:15:36,650 given my Navy a timeline for when I 1829 01:15:36,650 --> 01:15:39,170 need to have the Midshipmen vaccinated 1830 01:15:39,840 --> 01:15:41,690 because the way we do our summer 1831 01:15:41,690 --> 01:15:43,780 training is I will send the vast 1832 01:15:43,780 --> 01:15:45,780 majority of mid shipment out to the 1833 01:15:45,780 --> 01:15:48,460 fleet to embark on operational ships , 1834 01:15:48,470 --> 01:15:51,380 submarines , squadrons , Navy SEAL 1835 01:15:51,380 --> 01:15:54,410 teams and our Navy has 1836 01:15:54,410 --> 01:15:57,230 prioritized the operational forces . 1837 01:15:57,230 --> 01:16:00,010 First , they're getting vaccinated . 1838 01:16:00,020 --> 01:16:02,080 They have a very safe and healthy 1839 01:16:02,080 --> 01:16:05,300 bubble . And for them to be willing to 1840 01:16:05,300 --> 01:16:07,960 accept our midshipmen from the academy 1841 01:16:07,970 --> 01:16:10,620 as well as midshipmen from ROTC 1842 01:16:10,620 --> 01:16:13,210 universities around the country , we 1843 01:16:13,210 --> 01:16:15,210 need to vaccinate them prior to the 1844 01:16:15,210 --> 01:16:17,154 summer training started . So we're 1845 01:16:17,154 --> 01:16:19,410 anticipating our summer training . It 1846 01:16:19,410 --> 01:16:21,640 first opens up around the 15th of May . 1847 01:16:22,130 --> 01:16:24,450 I need to start vaccinating that small 1848 01:16:24,450 --> 01:16:26,617 cohort of mid shipment around the last 1849 01:16:26,617 --> 01:16:28,730 week of this month March and then I 1850 01:16:28,730 --> 01:16:30,786 hope to be able to start vaccinating 1851 01:16:30,786 --> 01:16:33,008 all the rest of them in the first three 1852 01:16:33,008 --> 01:16:35,490 weeks of April and that will allow them 1853 01:16:35,490 --> 01:16:38,800 to get through the two shot schema four 1854 01:16:38,800 --> 01:16:41,370 weeks between them and then developed 1855 01:16:41,370 --> 01:16:43,920 the immunity with two weeks after that 1856 01:16:43,920 --> 01:16:46,210 second shot and there will be an up and 1857 01:16:46,210 --> 01:16:48,680 ready round for the for the fleet and 1858 01:16:48,680 --> 01:16:50,900 all the captains of the units out out 1859 01:16:50,900 --> 01:16:52,844 in the Navy fleet will be ready to 1860 01:16:52,844 --> 01:16:55,067 accept them . And we can conduct summer 1861 01:16:55,067 --> 01:16:57,178 training , which is such an important 1862 01:16:57,178 --> 01:16:59,122 aspect of the development of a mid 1863 01:16:59,122 --> 01:17:01,680 shipment over . Oh , Mr Chair , I know 1864 01:17:01,680 --> 01:17:03,791 my time is up , but if I could just , 1865 01:17:03,791 --> 01:17:06,660 uh , ask for the , uh , wanted to ask 1866 01:17:06,660 --> 01:17:08,660 about one of the issue and they can 1867 01:17:08,660 --> 01:17:10,910 respond on the record of the , uh , of 1868 01:17:10,910 --> 01:17:12,966 course , I believe in mutual respect 1869 01:17:12,966 --> 01:17:15,520 that is important for all our , uh , 1870 01:17:15,530 --> 01:17:17,530 cadets . And no matter what service 1871 01:17:17,530 --> 01:17:20,660 they're in , but a little bit Just 1872 01:17:20,660 --> 01:17:23,230 question about this pledge to respect 1873 01:17:23,230 --> 01:17:25,240 the intersectional identities of 1874 01:17:25,240 --> 01:17:27,480 service members at the Naval Academy . 1875 01:17:27,490 --> 01:17:30,230 Like I said , I miss my understand that 1876 01:17:30,230 --> 01:17:32,770 mutual respect is is and leadership 1877 01:17:32,770 --> 01:17:34,714 traits and leadership principles . 1878 01:17:34,714 --> 01:17:36,770 That's already a part of the program 1879 01:17:36,770 --> 01:17:39,050 and should already be well drilled into 1880 01:17:39,050 --> 01:17:42,110 the to the to these cadets . And I just 1881 01:17:42,110 --> 01:17:44,960 want to , uh , just , uh , inquire 1882 01:17:44,960 --> 01:17:47,016 about that . And my time is up . You 1883 01:17:47,016 --> 01:17:48,516 can reply for the record . 1884 01:17:50,730 --> 01:17:52,841 Appreciate that , Mr Adderall . Thank 1885 01:17:52,841 --> 01:17:54,450 you . Uh , Mr Regular . 1886 01:17:56,630 --> 01:17:59,300 Thank you , Mr Ryan . And appreciate 1887 01:17:59,300 --> 01:18:01,244 the chairwoman putting this , uh , 1888 01:18:01,244 --> 01:18:03,790 hearing forward and superintendents for 1889 01:18:03,790 --> 01:18:07,500 your for your work . Um , gentlemen , I 1890 01:18:07,500 --> 01:18:09,556 wanted to ask a little bit about the 1891 01:18:09,556 --> 01:18:12,570 faculty . Um , could you describe the 1892 01:18:12,570 --> 01:18:15,750 composition of your faculty at each 1893 01:18:16,220 --> 01:18:19,400 academy ? What's the mix of civilian 1894 01:18:19,400 --> 01:18:22,990 and military professors and how diverse 1895 01:18:22,990 --> 01:18:25,720 is the population ? Um , and the types 1896 01:18:25,720 --> 01:18:27,609 of qualifications . And if tenure 1897 01:18:27,609 --> 01:18:29,831 applies , I just wanted to get a better 1898 01:18:29,831 --> 01:18:32,053 understanding , Uh , and and , uh , and 1899 01:18:32,053 --> 01:18:34,580 here that with my colleagues , Um , if 1900 01:18:34,580 --> 01:18:36,524 we could start with Superintendent 1901 01:18:36,524 --> 01:18:38,413 Williams and then and then , uh , 1902 01:18:38,413 --> 01:18:40,524 proceed , that would be appreciated . 1903 01:18:43,020 --> 01:18:45,298 Yes , sir . Thank you for the question . 1904 01:18:45,298 --> 01:18:47,353 Yes . Our staff and faculty here are 1905 01:18:47,353 --> 01:18:50,960 diverse . Um , about 70 . Military , 30 1906 01:18:50,970 --> 01:18:53,370 civilian . We've been on that path for 1907 01:18:53,370 --> 01:18:56,190 some time . Um , I will tell you that 1908 01:18:56,190 --> 01:18:58,680 we have at the core of it are are are 1909 01:18:58,680 --> 01:19:01,140 great post . Those are department heads . 1910 01:19:01,140 --> 01:19:03,950 We have 13 department heads , and , uh , 1911 01:19:03,960 --> 01:19:06,016 these are men and women who are army 1912 01:19:06,016 --> 01:19:09,090 colonels who have devoted their life to 1913 01:19:09,090 --> 01:19:11,460 their particular discipline and spend 1914 01:19:11,460 --> 01:19:13,850 some time here . That's one part of the 1915 01:19:14,320 --> 01:19:16,820 of the triumvirate here . And then our 1916 01:19:16,820 --> 01:19:18,876 great army civilians are senior army 1917 01:19:18,876 --> 01:19:21,590 civilians who also we who have been 1918 01:19:21,590 --> 01:19:23,868 recently tenured in the last few years , 1919 01:19:23,868 --> 01:19:26,840 who who also add to the academic 1920 01:19:27,420 --> 01:19:29,810 for a partner with those department 1921 01:19:29,810 --> 01:19:31,500 heads . And then there's this 1922 01:19:31,500 --> 01:19:35,480 rotational , uh , part of the faculty 1923 01:19:35,480 --> 01:19:37,647 that are young captains and majors who 1924 01:19:37,647 --> 01:19:39,840 provide intellectual capital back to 1925 01:19:39,840 --> 01:19:42,530 our great army . So this is Captain 1926 01:19:42,530 --> 01:19:44,530 Major Williams . You know , they're 1927 01:19:44,530 --> 01:19:46,641 midway through their career . They go 1928 01:19:46,641 --> 01:19:49,110 back , receive a PhD , teach here for 1929 01:19:49,110 --> 01:19:51,350 three years and utilization tour and 1930 01:19:51,350 --> 01:19:53,970 then return intellectual capital back 1931 01:19:53,970 --> 01:19:55,914 to our great army . That's usually 1932 01:19:55,914 --> 01:19:58,026 about a five , and sometimes it could 1933 01:19:58,026 --> 01:20:00,248 be a six year tenure . And so those are 1934 01:20:00,248 --> 01:20:02,414 the different elements . You have more 1935 01:20:02,414 --> 01:20:04,581 senior tenured professors , civilian . 1936 01:20:04,581 --> 01:20:06,880 You have senior tenured colonels who 1937 01:20:06,880 --> 01:20:08,730 have devoted their life to this 1938 01:20:08,730 --> 01:20:11,490 academic profession , and then our 1939 01:20:11,490 --> 01:20:14,050 rotational , uh , faculty who are 1940 01:20:14,050 --> 01:20:16,150 younger officers who return also the 1941 01:20:16,150 --> 01:20:18,230 Army and be the battalion brigade 1942 01:20:18,230 --> 01:20:20,500 commanders for cadets . So the 1943 01:20:20,500 --> 01:20:23,630 relationship and a sense of ownership 1944 01:20:23,640 --> 01:20:25,807 that are young faculty have with these 1945 01:20:25,807 --> 01:20:28,030 cadets is vital part of how we go 1946 01:20:28,030 --> 01:20:30,252 forward . Thank you for your question , 1947 01:20:30,252 --> 01:20:33,590 sir . And sir , Lieutenant General 1948 01:20:33,590 --> 01:20:37,500 Clark from Air Force , I'll add on , uh , 1949 01:20:37,510 --> 01:20:40,410 we're about 60% military and 1950 01:20:40,410 --> 01:20:43,960 40% civilian in our faculty 1951 01:20:43,970 --> 01:20:46,340 and , uh , like journal , Williams 1952 01:20:46,340 --> 01:20:48,920 stated , our our military faculty 1953 01:20:48,920 --> 01:20:51,550 really bring an operational flavor to 1954 01:20:51,550 --> 01:20:54,340 the academic , uh , curriculum . And , 1955 01:20:54,340 --> 01:20:57,210 of course , our our civilians Mendy Ph . 1956 01:20:57,210 --> 01:21:00,580 D s , many from other areas of academia 1957 01:21:00,580 --> 01:21:04,390 who help us , uh , to bring that , uh , 1958 01:21:04,400 --> 01:21:07,230 perspective to our , um , our program . 1959 01:21:07,240 --> 01:21:10,140 I want to also highlight though we have 1960 01:21:10,140 --> 01:21:13,440 coaches , we have , um , uh , air 1961 01:21:13,440 --> 01:21:15,662 officer commanding who are in charge of 1962 01:21:15,662 --> 01:21:19,080 each cadet squadron with our academy . 1963 01:21:19,080 --> 01:21:21,340 Military trainers are enlisted members 1964 01:21:21,370 --> 01:21:23,410 who helped lead those squadrons who 1965 01:21:23,410 --> 01:21:26,340 also bring , um , the perspectives that 1966 01:21:26,340 --> 01:21:28,562 are cadets need and their development . 1967 01:21:28,562 --> 01:21:30,784 I will say one of the things that we're 1968 01:21:30,784 --> 01:21:33,770 working very , uh , diligently on is to 1969 01:21:33,770 --> 01:21:36,470 increase the diversity Uh um of our of 1970 01:21:36,470 --> 01:21:38,581 our staff and faculty . And to ensure 1971 01:21:38,710 --> 01:21:40,654 that not only are cadets look like 1972 01:21:40,654 --> 01:21:42,488 America , but that our staff and 1973 01:21:42,488 --> 01:21:44,599 faculty represent that as well . That 1974 01:21:44,599 --> 01:21:46,710 will be a great benefit to our cadets 1975 01:21:46,710 --> 01:21:49,040 development and will continue to work 1976 01:21:49,040 --> 01:21:50,930 that . Thank you , sir . 1977 01:21:53,110 --> 01:21:55,460 Congresswoman Aguilar were at Navy are 1978 01:21:55,460 --> 01:21:57,516 a little bit different than my other 1979 01:21:57,516 --> 01:21:59,970 two sister academies were traditionally 1980 01:21:59,970 --> 01:22:03,050 50 50 . Today , as I speak to you were 1981 01:22:03,050 --> 01:22:05,420 53% civilian , 1982 01:22:06,000 --> 01:22:08,820 47% military professors 1983 01:22:09,600 --> 01:22:12,040 amongst , and it's a total of 600 1984 01:22:12,050 --> 01:22:15,430 faculty here . Um in that 1985 01:22:15,440 --> 01:22:19,240 uniform group of faculty . 19% of them 1986 01:22:19,250 --> 01:22:22,990 are women . 19% of them are men or 1987 01:22:22,990 --> 01:22:26,650 women of minority . We continue to look 1988 01:22:26,650 --> 01:22:28,620 at our hiring practices across the 1989 01:22:28,620 --> 01:22:31,090 whole faculty to try to develop a 1990 01:22:31,090 --> 01:22:34,440 diverse faculty workforce there so that 1991 01:22:34,440 --> 01:22:36,384 the young men and women that go to 1992 01:22:36,384 --> 01:22:40,050 school here look , uh , and and see men 1993 01:22:40,050 --> 01:22:42,930 and women that may look like them . We 1994 01:22:42,930 --> 01:22:44,930 have a 10 year program here , so we 1995 01:22:44,930 --> 01:22:46,652 have tenured professors , full 1996 01:22:46,652 --> 01:22:49,000 professors , associate professors , and 1997 01:22:49,000 --> 01:22:51,250 then each year , to fill the gaps , we 1998 01:22:51,250 --> 01:22:54,180 hire a fluctuating number of adjunct 1999 01:22:54,180 --> 01:22:57,120 professors to fill in where we where we 2000 01:22:57,120 --> 01:22:59,510 may have holes on one particular year . 2001 01:22:59,900 --> 01:23:02,040 And those professors come from a very 2002 01:23:02,040 --> 01:23:03,620 diverse background , sir . 2003 01:23:05,800 --> 01:23:07,950 Appreciate . Appreciate the answers , 2004 01:23:07,960 --> 01:23:10,238 gentlemen . And and we just , you know , 2005 01:23:10,238 --> 01:23:12,350 uh , continued , uh , specifically 2006 01:23:12,350 --> 01:23:14,670 appreciate Superintendent Clark talking 2007 01:23:14,680 --> 01:23:17,000 a little bit about the continued need 2008 01:23:17,000 --> 01:23:20,010 to review hiring practices and to 2009 01:23:20,010 --> 01:23:22,860 better reflect the diverse population 2010 01:23:22,870 --> 01:23:25,030 that that we want the academies to 2011 01:23:25,030 --> 01:23:27,252 serve . So ? So thank you . Gentlemen . 2012 01:23:27,252 --> 01:23:29,363 I know this is , uh , involving issue 2013 01:23:29,363 --> 01:23:31,780 and appreciate your openness to to 2014 01:23:31,780 --> 01:23:34,430 these , uh , to these questions on this 2015 01:23:34,430 --> 01:23:37,870 topic . Thank you , Mr Turner . Mr . Mr 2016 01:23:37,870 --> 01:23:40,030 Regular appreciate you asking those 2017 01:23:40,040 --> 01:23:42,373 very important questions . Judge Carter . 2018 01:23:42,400 --> 01:23:45,600 Mr . Chairman , before that , Yeah , 2019 01:23:46,200 --> 01:23:49,180 um , a judge car is going to cover for 2020 01:23:49,180 --> 01:23:51,347 me . I've gotta Unfortunately , I have 2021 01:23:51,347 --> 01:23:54,600 a conflict . So Judge judges got it 2022 01:23:54,600 --> 01:23:57,320 from here . Thank you . Okay , 2023 01:23:58,500 --> 01:24:00,667 Judge Carter , you're also up for your 2024 01:24:00,667 --> 01:24:03,250 five minutes of questions . Thanks . He 2025 01:24:03,260 --> 01:24:05,093 recognized me . Thank you to the 2026 01:24:05,093 --> 01:24:07,340 superintendents for being able to be 2027 01:24:07,340 --> 01:24:09,396 here and talk to us today . When you 2028 01:24:09,396 --> 01:24:11,618 are learning quite a bit , I'm going to 2029 01:24:11,618 --> 01:24:13,780 ask a couple of things that go back 2030 01:24:13,790 --> 01:24:15,910 when we're back talking about cyber 2031 01:24:17,190 --> 01:24:21,020 with the concept of all joint command 2032 01:24:21,390 --> 01:24:24,640 and control . Mm . How are you 2033 01:24:24,640 --> 01:24:26,660 attracting , uh , entertaining 2034 01:24:26,660 --> 01:24:30,090 qualified civilian faculty in the 2035 01:24:30,090 --> 01:24:32,510 technical disciplines . And what type 2036 01:24:32,510 --> 01:24:35,580 of funding do you need ? Uh , to ensure 2037 01:24:35,580 --> 01:24:37,747 that the U . S . Maintains a resilient 2038 01:24:37,747 --> 01:24:39,930 cyber force within the department 2039 01:24:39,930 --> 01:24:41,700 affairs with the end with our 2040 01:24:41,700 --> 01:24:45,160 intelligence partners . What kind of 2041 01:24:45,170 --> 01:24:47,730 help you need ? Yes , sir . I can . I 2042 01:24:47,730 --> 01:24:49,397 can start off with that . The 2043 01:24:49,397 --> 01:24:51,960 Lieutenant General Clark , um , we have , 2044 01:24:51,970 --> 01:24:55,770 um , majors and many classes 2045 01:24:55,770 --> 01:24:58,140 throughout our entire curriculum that 2046 01:24:58,140 --> 01:25:01,740 address our cyber needs . And as both 2047 01:25:01,750 --> 01:25:03,639 General Raymond , our space force 2048 01:25:03,639 --> 01:25:05,806 commander who says that every guardian 2049 01:25:05,806 --> 01:25:08,970 has to speak digital as their language . 2050 01:25:08,980 --> 01:25:10,869 They have to understand the cyber 2051 01:25:10,869 --> 01:25:12,869 domain if we're going to be able to 2052 01:25:12,869 --> 01:25:14,924 execute joint all domain command and 2053 01:25:14,924 --> 01:25:16,980 control . And General Brown , in his 2054 01:25:16,980 --> 01:25:19,258 charge for accelerating change or lose , 2055 01:25:19,258 --> 01:25:21,700 has emphasized that as well . So our 2056 01:25:21,700 --> 01:25:24,040 majors in cyber every course that we 2057 01:25:24,040 --> 01:25:27,510 teach in cyber is critical for us were 2058 01:25:27,510 --> 01:25:29,677 also breaking ground this month on our 2059 01:25:29,677 --> 01:25:32,510 cyber innovation center , which is an 2060 01:25:32,510 --> 01:25:34,850 opportunity for us to bring in partners 2061 01:25:34,860 --> 01:25:37,360 not only from the broader Air Force and 2062 01:25:37,360 --> 01:25:39,930 Space Force , but also from industry , 2063 01:25:39,940 --> 01:25:41,718 so that our cadets can have the 2064 01:25:41,718 --> 01:25:43,551 opportunity not only to learn in 2065 01:25:43,551 --> 01:25:45,850 academics , but also to experience the 2066 01:25:45,850 --> 01:25:47,739 real world needs and address real 2067 01:25:47,739 --> 01:25:49,980 problems . One of the areas that we 2068 01:25:49,980 --> 01:25:52,202 could use help with those , sir , is in 2069 01:25:52,202 --> 01:25:55,000 our , um , information technology . R I 2070 01:25:55,000 --> 01:25:58,920 t is woefully behind where we need to 2071 01:25:58,920 --> 01:26:02,690 be to be a cyber . Uh , I think 2072 01:26:02,700 --> 01:26:05,150 provider of cyber . Excellent . Um , 2073 01:26:05,160 --> 01:26:09,030 right now , we have needs for 2074 01:26:09,040 --> 01:26:10,929 immediate funding for this year , 2075 01:26:11,480 --> 01:26:14,610 funding unfunded requirements . Plus , 2076 01:26:14,610 --> 01:26:17,900 we need money into the palm because our 2077 01:26:17,910 --> 01:26:21,310 network is not the same network that 2078 01:26:21,310 --> 01:26:23,600 the broader air Force uses we are on a 2079 01:26:23,600 --> 01:26:26,420 dot e d U , whereas the air forces on a 2080 01:26:26,420 --> 01:26:29,070 dot mil the dot e d u allows us to 2081 01:26:29,070 --> 01:26:31,400 collaborate . It allows us to innovate . 2082 01:26:31,580 --> 01:26:33,802 And it connects us with researchers and 2083 01:26:33,802 --> 01:26:36,090 other universities that we need to be a 2084 01:26:36,090 --> 01:26:38,700 world class organization so we don't 2085 01:26:38,700 --> 01:26:41,530 fall under the normal i t funding that 2086 01:26:41,530 --> 01:26:43,697 the rest of the Air Force , uh , comes 2087 01:26:43,697 --> 01:26:46,080 under . So that funding that we need 2088 01:26:46,080 --> 01:26:48,490 not only now but into the out years is 2089 01:26:48,490 --> 01:26:51,230 vital for us . In fact , it threatens 2090 01:26:51,230 --> 01:26:54,280 our accreditation it during covid , 2091 01:26:54,280 --> 01:26:56,300 we've recognized our weaknesses as 2092 01:26:56,300 --> 01:26:58,500 we've gone two more virtual classes . 2093 01:26:58,500 --> 01:27:01,550 So we have great needs . Uh , I think 2094 01:27:01,550 --> 01:27:04,480 from a fiscal standpoint , to allow us 2095 01:27:04,480 --> 01:27:07,430 to meet our aspirations to be that that 2096 01:27:07,430 --> 01:27:10,370 site school of cyber excellence . So I 2097 01:27:10,370 --> 01:27:12,592 will . I will stop there , sir , but we 2098 01:27:12,592 --> 01:27:14,426 appreciate any help that you can 2099 01:27:14,426 --> 01:27:16,830 provide to move us forward with our i t . 2100 01:27:16,830 --> 01:27:19,470 So that we are the provider of cyber 2101 01:27:19,470 --> 01:27:20,470 excellence over 2102 01:27:22,980 --> 01:27:25,100 coffee production . 2103 01:27:26,680 --> 01:27:30,060 The Naval Academy . We're proud to 2104 01:27:30,060 --> 01:27:32,116 represent ourselves as the center of 2105 01:27:32,116 --> 01:27:35,080 cyber excellence . We aggressively got 2106 01:27:35,080 --> 01:27:37,700 after this about 12 years ago and 2107 01:27:37,700 --> 01:27:40,870 committed ourselves to doing so and 2108 01:27:40,870 --> 01:27:42,814 just this year , on my tenure , we 2109 01:27:42,814 --> 01:27:45,010 opened up , I believe , one of the 2110 01:27:45,010 --> 01:27:48,470 first cyber operations center buildings 2111 01:27:48,480 --> 01:27:50,770 in the country , and we brought the 2112 01:27:50,770 --> 01:27:53,100 capability here to be able to teach our 2113 01:27:53,100 --> 01:27:55,640 midshipman right from the ground floor 2114 01:27:55,640 --> 01:27:57,890 at the top secret , especially 2115 01:27:57,890 --> 01:28:01,330 compartmented level . And , as you know , 2116 01:28:01,330 --> 01:28:04,250 the topic of cyber , it's a very un 2117 01:28:04,250 --> 01:28:06,090 remarkable to teach it at the 2118 01:28:06,090 --> 01:28:08,480 unclassified level . So now when these 2119 01:28:08,480 --> 01:28:10,591 young men and women graduate from the 2120 01:28:10,591 --> 01:28:13,170 Naval Academy , having been exposed to 2121 01:28:13,170 --> 01:28:16,550 cyber across their entire journey here , 2122 01:28:16,560 --> 01:28:18,727 they are much more capable , much more 2123 01:28:18,727 --> 01:28:21,500 aware , much more cognizant of how to 2124 01:28:21,500 --> 01:28:23,660 fight and work and live within the 2125 01:28:23,660 --> 01:28:27,650 cyber domain . We we take on 2126 01:28:27,650 --> 01:28:30,500 an all many few concept here . 2127 01:28:31,170 --> 01:28:33,800 Every single midshipman takes two 2128 01:28:33,800 --> 01:28:37,460 courses in cyber . We prevent we . We 2129 01:28:37,460 --> 01:28:39,930 present many opportunities for many to 2130 01:28:39,930 --> 01:28:42,200 be exposed to cyber through lectures 2131 01:28:42,200 --> 01:28:44,890 and conferences and research projects , 2132 01:28:45,270 --> 01:28:47,230 and we now have a cyber operations 2133 01:28:47,230 --> 01:28:49,320 major in which 75 midshipmen 2134 01:28:49,320 --> 01:28:53,180 matriculate to each each time each 2135 01:28:53,180 --> 01:28:55,750 year entering class . If I were to tell 2136 01:28:55,750 --> 01:28:57,660 you what we have trouble with in 2137 01:28:57,660 --> 01:29:00,920 attracting the best faculty to teach in 2138 01:29:00,920 --> 01:29:04,360 cyber , it's being able to pay a 2139 01:29:04,360 --> 01:29:07,290 cyber professor on a federal pay scale 2140 01:29:08,370 --> 01:29:10,940 That's very difficult to compete with 2141 01:29:10,940 --> 01:29:12,718 what they can do out in private 2142 01:29:12,718 --> 01:29:14,980 industry . Sir , I'm not so sure how to 2143 01:29:14,980 --> 01:29:17,860 crack that nut other than to present 2144 01:29:17,860 --> 01:29:19,990 them really , really rewarding 2145 01:29:19,990 --> 01:29:22,940 experiencing , teaching fine young men 2146 01:29:22,940 --> 01:29:24,773 and women in the academy who are 2147 01:29:24,773 --> 01:29:27,450 passionate to learn . We now present 2148 01:29:27,450 --> 01:29:30,620 world class facilities . But you do 2149 01:29:30,620 --> 01:29:32,842 know that it would be very difficult to 2150 01:29:32,842 --> 01:29:35,930 present a federal pay scale to someone 2151 01:29:35,930 --> 01:29:37,819 steeped in cyber who can do a lot 2152 01:29:37,819 --> 01:29:41,600 better on the outside . Okay . Yeah . 2153 01:29:43,370 --> 01:29:46,080 Anybody else ? Yes , sir . Sort of 2154 01:29:46,090 --> 01:29:48,560 three components the brick and mortar 2155 01:29:48,560 --> 01:29:50,449 aspect . As I mentioned earlier , 2156 01:29:50,449 --> 01:29:52,393 there's Cyber Engineering Academic 2157 01:29:52,393 --> 01:29:54,560 Center , which will transform the very 2158 01:29:54,560 --> 01:29:56,560 face of West Point . I know when we 2159 01:29:56,560 --> 01:29:58,838 look forward to welcome you back again , 2160 01:29:58,838 --> 01:30:01,004 sir . You're here two years ago . That 2161 01:30:01,004 --> 01:30:03,116 will be transformational . But I will 2162 01:30:03,116 --> 01:30:05,227 tell you while we're waiting for that 2163 01:30:05,227 --> 01:30:07,282 to to mature , we enjoy efficiencies 2164 01:30:07,282 --> 01:30:09,393 with the Army Cyber Institute , which 2165 01:30:09,393 --> 01:30:11,393 is just outside West Point . And we 2166 01:30:11,393 --> 01:30:13,116 attract right now the best and 2167 01:30:13,116 --> 01:30:14,671 brightest from our civilian 2168 01:30:14,671 --> 01:30:17,800 counterparts . So that becomes a skunk . 2169 01:30:17,800 --> 01:30:20,060 Works for cadets to work on their 2170 01:30:20,060 --> 01:30:22,227 projects that they're working on , but 2171 01:30:22,227 --> 01:30:24,227 also to be informed by the best and 2172 01:30:24,227 --> 01:30:26,310 brightest in the cyber energy that 2173 01:30:26,310 --> 01:30:28,532 we're realizing every single day and in 2174 01:30:28,532 --> 01:30:30,754 terms of our actual pedagogy . Sir , we 2175 01:30:30,754 --> 01:30:33,390 have six academic majors computer 2176 01:30:33,390 --> 01:30:35,501 science , applied statistics and data 2177 01:30:35,501 --> 01:30:37,446 science , electrical engineering , 2178 01:30:37,446 --> 01:30:39,334 information technology and system 2179 01:30:39,334 --> 01:30:41,390 engineers producing about 100 cadets 2180 01:30:41,390 --> 01:30:44,120 each year who are motivated , inspired 2181 01:30:44,130 --> 01:30:45,741 to winning and defeating our 2182 01:30:45,741 --> 01:30:49,240 adversaries in cyberspace . Well , 2183 01:30:49,240 --> 01:30:51,573 thank you . That's all good information . 2184 01:30:51,573 --> 01:30:53,740 I know . I'm gonna pass my time . Just 2185 01:30:53,740 --> 01:30:55,573 curious . You might send me some 2186 01:30:55,573 --> 01:30:57,629 information about any endowments you 2187 01:30:57,629 --> 01:31:00,220 have for graduate students in the area 2188 01:31:00,230 --> 01:31:03,880 of stem which would fit into our 2189 01:31:04,460 --> 01:31:07,070 concept of future future war fighting . 2190 01:31:07,660 --> 01:31:10,590 I think that's important . Remember , 2191 01:31:10,590 --> 01:31:12,701 we are the Appropriations Committee , 2192 01:31:12,760 --> 01:31:14,760 and we are interested in how we can 2193 01:31:14,760 --> 01:31:17,020 help . And that's why it's these funny 2194 01:31:17,020 --> 01:31:20,060 questions . I'll yield back . Yeah . 2195 01:31:20,860 --> 01:31:22,980 Appreciate a judge , Mr Chris , 2196 01:31:33,360 --> 01:31:37,280 The three of you , you know , in , uh , 2197 01:31:37,660 --> 01:31:39,660 the military have been reading news 2198 01:31:39,660 --> 01:31:42,170 accounts lately that the academies are 2199 01:31:42,170 --> 01:31:44,880 grappling with rights , white supremacy , 2200 01:31:44,890 --> 01:31:48,040 racism and extremism . And I'm curious 2201 01:31:48,050 --> 01:31:50,580 what actions that the academies have 2202 01:31:50,580 --> 01:31:52,940 taken to address any and all of these 2203 01:31:52,940 --> 01:31:54,070 issues . Please , 2204 01:31:57,760 --> 01:31:59,790 For anyone in the three of you Sora 2205 01:31:59,800 --> 01:32:01,800 Sora Journalism's at West Point out 2206 01:32:01,800 --> 01:32:04,810 starts So , sir , we have as a part of 2207 01:32:04,820 --> 01:32:07,330 back to my earlier comment about what 2208 01:32:07,330 --> 01:32:10,160 our chief refers to as are corrosive 2209 01:32:10,170 --> 01:32:12,226 sexual assault , sexual harassment , 2210 01:32:12,650 --> 01:32:15,730 racism and extremism . So the approach 2211 01:32:15,730 --> 01:32:17,619 we've taken here , as I mentioned 2212 01:32:17,619 --> 01:32:19,341 before , is how we've elevated 2213 01:32:19,341 --> 01:32:21,397 character . What ? What I don't want 2214 01:32:21,397 --> 01:32:23,619 here at West Point is that we have sort 2215 01:32:23,619 --> 01:32:25,841 of this whack a mole approach . We have 2216 01:32:25,841 --> 01:32:27,952 to approach this comprehensively from 2217 01:32:27,952 --> 01:32:30,063 an interdisciplinary standpoint . For 2218 01:32:30,063 --> 01:32:32,008 all of this is about treating each 2219 01:32:32,008 --> 01:32:34,008 other with dignity and respect . We 2220 01:32:34,008 --> 01:32:36,230 start there , and we're in there in our 2221 01:32:36,230 --> 01:32:38,980 small squads pewter peer relationships . 2222 01:32:39,350 --> 01:32:41,072 And so so what we do to answer 2223 01:32:41,072 --> 01:32:43,128 specifically your question , Uh , we 2224 01:32:43,128 --> 01:32:45,183 have what we've been done . We're on 2225 01:32:45,183 --> 01:32:47,350 our fifth honorable living day . So in 2226 01:32:47,350 --> 01:32:49,239 two weeks , I will stand down the 2227 01:32:49,239 --> 01:32:51,560 entire academy cadets , the community . 2228 01:32:51,570 --> 01:32:53,848 There will be no work . There'll be No , 2229 01:32:53,848 --> 01:32:56,014 there will be , uh , no sports . And I 2230 01:32:56,014 --> 01:32:58,126 want to go to class and we will focus 2231 01:32:58,126 --> 01:33:00,181 on this very subject . The Secretary 2232 01:33:00,181 --> 01:33:02,126 defense has giving us some interim 2233 01:33:02,126 --> 01:33:04,292 guidance on how these discussions will 2234 01:33:04,292 --> 01:33:06,181 ensue . And I know my wingman are 2235 01:33:06,181 --> 01:33:08,514 working on it as well . But that for us , 2236 01:33:08,514 --> 01:33:11,270 is just a 2237 01:33:12,050 --> 01:33:14,272 preliminary step . We will take it much 2238 01:33:14,272 --> 01:33:16,530 further . The key to this , sir , is 2239 01:33:16,530 --> 01:33:18,530 that these young men and women look 2240 01:33:18,530 --> 01:33:20,530 each other in the eye and face this 2241 01:33:20,530 --> 01:33:22,863 issue and talk to each other about this . 2242 01:33:22,863 --> 01:33:24,919 So we will provide the space and the 2243 01:33:24,919 --> 01:33:27,030 time for the academy to come together 2244 01:33:27,030 --> 01:33:29,197 and talk about extremism . Thank you , 2245 01:33:29,197 --> 01:33:31,252 sir . General , if I could follow up 2246 01:33:31,252 --> 01:33:33,419 and thank you very much . I appreciate 2247 01:33:33,419 --> 01:33:35,308 that . So when you stand down the 2248 01:33:35,308 --> 01:33:37,419 entire academy and you discuss this , 2249 01:33:37,419 --> 01:33:40,110 uh , what sort of the forum format ? 2250 01:33:40,120 --> 01:33:42,800 How do you do that ? What have you done 2251 01:33:42,800 --> 01:33:45,340 One yet already , sir ? Yes or not 2252 01:33:45,340 --> 01:33:47,470 specifically in an extremism space , 2253 01:33:47,470 --> 01:33:49,692 but in these other corrosive we've done 2254 01:33:49,692 --> 01:33:52,520 it . So the cadets actually demand and 2255 01:33:52,520 --> 01:33:54,631 they ask you their vital part of it . 2256 01:33:54,631 --> 01:33:56,631 The cadets help us design what it's 2257 01:33:56,631 --> 01:33:58,798 gonna look like . So it usually starts 2258 01:33:58,798 --> 01:34:00,853 in our stadiums , served with myself 2259 01:34:00,853 --> 01:34:02,909 and the other senior leaders , and I 2260 01:34:02,909 --> 01:34:05,076 stand up and talk about our values and 2261 01:34:05,076 --> 01:34:07,298 what's important and why it's important 2262 01:34:07,298 --> 01:34:09,520 to be in this space . So I'll start off 2263 01:34:09,520 --> 01:34:11,742 the day and then normally what we found 2264 01:34:11,742 --> 01:34:13,964 in the last one . We did want on racism 2265 01:34:13,964 --> 01:34:16,187 last fall . Well , but cadet panel . So 2266 01:34:16,187 --> 01:34:16,010 the cadets will be up there and they'll 2267 01:34:16,010 --> 01:34:17,954 share their experiences with their 2268 01:34:17,954 --> 01:34:20,200 classmates . And there'll be real raw 2269 01:34:20,210 --> 01:34:22,321 conversations which will pull out the 2270 01:34:22,321 --> 01:34:24,654 emotive strings a little bit . And then , 2271 01:34:24,654 --> 01:34:26,654 from there we'll bring in sometimes 2272 01:34:26,654 --> 01:34:28,432 experts from the fields sort of 2273 01:34:28,432 --> 01:34:30,710 referring back to the earlier question . 2274 01:34:30,710 --> 01:34:32,877 But the most important vital parts are 2275 01:34:32,877 --> 01:34:35,340 is the small group not at the macro 2276 01:34:35,340 --> 01:34:37,451 level , but at the micro level at the 2277 01:34:37,451 --> 01:34:40,440 squads and platoons facilitated by our 2278 01:34:40,440 --> 01:34:42,384 great tax and tacking CEOs and our 2279 01:34:42,384 --> 01:34:44,740 professors facilitating those questions . 2280 01:34:44,740 --> 01:34:46,740 Because our young men and women are 2281 01:34:46,740 --> 01:34:48,629 different parts of their 47 month 2282 01:34:48,629 --> 01:34:50,740 journey , they're gonna need a little 2283 01:34:50,740 --> 01:34:52,684 assist , and so they'll have these 2284 01:34:52,684 --> 01:34:54,740 discussions . But then our folks who 2285 01:34:54,740 --> 01:34:56,796 have our majors and colonels and our 2286 01:34:56,796 --> 01:34:59,018 generals and sergeants and coaches will 2287 01:34:59,018 --> 01:35:00,740 be part of this vital , active 2288 01:35:00,740 --> 01:35:02,740 conversation , which will help them 2289 01:35:02,740 --> 01:35:04,907 fill in the gaps if we need to , Sir , 2290 01:35:05,640 --> 01:35:08,260 that's excellent . It sounds like to me 2291 01:35:08,270 --> 01:35:10,980 I have these yellow wristbands that I 2292 01:35:10,980 --> 01:35:13,780 wear every day , and it says practice 2293 01:35:13,780 --> 01:35:16,340 the golden rule every day . And of 2294 01:35:16,340 --> 01:35:18,340 course , the golden rule is do unto 2295 01:35:18,340 --> 01:35:20,618 others as you would have done unto you . 2296 01:35:20,618 --> 01:35:22,562 And to me , that's the ultimate in 2297 01:35:22,562 --> 01:35:24,618 character that you treat people with 2298 01:35:24,618 --> 01:35:28,250 mutual respect with decency . And 2299 01:35:28,260 --> 01:35:30,980 you comport yourself that way . I try 2300 01:35:30,980 --> 01:35:32,980 to do it every day . I don't always 2301 01:35:32,980 --> 01:35:35,540 succeed , but I try . And it sounds 2302 01:35:35,540 --> 01:35:37,960 like to me that that's sort of the road 2303 01:35:37,960 --> 01:35:40,420 you're going down when you stand down 2304 01:35:40,420 --> 01:35:44,050 the academy for a full day . No class , 2305 01:35:44,060 --> 01:35:46,700 no sports , no nothing except talking 2306 01:35:46,700 --> 01:35:49,940 about character and decency . Yes , sir . 2307 01:35:49,940 --> 01:35:52,107 If I could follow up absolutely sure . 2308 01:35:52,107 --> 01:35:54,051 That's exactly the heart of this . 2309 01:35:54,051 --> 01:35:56,218 Nothing else matters except this . And 2310 01:35:56,218 --> 01:35:58,760 then we have following . We're not that 2311 01:35:59,140 --> 01:36:01,140 so naive to think that that one day 2312 01:36:01,140 --> 01:36:02,973 it's gonna make a difference and 2313 01:36:02,973 --> 01:36:05,084 they're gonna It's gonna send a clear 2314 01:36:05,084 --> 01:36:07,251 and unambiguous signal to everybody on 2315 01:36:07,251 --> 01:36:09,584 the post that the that the leaders care . 2316 01:36:09,584 --> 01:36:11,807 But then there's the follow up action . 2317 01:36:11,807 --> 01:36:14,029 What is the action plan ? What do we do 2318 01:36:14,029 --> 01:36:16,196 after that day ? And that's what we're 2319 01:36:16,196 --> 01:36:18,307 finding , and we work with our cadets 2320 01:36:18,307 --> 01:36:18,150 and the cadets lead in this space , our 2321 01:36:18,150 --> 01:36:21,270 trust and Pierre cadets absolutely 2322 01:36:21,270 --> 01:36:23,159 champion this space . And we look 2323 01:36:23,159 --> 01:36:25,214 forward to talking to you more about 2324 01:36:25,214 --> 01:36:27,270 that , sir . In the future , they do 2325 01:36:27,270 --> 01:36:29,492 really well in facilitating these tough 2326 01:36:29,492 --> 01:36:31,548 discussions . General , I appreciate 2327 01:36:31,548 --> 01:36:34,230 your answer at a time . I'll yield back , 2328 01:36:34,240 --> 01:36:36,240 but God bless you . And thank you . 2329 01:36:38,730 --> 01:36:42,050 Um , I'm back , and I understand it's 2330 01:36:42,060 --> 01:36:44,410 Mr Diaz Balart is turned to ask a 2331 01:36:44,410 --> 01:36:48,270 question . Madam , Gentlemen , thank 2332 01:36:48,270 --> 01:36:50,740 you so much . Um , we spent 2333 01:36:51,130 --> 01:36:54,250 all of you have spent and I think it's 2334 01:36:54,250 --> 01:36:56,194 been very productive talking a lot 2335 01:36:56,194 --> 01:36:58,139 about sexual assault , which is so 2336 01:36:58,139 --> 01:37:00,980 important and also the instances of , 2337 01:37:00,990 --> 01:37:03,157 uh , cheating for the lack of a better 2338 01:37:03,157 --> 01:37:05,280 term and and obviously a big part of 2339 01:37:05,280 --> 01:37:07,470 what , uh , you all do . And you do it 2340 01:37:07,470 --> 01:37:09,637 better than anyone in the nation . And 2341 01:37:09,637 --> 01:37:11,470 frankly , anyone in the world is 2342 01:37:11,470 --> 01:37:13,770 instill , uh , you know , character and 2343 01:37:13,770 --> 01:37:15,826 character development . But you do a 2344 01:37:15,826 --> 01:37:17,659 lot of that through peer to peer 2345 01:37:17,659 --> 01:37:19,492 leadership . Um , there was some 2346 01:37:19,492 --> 01:37:22,660 conversation about that , um , right 2347 01:37:22,660 --> 01:37:25,590 now , with covid and everything else 2348 01:37:25,590 --> 01:37:27,757 and and And we've seen the increase of 2349 01:37:27,757 --> 01:37:29,868 incidences of , for example of , uh , 2350 01:37:29,868 --> 01:37:31,923 you know , cheating , etcetera . But 2351 01:37:31,923 --> 01:37:35,260 how are you able to instruct ? Um , you 2352 01:37:35,260 --> 01:37:38,590 know , get that character development 2353 01:37:38,600 --> 01:37:40,810 when in fact , you know , were limited 2354 01:37:40,810 --> 01:37:43,250 to the peer to peer interaction . And I 2355 01:37:43,250 --> 01:37:45,417 don't want to deal with it . And maybe 2356 01:37:45,417 --> 01:37:48,400 all of you Mm . Sir , I can , uh , 2357 01:37:48,410 --> 01:37:50,577 Lieutenant General Clark , I can start 2358 01:37:50,577 --> 01:37:53,770 with that , um , the character 2359 01:37:53,770 --> 01:37:55,992 development . And here at the Air Force 2360 01:37:55,992 --> 01:37:58,350 Academy , we have a leader of character 2361 01:37:58,350 --> 01:38:01,560 development framework that our whole 2362 01:38:01,560 --> 01:38:03,810 program is focused on because that is 2363 01:38:03,810 --> 01:38:06,180 the core of what we do . And we're able 2364 01:38:06,180 --> 01:38:09,670 to actually , um , do things virtually 2365 01:38:09,680 --> 01:38:12,250 that we haven't been able to do . Um , 2366 01:38:12,260 --> 01:38:14,440 in in a world where we weren't as 2367 01:38:14,440 --> 01:38:16,750 virtual , for example , we just had a 2368 01:38:16,750 --> 01:38:19,260 national character leadership symposium 2369 01:38:19,270 --> 01:38:21,750 where we had dozens of leaders of 2370 01:38:21,750 --> 01:38:23,750 character from around our country , 2371 01:38:23,750 --> 01:38:26,030 regardless of somewhere military , some 2372 01:38:26,030 --> 01:38:29,120 from the civilian sector . Um , and 2373 01:38:29,130 --> 01:38:31,297 what they do is they are able to share 2374 01:38:31,297 --> 01:38:33,519 with our cadets and other partners that 2375 01:38:33,519 --> 01:38:36,000 we invite into this symposium to give 2376 01:38:36,000 --> 01:38:37,722 them examples and to help them 2377 01:38:37,722 --> 01:38:40,420 understand what it means to be a leader 2378 01:38:40,420 --> 01:38:42,476 of character , what it means to live 2379 01:38:42,476 --> 01:38:44,420 honorably . And the theme for this 2380 01:38:44,420 --> 01:38:47,030 year's symposium was warrior ethos . 2381 01:38:47,220 --> 01:38:49,442 And we not only reached our whole cadet 2382 01:38:49,442 --> 01:38:51,553 population , but we reached thousands 2383 01:38:51,553 --> 01:38:53,664 of others outside of our population . 2384 01:38:53,664 --> 01:38:55,720 But it's these kinds of examples and 2385 01:38:55,720 --> 01:38:58,300 stories and opportunities for the 2386 01:38:58,300 --> 01:39:00,400 cadets to see what that means . But 2387 01:39:00,400 --> 01:39:03,190 also in our internal programs and 2388 01:39:03,190 --> 01:39:05,360 processes like you mentioned , peer to 2389 01:39:05,360 --> 01:39:08,250 peer education is critical . But the 2390 01:39:08,250 --> 01:39:10,650 virtual world allows us to reach people 2391 01:39:10,650 --> 01:39:12,817 in different ways . And I believe that 2392 01:39:12,817 --> 01:39:15,050 we're able to continue our program and 2393 01:39:15,050 --> 01:39:17,217 still focus on our leader of character 2394 01:39:17,217 --> 01:39:19,272 framework to develop those leaders . 2395 01:39:19,272 --> 01:39:21,750 That is the core of our mission over . 2396 01:39:23,320 --> 01:39:25,750 Um , is there a way to kind of know if 2397 01:39:25,760 --> 01:39:27,816 if that is as effective , you know , 2398 01:39:27,816 --> 01:39:30,110 the whole virtual world as as effective 2399 01:39:30,110 --> 01:39:32,430 as one on one ? You know , human 2400 01:39:32,430 --> 01:39:35,610 interaction when it comes to character 2401 01:39:35,610 --> 01:39:37,832 development and actually the same thing 2402 01:39:37,832 --> 01:39:39,888 on , you know , obviously , uh , you 2403 01:39:39,888 --> 01:39:41,721 know , sexual assault and sexual 2404 01:39:41,721 --> 01:39:43,777 harassment , which is a , you know , 2405 01:39:43,777 --> 01:39:45,999 the worst possible infraction . Right ? 2406 01:39:45,999 --> 01:39:48,790 So is there a way to know ? Can we can 2407 01:39:48,790 --> 01:39:51,770 we track how effective this is ? Uh , 2408 01:39:51,780 --> 01:39:54,840 this this new reality of virtual , uh , 2409 01:39:55,920 --> 01:39:57,976 you know , contact versus , uh , you 2410 01:39:57,976 --> 01:40:01,310 know , human to human contact . I think 2411 01:40:01,310 --> 01:40:04,060 it's hard to know , sir . What ? Uh , 2412 01:40:04,070 --> 01:40:06,292 you know , the end results would be And 2413 01:40:06,292 --> 01:40:08,620 is it as effective ? My gut tells me 2414 01:40:08,630 --> 01:40:11,290 that , uh , person to person , face to 2415 01:40:11,290 --> 01:40:14,150 face contact , um , in many instances 2416 01:40:14,160 --> 01:40:17,010 is better . But when When we are 2417 01:40:17,010 --> 01:40:19,066 limited in the ways that we are , we 2418 01:40:19,066 --> 01:40:21,288 actually we are doing the absolute best 2419 01:40:21,288 --> 01:40:23,510 that we can . And I think that at least 2420 01:40:23,510 --> 01:40:25,840 the feedback from our cadets is that 2421 01:40:25,840 --> 01:40:27,340 that they still have those 2422 01:40:27,340 --> 01:40:30,100 opportunities and we can't miss a beat . 2423 01:40:30,110 --> 01:40:32,332 We don't have time to rest just because 2424 01:40:32,332 --> 01:40:35,730 COVID is here and uh is a part of our 2425 01:40:35,730 --> 01:40:37,897 lives . Now , we still have to develop 2426 01:40:37,897 --> 01:40:40,063 these leaders because we still have to 2427 01:40:40,063 --> 01:40:42,286 graduate these cadets , uh , when their 2428 01:40:42,286 --> 01:40:44,452 time comes so that they can go out and 2429 01:40:44,452 --> 01:40:46,619 serve . But I think your point is well 2430 01:40:46,619 --> 01:40:48,786 taken . Uh , sometimes face to face is 2431 01:40:48,786 --> 01:40:50,550 just better . Uh , that human 2432 01:40:50,550 --> 01:40:52,661 interaction helps us , but But we are 2433 01:40:52,661 --> 01:40:54,720 working , uh , to overcome some of 2434 01:40:54,720 --> 01:40:58,390 those challenges over search and lastly 2435 01:40:58,390 --> 01:41:00,501 really had the same issue . I imagine 2436 01:41:00,501 --> 01:41:02,840 that that also , you know , when it's 2437 01:41:02,840 --> 01:41:04,870 more difficult to kind of find out 2438 01:41:04,870 --> 01:41:08,790 track , frankly discover 2439 01:41:08,800 --> 01:41:10,967 issues of mental health when you don't 2440 01:41:10,967 --> 01:41:13,260 have again the one on one interaction , 2441 01:41:13,260 --> 01:41:15,482 so I'm assuming that that those are all 2442 01:41:15,482 --> 01:41:17,850 challenges that you all are . I know 2443 01:41:17,850 --> 01:41:19,906 that you're facing them , and I know 2444 01:41:19,906 --> 01:41:21,739 that you're doing the best job . 2445 01:41:21,739 --> 01:41:23,906 Probably best job in the country . But 2446 01:41:23,906 --> 01:41:23,870 it would be interesting to kind of 2447 01:41:23,870 --> 01:41:26,620 figure out , um , what you're looking 2448 01:41:26,620 --> 01:41:28,453 at , what's working ? What isn't 2449 01:41:28,453 --> 01:41:30,510 working on this new era that you all 2450 01:41:30,510 --> 01:41:32,677 have kind of inherited of having to do 2451 01:41:32,677 --> 01:41:34,899 this stuff virtually . Sir , if I could 2452 01:41:34,899 --> 01:41:38,240 comment , I will tell you that , uh , a 2453 01:41:38,240 --> 01:41:40,407 lot what Rich talked about in terms of 2454 01:41:40,407 --> 01:41:42,629 setting these frameworks . My dean does 2455 01:41:42,629 --> 01:41:44,970 a great job with our professors here to 2456 01:41:44,970 --> 01:41:47,280 set a framework that they can operate 2457 01:41:47,280 --> 01:41:49,250 in . So we she goes through a very 2458 01:41:49,250 --> 01:41:52,690 deliberate process of training up and 2459 01:41:52,690 --> 01:41:54,940 calibrating her leader . Our leaders , 2460 01:41:55,210 --> 01:41:57,450 uh , I'll give you an example . Um , 2461 01:41:57,450 --> 01:41:59,561 last year , study of war in the human 2462 01:41:59,561 --> 01:42:01,506 condition , where the threads that 2463 01:42:01,506 --> 01:42:03,728 linked all , whether you're on the stem 2464 01:42:03,728 --> 01:42:05,950 side of humanity side . So she sets the 2465 01:42:05,950 --> 01:42:08,040 framework out and our our great 2466 01:42:08,040 --> 01:42:10,690 officers and civilians here moving that 2467 01:42:10,690 --> 01:42:12,930 next year , The theme for next year is 2468 01:42:12,940 --> 01:42:15,162 ethical leadership in a diverse world . 2469 01:42:15,162 --> 01:42:17,250 So they now have the template which 2470 01:42:17,250 --> 01:42:19,417 they can then spend the spring and the 2471 01:42:19,417 --> 01:42:21,528 summer preparing that way and back to 2472 01:42:21,528 --> 01:42:23,694 the metrics or measuring . I will tell 2473 01:42:23,694 --> 01:42:25,806 you one technique we use in the honor 2474 01:42:25,806 --> 01:42:27,528 thing , and Congressman Womack 2475 01:42:27,528 --> 01:42:29,694 mentioned it earlier . But our special 2476 01:42:29,694 --> 01:42:31,694 leader development program allowing 2477 01:42:31,694 --> 01:42:34,420 cadets you measure on the front of of 2478 01:42:34,420 --> 01:42:36,770 their 47 month experience . And then 2479 01:42:36,770 --> 01:42:38,881 you measure on the afternoon of their 2480 01:42:38,881 --> 01:42:41,048 47 months experience . And you can see 2481 01:42:41,048 --> 01:42:43,270 the maturity in the writing in terms of 2482 01:42:43,270 --> 01:42:45,381 how they think about what's happening 2483 01:42:45,381 --> 01:42:47,603 to them , what's happening in the world 2484 01:42:47,603 --> 01:42:49,770 around them . That's how you develop a 2485 01:42:49,770 --> 01:42:51,881 lot of these metrics , which are very 2486 01:42:51,881 --> 01:42:54,103 hard to tease out and things that are a 2487 01:42:54,103 --> 01:42:55,270 little more opaque . 2488 01:42:59,880 --> 01:43:03,280 I , uh , Mr Kilmer went to vote . So Mr 2489 01:43:03,280 --> 01:43:06,230 Ryan , thank you for for helping me out . 2490 01:43:06,240 --> 01:43:08,460 And you can ask the next question if 2491 01:43:08,460 --> 01:43:09,460 you'd like . 2492 01:43:13,100 --> 01:43:15,900 Yeah , I see you in your office . I 2493 01:43:15,900 --> 01:43:18,067 don't think you can hear . He's really 2494 01:43:18,067 --> 01:43:20,122 paying attention , isn't he ? I know 2495 01:43:20,122 --> 01:43:23,180 he's hanging on my every word . There 2496 01:43:23,180 --> 01:43:25,291 must be a technical issue with with , 2497 01:43:25,291 --> 01:43:27,800 uh so I'll ask my question . And then 2498 01:43:27,800 --> 01:43:30,000 we'll when when Mr Kilmer and Mr Ryan 2499 01:43:30,000 --> 01:43:32,620 come forward we can do that . 2500 01:43:36,300 --> 01:43:39,640 So , uh , and I keep going back on on 2501 01:43:39,640 --> 01:43:41,918 mute . I'm assuming people can hear me . 2502 01:43:41,918 --> 01:43:44,140 They'll let me know if they can't . I'd 2503 01:43:44,140 --> 01:43:46,710 like to talk about facilities for a few 2504 01:43:46,710 --> 01:43:49,970 minutes . Um , so when I reviewed the 2505 01:43:49,970 --> 01:43:52,192 information from my staff regarding the 2506 01:43:52,192 --> 01:43:54,414 needs of repairs on some of the items , 2507 01:43:54,414 --> 01:43:56,359 um , they've been listed there for 2508 01:43:56,359 --> 01:43:58,470 quite a few years . The committee had 2509 01:43:58,470 --> 01:44:00,414 held a service academy hearing two 2510 01:44:00,414 --> 01:44:03,590 years ago , and it really appears that 2511 01:44:03,590 --> 01:44:06,410 items are still there from 2019 . They 2512 01:44:06,410 --> 01:44:08,680 haven't been addressed . TV there have 2513 01:44:08,680 --> 01:44:11,550 been not funded or underfunded . Um , 2514 01:44:11,550 --> 01:44:13,930 let me give you an example . Support 2515 01:44:13,940 --> 01:44:16,080 facility . Camp Buckner , Where I was 2516 01:44:16,090 --> 01:44:18,300 two years ago , we saw serious issues 2517 01:44:18,300 --> 01:44:22,240 with mold . Mr . Roy Mack was there on 2518 01:44:22,240 --> 01:44:25,710 that or the utility bridge at the Naval 2519 01:44:25,710 --> 01:44:28,100 Academy that urgently needs to be 2520 01:44:28,110 --> 01:44:30,890 replaced . Um , and if we lose that , 2521 01:44:30,900 --> 01:44:34,200 that will be a catastrophe . Um , So 2522 01:44:34,200 --> 01:44:36,311 I'm going to press the secretaries of 2523 01:44:36,311 --> 01:44:38,144 your services on those questions 2524 01:44:38,144 --> 01:44:40,422 because these issues can't lay dormant . 2525 01:44:40,422 --> 01:44:43,340 And , you know , 2010 2030 year plans 2526 01:44:43,340 --> 01:44:45,750 for some of this stuff is putting a lot 2527 01:44:45,750 --> 01:44:47,600 of hope and a lot of wishes that 2528 01:44:47,600 --> 01:44:49,767 they're going to move forward . So I'm 2529 01:44:49,767 --> 01:44:51,878 gonna ask you gentlemen to take , you 2530 01:44:51,878 --> 01:44:54,320 know , a minute , uh , and , you know , 2531 01:44:54,330 --> 01:44:56,610 tell me why you think these delays 2532 01:44:56,610 --> 01:44:59,320 remained and why these projects haven't 2533 01:44:59,320 --> 01:45:01,710 been addressed in a timely fashion . 2534 01:45:02,190 --> 01:45:03,857 Because I'm going to ask your 2535 01:45:03,857 --> 01:45:06,079 leadership why they aren't a priority . 2536 01:45:06,079 --> 01:45:08,246 I'm not I'm not going to ask you why . 2537 01:45:08,246 --> 01:45:10,246 You don't think that their priority 2538 01:45:10,246 --> 01:45:12,468 with your leadership I'm gonna ask them 2539 01:45:12,468 --> 01:45:14,468 because we think it's a priority if 2540 01:45:14,468 --> 01:45:16,246 you're so we're gonna have some 2541 01:45:16,246 --> 01:45:18,468 questions that we're going to follow up 2542 01:45:18,468 --> 01:45:20,523 on . But we just have a minute right 2543 01:45:20,523 --> 01:45:22,690 now , and I've got a page of questions 2544 01:45:22,690 --> 01:45:24,746 on these projects that the committee 2545 01:45:24,746 --> 01:45:26,968 staff is going to be sharing with you , 2546 01:45:26,968 --> 01:45:28,912 and then I'll share with the whole 2547 01:45:28,912 --> 01:45:31,190 committee when we get the answers back . 2548 01:45:31,190 --> 01:45:33,301 But what's what's the holdup on these 2549 01:45:33,301 --> 01:45:35,301 projects ? Not getting done in your 2550 01:45:35,301 --> 01:45:37,640 opinion ? Because I think Mr Womack and 2551 01:45:37,640 --> 01:45:39,862 I and others have made it very clear in 2552 01:45:39,862 --> 01:45:42,830 our conversations with the with the 2553 01:45:42,830 --> 01:45:46,080 service heads that we're looking to see 2554 01:45:46,080 --> 01:45:48,530 that these projects be finished . And , 2555 01:45:48,540 --> 01:45:51,160 um , maybe I'll start with you , uh , 2556 01:45:51,170 --> 01:45:54,230 Mr Buck , because letting that letting 2557 01:45:54,230 --> 01:45:58,230 that bridge wait too long is , uh , in 2558 01:45:58,230 --> 01:46:02,150 my opinion , a very unprofessional , um , 2559 01:46:02,160 --> 01:46:05,590 dangerous and foolish thing to do . 2560 01:46:06,880 --> 01:46:09,050 Mhm . Thank you , ma'am , for that 2561 01:46:09,050 --> 01:46:11,350 question and the opportunity to give a 2562 01:46:11,350 --> 01:46:13,840 response . And I don't know whether my 2563 01:46:13,850 --> 01:46:17,010 my response , uh , mirrors my colleague . 2564 01:46:17,010 --> 01:46:19,010 So this is just unique to the Naval 2565 01:46:19,010 --> 01:46:22,710 Academy into our navy . Since 2010 , 2566 01:46:22,710 --> 01:46:25,990 my budgets for sustainment renovation 2567 01:46:25,990 --> 01:46:28,600 modernization have remained pretty 2568 01:46:28,600 --> 01:46:32,360 constant . Um , with , without 2569 01:46:32,360 --> 01:46:34,471 recognizing the growth that we've had 2570 01:46:34,471 --> 01:46:36,850 here of new construction . Um , And 2571 01:46:36,850 --> 01:46:39,630 then when we hit sequestration in 2000 2572 01:46:39,630 --> 01:46:43,300 and 13 and a significant reduction in 2573 01:46:43,300 --> 01:46:47,060 budgets , our navy as a whole had to 2574 01:46:47,060 --> 01:46:49,650 re prioritize what was most important 2575 01:46:49,650 --> 01:46:52,040 to the infrastructure for the whole 2576 01:46:52,040 --> 01:46:55,450 Navy . And we all were affected by that , 2577 01:46:55,450 --> 01:46:57,672 no matter what installation or where we 2578 01:46:57,672 --> 01:47:00,160 were located in the in the world , and 2579 01:47:00,170 --> 01:47:02,226 the Naval Academy wasn't immune from 2580 01:47:02,226 --> 01:47:04,590 that . So we put on hold as to use your 2581 01:47:04,590 --> 01:47:06,770 word . We put on hold some really 2582 01:47:06,770 --> 01:47:09,700 important projects to either renovate , 2583 01:47:09,710 --> 01:47:12,550 modernize and and we began to focus 2584 01:47:12,550 --> 01:47:14,980 just on sustainment and sometimes 2585 01:47:14,980 --> 01:47:17,550 sustainment with band aids just to get 2586 01:47:17,550 --> 01:47:19,717 us through with leaky roofs and things 2587 01:47:19,717 --> 01:47:22,540 like that , but not not a whole frame 2588 01:47:22,540 --> 01:47:24,873 up restoration where it might be needed . 2589 01:47:24,980 --> 01:47:27,036 You've mentioned one of my top three 2590 01:47:27,036 --> 01:47:29,147 priorities . The utility bridge is in 2591 01:47:29,147 --> 01:47:32,370 need of replacement . McDonough Hall , 2592 01:47:32,370 --> 01:47:34,440 which is the center of my physical 2593 01:47:34,440 --> 01:47:36,607 fitness mission at the Naval Academy , 2594 01:47:36,880 --> 01:47:39,750 is on the on on the chart right now to 2595 01:47:39,750 --> 01:47:41,972 be renovated . And we hope that funding 2596 01:47:41,972 --> 01:47:45,190 remains that's been given to us , our 2597 01:47:45,190 --> 01:47:48,930 Navy in fiscal year 20 and fiscal year 2598 01:47:48,930 --> 01:47:51,000 21 . That we're enjoying right now 2599 01:47:51,480 --> 01:47:54,820 revitalized our our infrastructure 2600 01:47:54,820 --> 01:47:57,350 budgets , and we have been healthy and 2601 01:47:57,350 --> 01:47:59,820 been able to begin to plan back toward 2602 01:47:59,820 --> 01:48:02,310 improving and addressing our 2603 01:48:02,310 --> 01:48:04,640 infrastructure projects . What I want 2604 01:48:04,640 --> 01:48:07,000 to leave you with in the committee with 2605 01:48:07,570 --> 01:48:09,970 is we need to be sure that we have a 2606 01:48:09,970 --> 01:48:13,060 consistent budget in each of the out 2607 01:48:13,060 --> 01:48:15,282 years That would be really important to 2608 01:48:15,282 --> 01:48:17,770 our planning effort and our ability to 2609 01:48:17,770 --> 01:48:19,937 know that we're going to get after our 2610 01:48:19,937 --> 01:48:21,714 highest priority infrastructure 2611 01:48:21,714 --> 01:48:24,920 projects . Um , uh , 2612 01:48:24,930 --> 01:48:27,700 Mr Mr Clark , if you take a minute , 2613 01:48:27,710 --> 01:48:30,690 you were impacted by the recent storms 2614 01:48:31,070 --> 01:48:33,292 along with some other projects that you 2615 01:48:33,292 --> 01:48:36,200 had is some of the issues with your 2616 01:48:36,200 --> 01:48:38,260 pipes ? Is that being considered a 2617 01:48:38,260 --> 01:48:40,700 priority to be repaired now by the Air 2618 01:48:40,700 --> 01:48:42,589 Force to help you out with that , 2619 01:48:48,070 --> 01:48:51,750 Sir , you're a mute . Uh , can you hear 2620 01:48:51,750 --> 01:48:53,972 me , ma'am ? I can hear you now , sir . 2621 01:48:53,972 --> 01:48:57,270 Okay , I'm sorry . Um , yes , it is a 2622 01:48:57,270 --> 01:49:00,240 priority for our air force . Um , but I 2623 01:49:00,240 --> 01:49:03,700 will say , over our team , our 2624 01:49:03,710 --> 01:49:07,600 enterprise , uh , is constantly , 2625 01:49:07,670 --> 01:49:09,910 um , sustaining , restoring , 2626 01:49:09,910 --> 01:49:12,132 modernizing across the entire air force 2627 01:49:12,270 --> 01:49:15,640 we do receive , Um I think priority 2628 01:49:15,640 --> 01:49:17,751 commensurate with the rest of the Air 2629 01:49:17,751 --> 01:49:19,918 Force and Space Force mission . And we 2630 01:49:19,918 --> 01:49:21,950 have been in a steady I think , 2631 01:49:21,960 --> 01:49:24,127 restoration and modernization mode for 2632 01:49:24,127 --> 01:49:26,380 some time . As you stated earlier , all 2633 01:49:26,380 --> 01:49:28,602 of our buildings were built at the same 2634 01:49:28,602 --> 01:49:30,658 time back in the , you know , in the 2635 01:49:30,658 --> 01:49:32,713 sixties and the and the fifties . So 2636 01:49:32,770 --> 01:49:35,110 we're seeing a lot of the issues that , 2637 01:49:35,120 --> 01:49:37,830 uh , that are rising . They all arise , 2638 01:49:37,840 --> 01:49:40,760 uh , in about the same time frame , and 2639 01:49:40,760 --> 01:49:42,927 our air force is responsive to help us 2640 01:49:42,927 --> 01:49:45,250 with this . It's just the problem is is 2641 01:49:45,250 --> 01:49:48,000 pretty , uh , significant . And we we 2642 01:49:48,000 --> 01:49:50,510 have a constant drumbeat , but I would 2643 01:49:50,510 --> 01:49:53,580 say that we are right in line with the 2644 01:49:53,590 --> 01:49:56,030 rest of our air force and far as far as 2645 01:49:56,030 --> 01:49:59,900 SRM goes . So , um , we we could 2646 01:49:59,900 --> 01:50:02,330 always use more help from a budgetary 2647 01:50:02,330 --> 01:50:04,497 standpoint , because there is a lot to 2648 01:50:04,497 --> 01:50:06,552 do here . And we appreciate anything 2649 01:50:06,552 --> 01:50:08,774 you can do for us . Thank you , ma'am . 2650 01:50:08,774 --> 01:50:10,990 And , Mr Williams , you have the last 2651 01:50:10,990 --> 01:50:13,180 word because I mentioned your facility 2652 01:50:13,190 --> 01:50:15,357 first . Mr . Womack and I have seen it 2653 01:50:15,357 --> 01:50:17,780 firsthand . Is that is that a 10 year ? 2654 01:50:18,960 --> 01:50:21,600 Did you say repair ? For for those 2655 01:50:21,600 --> 01:50:23,656 buildings . Some of them have mold . 2656 01:50:23,656 --> 01:50:25,822 They have water issues . Um , and that 2657 01:50:25,822 --> 01:50:28,860 is a 10 year spread out that they're 2658 01:50:28,860 --> 01:50:31,138 giving you to to replace the buildings . 2659 01:50:31,760 --> 01:50:33,704 Chairman Colin . Thank you . And I 2660 01:50:33,704 --> 01:50:37,010 appreciate your continued focus as you 2661 01:50:37,020 --> 01:50:39,187 and Congressman Lamar , Colorado , two 2662 01:50:39,187 --> 01:50:42,090 years . We actually were helped a lot 2663 01:50:42,090 --> 01:50:44,368 by you coming out here to Camp Buckner . 2664 01:50:44,368 --> 01:50:47,130 Uh , the Army has fully endorsed and 2665 01:50:47,140 --> 01:50:49,880 integrated all aspects of our plan . We 2666 01:50:49,880 --> 01:50:52,047 came up with a plan shortly after your 2667 01:50:52,047 --> 01:50:55,520 visit . The use of 2035 plan um , fy 2668 01:50:55,520 --> 01:50:58,570 21 30 facility investment plan , which 2669 01:50:58,570 --> 01:51:00,626 I worked very closely with A M C and 2670 01:51:00,626 --> 01:51:02,737 senior Army leaders is fully endorsed 2671 01:51:03,060 --> 01:51:05,338 and , you know and respect the Buckner . 2672 01:51:05,338 --> 01:51:07,671 We are working right now in a few weeks , 2673 01:51:07,860 --> 01:51:10,193 we get out to the barracks and the mold . 2674 01:51:10,193 --> 01:51:12,249 It's a two phase project . The first 2675 01:51:12,249 --> 01:51:14,820 part of the phase is focused on the 2676 01:51:14,820 --> 01:51:16,987 barracks that we took you in . And you 2677 01:51:16,987 --> 01:51:19,098 saw that mold . The second phase is a 2678 01:51:19,098 --> 01:51:21,320 five year milk on planet Gets it . Both 2679 01:51:21,320 --> 01:51:23,264 were the task force that comes and 2680 01:51:23,264 --> 01:51:25,376 participates with the summer training 2681 01:51:25,376 --> 01:51:27,264 camp Natural Bridge and also Camp 2682 01:51:27,264 --> 01:51:30,030 Buckner . We feel very comfortable What 2683 01:51:30,040 --> 01:51:32,207 the army is currently given us respect 2684 01:51:32,207 --> 01:51:34,630 to funding associated with Camp Buckner . 2685 01:51:34,630 --> 01:51:36,760 Man . Well , we're going to follow up 2686 01:51:36,770 --> 01:51:40,300 and make sure that , you know , there's 2687 01:51:40,300 --> 01:51:42,467 a reason why we became appropriators . 2688 01:51:42,467 --> 01:51:44,633 It's nice to have great ideas and want 2689 01:51:44,633 --> 01:51:46,522 to do all the wonderful thing the 2690 01:51:46,522 --> 01:51:48,744 authorize others have . But without the 2691 01:51:48,744 --> 01:51:50,856 resources to do it , they remain just 2692 01:51:50,856 --> 01:51:52,967 great ideas . So thank you . We'll be 2693 01:51:52,967 --> 01:51:54,911 following up on that . Mr . Ryan , 2694 01:51:54,911 --> 01:51:57,022 thanks again for helping me out . I'm 2695 01:51:57,022 --> 01:51:58,911 sorry I caught you at a technical 2696 01:51:58,911 --> 01:52:00,911 difficulty moment . And the time is 2697 01:52:00,911 --> 01:52:03,022 yours now . Thank you , madam . Chair 2698 01:52:03,550 --> 01:52:06,010 Almost kept that gavel . You know , 2699 01:52:06,020 --> 01:52:08,690 you have your 2700 01:52:08,690 --> 01:52:12,600 own . I appreciate it . 2701 01:52:12,600 --> 01:52:15,260 I just I just have one question , uh , 2702 01:52:15,260 --> 01:52:17,910 and and thank you for all the the 2703 01:52:17,910 --> 01:52:21,340 answers and thoroughness . I want to 2704 01:52:21,340 --> 01:52:24,890 talk to General Clark for a second . 2705 01:52:24,900 --> 01:52:28,430 About , um , the academy and you guys 2706 01:52:28,430 --> 01:52:32,130 conducted a test of the new campus 2707 01:52:32,130 --> 01:52:35,950 dining car . Um , if you're 2708 01:52:35,960 --> 01:52:39,950 familiar with this And , um , one 2709 01:52:39,950 --> 01:52:41,894 of the issues that that we've been 2710 01:52:41,894 --> 01:52:44,117 working on a lot really is , you know , 2711 01:52:44,117 --> 01:52:47,380 combining , um , the idea around , you 2712 01:52:47,380 --> 01:52:49,850 know , health and wellness , especially 2713 01:52:49,850 --> 01:52:53,170 around diet , because we look at the 2714 01:52:53,170 --> 01:52:56,710 cost of you know , what's of 2715 01:52:56,710 --> 01:53:00,520 obesity diabetes ? That more than a 2716 01:53:00,520 --> 01:53:02,900 significant cost for us around health 2717 01:53:02,900 --> 01:53:05,740 care for our active duty , Uh , and 2718 01:53:05,740 --> 01:53:08,450 that makes its way into our r v a 2719 01:53:08,450 --> 01:53:11,040 budget as well . And really , we want 2720 01:53:11,040 --> 01:53:13,880 to try to get to the root , uh , issue 2721 01:53:13,880 --> 01:53:15,936 air , and that's really teaching our 2722 01:53:15,936 --> 01:53:18,120 men and women , uh , in the academy's 2723 01:53:18,130 --> 01:53:20,352 you know what to eat , how to eat , how 2724 01:53:20,352 --> 01:53:23,380 to really function , uh , a peak level . 2725 01:53:23,850 --> 01:53:27,520 And , um , they're in in so many ways , 2726 01:53:27,530 --> 01:53:29,940 not different than many college kids 2727 01:53:29,940 --> 01:53:32,220 who , uh , all of us have been the 2728 01:53:32,220 --> 01:53:34,387 college know that it's not necessarily 2729 01:53:34,387 --> 01:53:38,260 the best diet in college . So I 2730 01:53:38,260 --> 01:53:41,480 want to ask you about this , um , 2731 01:53:42,250 --> 01:53:46,080 the Mitchell dining hall facility . 2732 01:53:46,450 --> 01:53:49,110 Um , they were allowed to use their 2733 01:53:49,120 --> 01:53:51,064 because that's were allowed to use 2734 01:53:51,064 --> 01:53:53,176 their meal entitlement outside of the 2735 01:53:53,176 --> 01:53:55,398 Mitchell Hall dining facility at venues 2736 01:53:55,398 --> 01:53:57,620 offering healthier offerings instead of 2737 01:53:57,620 --> 01:54:00,760 going out of pocket for other meals . 2738 01:54:01,240 --> 01:54:04,420 It's generally known that , um , 2739 01:54:04,430 --> 01:54:06,652 service at the service academies . They 2740 01:54:06,652 --> 01:54:08,541 do not eat all their meals at the 2741 01:54:08,541 --> 01:54:10,920 campus dining , uh , facility . We've 2742 01:54:10,920 --> 01:54:13,100 heard that your program , not 2743 01:54:13,100 --> 01:54:15,460 surprisingly , was extremely popular 2744 01:54:15,840 --> 01:54:18,550 with the cadets who were fortunate to 2745 01:54:18,550 --> 01:54:21,280 be a part of this test . But we heard 2746 01:54:21,280 --> 01:54:23,940 that the test was cut short . And so if 2747 01:54:23,940 --> 01:54:26,162 you could just speak in the next couple 2748 01:54:26,162 --> 01:54:27,996 of minutes , why was the program 2749 01:54:27,996 --> 01:54:29,773 stopped ? And what were the key 2750 01:54:29,773 --> 01:54:32,460 findings from from the program ? And 2751 01:54:32,460 --> 01:54:34,571 will you be implementing any of those 2752 01:54:34,650 --> 01:54:38,500 changes into the program ? 2753 01:54:38,500 --> 01:54:39,500 Moving forward ? 2754 01:54:46,040 --> 01:54:47,984 Sorry . You're mute . You're still 2755 01:54:47,984 --> 01:54:48,984 muted . 2756 01:54:55,140 --> 01:54:57,870 Okay . Oh , there you go . General , 2757 01:54:58,440 --> 01:55:00,607 can you hear me ? Sir , I can hear you 2758 01:55:00,607 --> 01:55:02,718 now . Yeah . Heh . Apologies . Little 2759 01:55:02,718 --> 01:55:04,950 little difficulty that help . We need 2760 01:55:04,950 --> 01:55:07,172 that . I t funding that . That's what's 2761 01:55:07,172 --> 01:55:11,060 going on . Uh , but I'll just say , sir , 2762 01:55:11,060 --> 01:55:14,390 that your point is , uh is spot on 2763 01:55:14,400 --> 01:55:16,400 healthy nutrition is key to peak 2764 01:55:16,400 --> 01:55:18,233 performance here at all . of our 2765 01:55:18,233 --> 01:55:21,780 academies . The , uh the rigor of our 2766 01:55:21,780 --> 01:55:25,290 programs demand that our cadets are are 2767 01:55:25,290 --> 01:55:27,346 healthy , that their nutrition is is 2768 01:55:27,346 --> 01:55:30,490 solid . And we have just hired a new 2769 01:55:30,490 --> 01:55:32,601 dietitian for Mitchell Hall . We also 2770 01:55:32,601 --> 01:55:35,140 hired an executive chef with the focus 2771 01:55:35,140 --> 01:55:38,030 on providing nutritious and delicious 2772 01:55:38,030 --> 01:55:40,330 meals to our cadets so that they do 2773 01:55:40,330 --> 01:55:42,740 have the desire to go into Mitchell 2774 01:55:42,740 --> 01:55:45,350 Hall into the dining facility to take 2775 01:55:45,350 --> 01:55:47,461 part in that . And we're getting some 2776 01:55:47,461 --> 01:55:49,860 good results so far , as far as the the , 2777 01:55:49,870 --> 01:55:53,760 uh , the dining card Uh uh , project 2778 01:55:53,760 --> 01:55:56,730 that we did . We started that , and we , 2779 01:55:56,740 --> 01:55:58,907 unfortunately did have to cut it short 2780 01:55:58,907 --> 01:56:01,018 due to covid . And covid didn't allow 2781 01:56:01,018 --> 01:56:03,240 our cadets to go to some of the other 2782 01:56:03,240 --> 01:56:05,680 options that they had , uh , for dining , 2783 01:56:05,680 --> 01:56:07,740 So we cut it short . We do want to 2784 01:56:07,740 --> 01:56:09,962 reinvigorate that program , though , in 2785 01:56:09,962 --> 01:56:12,810 FY 22 so that we can provide those 2786 01:56:12,820 --> 01:56:15,610 other options for our cadets , um , to 2787 01:56:15,610 --> 01:56:18,590 take part in . But regardless of of how 2788 01:56:18,590 --> 01:56:20,820 we do this , we want to ensure that 2789 01:56:20,820 --> 01:56:22,840 it's always always about their 2790 01:56:22,850 --> 01:56:25,183 nutrition and that it's healthy options , 2791 01:56:25,183 --> 01:56:28,350 so we'll monitor it will probably start 2792 01:56:28,350 --> 01:56:32,040 off small when we begin in FY 2022 2793 01:56:32,050 --> 01:56:35,370 with on base opportunities and then 2794 01:56:35,370 --> 01:56:37,830 look to perhaps expand . But we're 2795 01:56:37,830 --> 01:56:40,260 gonna start with our on base options 2796 01:56:40,270 --> 01:56:42,090 and provide them with healthy 2797 01:56:42,090 --> 01:56:45,030 opportunities over . Sir , I appreciate 2798 01:56:45,030 --> 01:56:47,250 that . And , Madam Chair , as we have 2799 01:56:47,250 --> 01:56:50,890 talked , you know , I want to , um , do 2800 01:56:50,890 --> 01:56:52,779 what we can from this committee . 2801 01:56:52,779 --> 01:56:54,900 Really . Across the academies and 2802 01:56:54,900 --> 01:56:57,750 across the military , we invest so much 2803 01:56:57,750 --> 01:57:00,750 money into our our men and women . But 2804 01:57:00,750 --> 01:57:04,230 yet we seem to black the kind of 2805 01:57:04,240 --> 01:57:06,860 initiatives around diet , nutrition , 2806 01:57:06,870 --> 01:57:08,920 and we see it . The end result is 2807 01:57:08,920 --> 01:57:11,110 around the diabetes and obesity issues 2808 01:57:11,110 --> 01:57:13,620 that we have with active duty . And I 2809 01:57:13,620 --> 01:57:16,230 believe that we have an opportunity 2810 01:57:16,230 --> 01:57:18,690 with the academy's really to set set 2811 01:57:18,690 --> 01:57:21,450 these young people up to really 2812 01:57:21,450 --> 01:57:23,617 function at a very , very high level . 2813 01:57:23,630 --> 01:57:26,210 Um , you know , I watch a great 2814 01:57:26,210 --> 01:57:28,266 interest that the pre stories of the 2815 01:57:28,266 --> 01:57:30,490 Super Bowl with Tom Brady and his diet 2816 01:57:30,490 --> 01:57:32,560 and how he functions . It's such a 2817 01:57:32,930 --> 01:57:35,550 people level . Uh , we're putting a lot 2818 01:57:35,550 --> 01:57:37,661 of money into these academies . A lot 2819 01:57:37,661 --> 01:57:39,717 of money into these kids . We should 2820 01:57:39,717 --> 01:57:41,883 try to get at least some level of that 2821 01:57:41,883 --> 01:57:44,300 to our academies in our military So 2822 01:57:44,310 --> 01:57:46,477 with that yield back the balance of my 2823 01:57:46,477 --> 01:57:48,643 time , Madam chair . Thank you . Thank 2824 01:57:48,643 --> 01:57:50,754 you . In our last question , and it's 2825 01:57:50,754 --> 01:57:52,977 12 . 30 Eastern Standard time had to do 2826 01:57:52,977 --> 01:57:55,310 with lunch and food , So , uh , perfect . 2827 01:57:55,310 --> 01:57:57,477 Perfect timing . Gentlemen . I want to 2828 01:57:57,477 --> 01:57:59,477 thank you for your accessibility to 2829 01:57:59,477 --> 01:58:01,643 committee . I think you know that we , 2830 01:58:01,643 --> 01:58:04,880 uh , were here , uh , to make sure that 2831 01:58:04,880 --> 01:58:06,991 our young men and women who go to our 2832 01:58:06,991 --> 01:58:09,050 military academies graduate with a 2833 01:58:09,050 --> 01:58:11,360 great education , a great sense of 2834 01:58:11,360 --> 01:58:15,270 responsibility , a great sense of our 2835 01:58:15,270 --> 01:58:17,410 appreciation for them and part of the 2836 01:58:17,410 --> 01:58:19,521 way that we do that is by the faculty 2837 01:58:19,521 --> 01:58:22,090 that we give them and the facilities 2838 01:58:22,090 --> 01:58:24,257 that they are attending because you're 2839 01:58:24,257 --> 01:58:26,479 competing . We're competing . America's 2840 01:58:26,479 --> 01:58:28,730 competing , uh , with all the other 2841 01:58:28,730 --> 01:58:31,030 colleges and universities that are out 2842 01:58:31,030 --> 01:58:33,252 there for these , the brightest and the 2843 01:58:33,252 --> 01:58:36,460 most talented that our country has . So 2844 01:58:36,460 --> 01:58:38,238 I want to thank you so much for 2845 01:58:38,238 --> 01:58:40,340 everything , and we will follow up , 2846 01:58:40,340 --> 01:58:44,220 especially on the the maintenance and 2847 01:58:44,220 --> 01:58:46,640 some of the facility issues . Um , I 2848 01:58:46,640 --> 01:58:48,696 look forward to covid ending so that 2849 01:58:48,696 --> 01:58:50,862 some of us can come out and visit your 2850 01:58:50,862 --> 01:58:52,973 facilities and get to spend time with 2851 01:58:52,973 --> 01:58:55,400 the midshipmen , um , as well as the 2852 01:58:55,400 --> 01:58:57,511 cadets and those who are serving in , 2853 01:58:57,511 --> 01:59:00,180 um at the Air Force Academy . So that 2854 01:59:00,180 --> 01:59:02,390 concludes today's hearing . And with 2855 01:59:02,390 --> 01:59:04,180 that , the subcommittee stands 2856 01:59:04,190 --> 01:59:05,650 adjourned . Thank you again .