WEBVTT 00:00.009 --> 00:02.231 I wouldn't mind sitting down and we can 00:02.231 --> 00:04.342 uh we can get started in the interest 00:04.342 --> 00:07.650 of time . OK . 00:08.619 --> 00:10.619 Subcomittee will come to order . Uh 00:10.619 --> 00:12.841 This will likely be my final hearing as 00:12.841 --> 00:14.730 chairman of the subcomittee . And 00:14.730 --> 00:17.008 before we get underway , I wanna thank , 00:17.008 --> 00:16.969 well , he's not here . I was gonna add 00:16.979 --> 00:19.201 this whole nice thing prepared to thank 00:19.201 --> 00:21.146 uh Ro Connor for his partnership . 00:21.180 --> 00:23.402 We'll have to save all this happy stuff 00:23.402 --> 00:25.458 for when he actually gets here . But 00:25.458 --> 00:27.402 he's amazing and we've had a great 00:27.402 --> 00:29.236 partnership and uh being on this 00:29.236 --> 00:31.291 committee for eight years has been a 00:31.291 --> 00:33.513 highlight of my time uh in office . And 00:33.513 --> 00:35.680 I wanna thank all the members and Matt 00:35.680 --> 00:37.791 and I have sat next to each other for 00:37.791 --> 00:39.902 eight years now and had a lot of late 00:39.902 --> 00:42.069 night debates uh during uh nd a markup 00:42.069 --> 00:44.069 and I've , and often collaborations 00:44.069 --> 00:46.236 when it comes to a umf issues and I've 00:46.236 --> 00:48.402 sincerely enjoyed that . So , um today 00:48.402 --> 00:50.458 we're gonna uh we're gonna hear from 00:50.458 --> 00:52.513 the department on its budget request 00:52.513 --> 00:54.680 and plan for cyberspace operations for 00:54.680 --> 00:56.680 the coming fiscal year from 2013 to 00:56.680 --> 00:58.847 2023 . Congress tried to address force 00:58.847 --> 01:00.624 design and readiness through 24 01:00.624 --> 01:02.513 different pieces of legislation , 01:02.513 --> 01:04.680 civilian and military workforce issues 01:04.680 --> 01:06.791 via 45 separate provisions of law and 01:06.791 --> 01:06.620 cyber security of the defense 01:06.629 --> 01:08.962 industrial base in 42 provisions of law . 01:08.962 --> 01:11.073 That's a lot of activity through this 01:11.073 --> 01:13.018 latest NDA A , we incorporated new 01:13.018 --> 01:15.185 requirements reports and mandates into 01:15.185 --> 01:17.407 each of those same categories . And yet 01:17.407 --> 01:19.073 here we are , there are still 01:19.073 --> 01:20.962 significant issues with our force 01:20.962 --> 01:22.907 design . Our civilian and military 01:22.907 --> 01:25.073 workforce issues remain as challenging 01:25.073 --> 01:27.351 as they have been in the past 10 years . 01:27.351 --> 01:27.239 And several cyber incidents targeting 01:27.250 --> 01:29.083 the defense industrial base have 01:29.083 --> 01:31.250 demonstrated that we as vulnerable now 01:31.250 --> 01:33.472 as we were a decade ago . And just as I 01:33.472 --> 01:35.694 said , when we were here a year ago for 01:35.694 --> 01:37.528 the same cyber posture , hearing 01:37.528 --> 01:39.639 insanity is doing the same thing over 01:39.639 --> 01:41.806 and over again and expecting different 01:41.806 --> 01:41.633 outcomes . I believe that almost 01:41.642 --> 01:43.698 everyone here today is familiar with 01:43.698 --> 01:45.920 the report published just two weeks ago 01:45.920 --> 01:47.975 by the foundation for the defense of 01:47.975 --> 01:49.975 democracies on the issue of a cyber 01:49.975 --> 01:52.031 force . A proposed new branch of the 01:52.031 --> 01:51.983 armed forces dedicated to the cyber 01:51.992 --> 01:53.825 domain . This new force would be 01:53.825 --> 01:56.048 responsible for organizing training and 01:56.048 --> 01:58.048 equipping for the cyber domain . No 01:58.048 --> 02:00.159 different from the Navy for combat at 02:00.159 --> 02:02.103 sea or the Air Force , the service 02:02.103 --> 02:03.992 responsible for air warfare . The 02:03.992 --> 02:06.325 report is very compelling and as I said , 02:06.325 --> 02:08.492 in a event we did a couple weeks ago , 02:08.492 --> 02:10.603 um I came in as a skeptic but I think 02:10.603 --> 02:12.548 they've raised some very important 02:12.548 --> 02:12.305 issues that need to be addressed . And 02:12.315 --> 02:14.204 it's a debate that's worth having 02:14.204 --> 02:16.259 because I think the status quo right 02:16.259 --> 02:18.482 now is unacceptable . But the arguments 02:18.482 --> 02:20.704 were not , um , the cogent arguments in 02:20.704 --> 02:22.871 the report are not the only thing that 02:22.871 --> 02:22.826 stood out included in the report were 02:22.835 --> 02:25.505 personal accounts provided anonymously 02:25.960 --> 02:28.679 by more than 75 active and recently 02:28.690 --> 02:30.857 separated service members representing 02:30.857 --> 02:32.968 every military branch and rank from E 02:32.968 --> 02:34.746 seven to 07 , as well as senior 02:34.746 --> 02:36.750 civilians , not a single individual 02:36.759 --> 02:38.648 that was approached , declined to 02:38.648 --> 02:40.870 respond . Nor did any one of them argue 02:40.870 --> 02:42.870 in favor of the current approach in 02:42.870 --> 02:45.037 which the operational force is sourced 02:45.037 --> 02:48.139 from four separate military services . 02:48.149 --> 02:50.205 I therefore ask unanimous uh general 02:50.205 --> 02:52.316 consent to enter this report into the 02:52.316 --> 02:54.970 record . So ordered , I will admit . Um 02:54.979 --> 02:57.889 again , I had concerns at the start of 02:57.899 --> 02:59.843 this debate , but over the last 18 02:59.843 --> 03:01.899 months , I've been presented with an 03:01.899 --> 03:04.066 astounding array of data and arguments 03:04.066 --> 03:06.232 in favor of a cyber force as well as a 03:06.232 --> 03:08.455 number of convincing arguments opposing 03:08.455 --> 03:10.399 such a force in my mind . The most 03:10.399 --> 03:12.621 logical way to address this question is 03:12.621 --> 03:14.732 a fully independent evaluation of the 03:14.732 --> 03:16.788 notional cyber force to be led by an 03:16.788 --> 03:18.788 entity other than the Department of 03:18.788 --> 03:20.955 Defense , other than the Department of 03:20.955 --> 03:22.899 Defense is critical . If anyone is 03:22.899 --> 03:22.740 opposed to a study of this question , I 03:22.750 --> 03:24.528 believe there's only one way to 03:24.528 --> 03:26.583 interpret that opposition , which is 03:26.583 --> 03:28.583 that if you're unwilling to ask the 03:28.583 --> 03:28.080 question . What you're really saying is 03:28.089 --> 03:30.145 that you're scared of the answer you 03:30.145 --> 03:32.256 might receive and the actions we will 03:32.256 --> 03:34.256 have to take to address the problem 03:34.256 --> 03:34.089 when it comes to national security . 03:34.100 --> 03:36.156 That way of thinking , acceptance of 03:36.156 --> 03:38.044 risk because of fear , I think is 03:38.044 --> 03:40.156 unacceptable . And while I may not be 03:40.156 --> 03:40.000 chair of the subcomittee during this 03:40.009 --> 03:41.731 year's ND A markup , I hope my 03:41.731 --> 03:43.953 colleagues will make the right decision 03:43.953 --> 03:45.953 and work collectively to ensure the 03:45.953 --> 03:48.009 Department of Defense is directed to 03:48.009 --> 03:47.619 conduct such a study . When the time 03:47.630 --> 03:49.852 comes with that as context . I'm very , 03:49.852 --> 03:51.852 very eager to hear from both of our 03:51.852 --> 03:54.019 witnesses . Thank you for being here . 03:54.019 --> 03:55.963 Each appearing for their inaugural 03:55.963 --> 03:58.186 cyber posture hearing . There's a whole 03:58.186 --> 04:00.408 set of elaborate initiation events that 04:00.408 --> 04:02.574 we have to do afterwards . It's highly 04:02.574 --> 04:04.574 top secret . Uh But we're joined by 04:04.574 --> 04:06.686 Miss Ashley Manning , a career senior 04:06.686 --> 04:06.565 executive performing the duties of 04:06.574 --> 04:08.518 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 04:08.518 --> 04:10.741 Cyber Policy and General Tim Hawk , the 04:10.741 --> 04:12.796 commander of the United States Cyber 04:12.796 --> 04:14.963 Command . Thank you both for appearing 04:14.963 --> 04:17.185 today . At this point . I would turn it 04:17.185 --> 04:16.809 over to the ranking member . He is not 04:16.820 --> 04:18.820 yet here . He is on his way from an 04:18.820 --> 04:20.987 oversight hearing , but I ask that his 04:20.987 --> 04:22.987 opening remarks be entered into the 04:22.987 --> 04:25.042 record . I ask unanimous consent for 04:25.042 --> 04:26.931 that to happen and then something 04:26.931 --> 04:29.098 magically happens and it goes into the 04:29.098 --> 04:31.320 record . Um And with that , uh we go to 04:31.320 --> 04:33.376 Miss Manning . First . Correct . For 04:33.376 --> 04:35.730 five minutes , Chairman Gallagher , 04:35.739 --> 04:37.850 ranking member , Ka and distinguished 04:37.850 --> 04:39.906 members of the committee . Thank you 04:39.906 --> 04:41.795 for inviting me to testify on the 04:41.795 --> 04:43.906 Department of Defense's cyber posture 04:43.906 --> 04:45.961 in the advancements . We continue to 04:45.961 --> 04:48.017 make operationalize the department's 04:48.017 --> 04:49.961 priorities in cyberspace . It's an 04:49.961 --> 04:52.128 honor to appear alongside General Hawk 04:52.128 --> 04:54.239 in my role , performing the duties of 04:54.239 --> 04:53.980 the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 04:53.989 --> 04:55.829 cyber policy . I am committed to 04:55.839 --> 04:57.895 providing overall supervision of the 04:57.895 --> 04:59.672 department's policy for Cyber , 04:59.672 --> 05:01.728 advancing the department's strategic 05:01.728 --> 05:03.950 approach to cyberspace and ensuring our 05:03.950 --> 05:05.950 readiness to counter emerging cyber 05:05.950 --> 05:08.117 threats . Mr Chairman , I look forward 05:08.117 --> 05:10.283 to working with this committee through 05:10.283 --> 05:12.450 my newly established office to further 05:12.450 --> 05:14.617 these objectives . I come to this role 05:14.617 --> 05:14.559 as a career civilian with almost 20 05:14.570 --> 05:16.681 years of service in the Department of 05:16.681 --> 05:18.681 Defense . I've had the privilege of 05:18.681 --> 05:20.903 working across a wide range of regional 05:20.903 --> 05:22.848 and functional issues serving most 05:22.848 --> 05:25.070 recently as the acting Deputy Assistant 05:25.070 --> 05:27.070 Secretary of Defense for the Middle 05:27.070 --> 05:29.070 East and the Principal Director for 05:29.070 --> 05:30.959 Plans and Pre Posture . And in my 05:30.959 --> 05:33.070 previous positions , I have witnessed 05:33.070 --> 05:33.070 the cross cutting role cyber plays in 05:33.079 --> 05:34.968 the defense of our nation and our 05:34.968 --> 05:37.230 allies and partners . The president has 05:37.239 --> 05:39.500 nominated Doctor Michael Sulmeyer as 05:39.510 --> 05:41.769 the A SD for cyber policy . Should he 05:41.779 --> 05:43.612 be confirmed ? I look forward to 05:43.612 --> 05:45.390 serving as the principal Deputy 05:45.390 --> 05:47.335 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 05:47.335 --> 05:49.335 Cyber Policy . Our national defense 05:49.335 --> 05:51.501 strategy makes clear that the People's 05:51.501 --> 05:53.612 Republic of China remains an enduring 05:53.612 --> 05:55.501 cyber threat and the department's 05:55.501 --> 05:57.612 pacing challenge in cyberspace as the 05:57.612 --> 05:59.835 PR C continues to target us networks in 05:59.835 --> 06:02.057 prolonged campaigns of espionage and to 06:02.057 --> 06:04.279 preposition its cyber forces for future 06:04.279 --> 06:06.089 operations . Russia remains a 06:06.100 --> 06:08.267 persistent threat to the United States 06:08.267 --> 06:10.156 and our allies and partners as it 06:10.156 --> 06:12.156 continues to leverage cyberspace to 06:12.156 --> 06:14.378 target critical infrastructure networks 06:14.378 --> 06:16.156 and enable its malign influence 06:16.156 --> 06:18.299 operations . The ongoing unprovoked 06:18.309 --> 06:20.531 further invasion of Ukraine serves as a 06:20.531 --> 06:22.698 stark reminder of Russia's willingness 06:22.698 --> 06:24.959 to employ cyber capabilities to disrupt 06:24.970 --> 06:27.192 defensive military operations . And sow 06:27.192 --> 06:30.179 discord following hamas' attack against 06:30.190 --> 06:32.269 Israel on October 7th of last year , 06:32.309 --> 06:34.640 Iran has exploited cyberspace to create 06:34.649 --> 06:36.760 additional disruptions and challenges 06:36.760 --> 06:38.982 in Israel . While many of these militia 06:38.982 --> 06:40.760 cyberspace activities have been 06:40.760 --> 06:42.816 relatively limited in their impact . 06:42.816 --> 06:45.038 The ability of both state and non state 06:45.038 --> 06:47.038 actors to act against Israel in the 06:47.038 --> 06:49.093 immediate aftermath of the attack by 06:49.093 --> 06:51.205 Hamas is a reminder of what to expect 06:51.205 --> 06:53.320 in future conflicts . Additionally , 06:53.329 --> 06:55.551 the United States continues to face the 06:55.551 --> 06:57.440 still growing threat posed by for 06:57.440 --> 06:59.519 profit cyber criminals that target a 06:59.529 --> 07:01.473 wide array of vulnerable sectors , 07:01.473 --> 07:03.418 conducting ransomware attacks that 07:03.418 --> 07:05.418 impact the daily lives of Americans 07:05.418 --> 07:07.850 across the country . In response to 07:07.859 --> 07:09.637 these evolving challenges . The 07:09.637 --> 07:11.803 department issued its fourth dod cyber 07:11.803 --> 07:13.915 strategy . Last May . Looking ahead , 07:13.915 --> 07:15.970 we are committed to implementing our 07:15.970 --> 07:17.803 strategy and monitoring progress 07:17.803 --> 07:19.915 through the forthcoming Cyber Posture 07:19.915 --> 07:21.915 review in fy 26 . We understand the 07:21.915 --> 07:24.026 department cannot advance its defense 07:24.026 --> 07:26.081 priorities without a ready , capable 07:26.081 --> 07:28.250 and informed joint force to achieve 07:28.260 --> 07:30.482 this end , we will invest in our people 07:30.482 --> 07:32.204 in our capabilities and in our 07:32.204 --> 07:34.427 information needs to support and enable 07:34.427 --> 07:36.640 the full range of cyber activities in 07:36.649 --> 07:38.880 partnership with us cyber com . We are 07:38.890 --> 07:41.001 refining options for the secretary on 07:41.001 --> 07:43.168 how to improve the way in which forces 07:43.168 --> 07:45.329 are presented to the command to raise 07:45.339 --> 07:47.561 the readiness level of these forces and 07:47.561 --> 07:49.561 to streamline support mechanisms to 07:49.561 --> 07:51.395 other combatant commands . These 07:51.395 --> 07:53.395 options will enable us cyber com to 07:53.395 --> 07:55.619 fully exercise authorities in 07:55.630 --> 07:57.686 partnership with my office including 07:57.686 --> 07:59.769 through enhanced budget control . As 07:59.779 --> 08:02.570 part of the fy 26 budget cycle dod 08:02.579 --> 08:04.940 released its first ever department wide 08:04.950 --> 08:07.172 cyber operations programming guidance . 08:07.350 --> 08:09.128 This guidance will shape future 08:09.128 --> 08:11.309 cyberspace operations investments and 08:11.320 --> 08:13.487 will serve as a rubric for my office's 08:13.487 --> 08:15.264 certification of the budget's a 08:15.264 --> 08:18.470 adequacy for fy 26 with the authorities 08:18.480 --> 08:20.258 granted to us by Congress . The 08:20.258 --> 08:22.313 department will continue to build on 08:22.313 --> 08:24.424 the pathway laid out in the fy or I'm 08:24.424 --> 08:26.591 sorry . In the 2023 dod cyber strategy 08:26.600 --> 08:28.910 to provide a stronger cyber posture and 08:28.920 --> 08:31.087 protect the shared digital environment 08:31.087 --> 08:33.087 for those who intend to subvert our 08:33.087 --> 08:35.142 values and our interests by pursuing 08:35.142 --> 08:37.198 integrated deterrence which includes 08:37.198 --> 08:39.420 our cyber capabilities . The department 08:39.420 --> 08:41.364 will be ready to fight and win the 08:41.364 --> 08:43.198 nation's wars with an ability to 08:43.198 --> 08:45.364 rapidly respond across the spectrum of 08:45.364 --> 08:47.587 conflict . Thank you for your continued 08:47.587 --> 08:47.409 support in this fight and I look 08:47.419 --> 08:49.530 forward to answering your questions . 08:49.530 --> 08:51.641 Thank you . Generally , you recognize 08:51.641 --> 08:53.863 for five minutes , Chairman Gallagher , 08:53.863 --> 08:56.049 ranking member , Ka and distinguished 08:56.059 --> 08:58.115 members of the committee . Thank you 08:58.115 --> 09:00.226 for the opportunity to testify before 09:00.226 --> 09:02.337 you . Today , I am honored to testify 09:02.337 --> 09:04.559 beside MS Manning . Joining me today is 09:04.559 --> 09:06.670 Chief Master Sergeant Kenneth Bruce , 09:06.670 --> 09:08.559 the US Cyber Command and National 09:08.559 --> 09:10.448 Security Agency , senior enlisted 09:10.448 --> 09:12.503 leader . We are honored to represent 09:12.503 --> 09:14.726 the men and women of us . Cyber Command 09:15.179 --> 09:16.679 in an era defined by rapid 09:16.679 --> 09:18.346 technological advancement and 09:18.346 --> 09:20.123 increasing interconnectedness . 09:20.123 --> 09:22.346 Cyberspace is emerged as a vital domain 09:22.346 --> 09:24.512 for protecting our national security . 09:25.179 --> 09:27.290 The People's Republic of China is our 09:27.290 --> 09:29.512 greatest strategic competitor and poses 09:29.512 --> 09:31.760 unique challenges due to its advanced 09:31.770 --> 09:34.159 cyber capabilities . State sponsored 09:34.169 --> 09:36.391 cyber operations around the globe and a 09:36.391 --> 09:38.559 strategic focus on leveraging 09:38.570 --> 09:41.929 cyberspace for military economic and 09:41.940 --> 09:44.830 political purposes . Russia's cyber 09:44.840 --> 09:46.880 espionage campaigns , prioritize 09:46.890 --> 09:48.946 sensitive us government and military 09:48.946 --> 09:50.890 infrastructure and information and 09:50.890 --> 09:53.239 spread disinformation campaigns to 09:53.250 --> 09:55.417 influence public opinion and undermine 09:55.417 --> 09:58.190 our democratic processes . Iran North 09:58.200 --> 10:00.200 Korea , terrorist organizations and 10:00.200 --> 10:02.280 transnational criminal groups also 10:02.289 --> 10:04.380 challenge us interests in cyberspace 10:04.799 --> 10:06.910 and we are engaged in ongoing efforts 10:06.910 --> 10:08.855 to exploit vulnerabilities and are 10:08.855 --> 10:10.966 engaged in ongoing efforts to exploit 10:10.966 --> 10:12.799 vulnerabilities in us . Networks 10:12.799 --> 10:14.966 conduct influence operations and erode 10:14.966 --> 10:17.021 our national security interests with 10:17.021 --> 10:18.743 cyber operations becoming more 10:18.743 --> 10:21.200 sophisticated and frequent . It is 10:21.210 --> 10:23.130 vital to evolve our capabilities 10:23.140 --> 10:25.820 against new and novel threats . I am 10:25.830 --> 10:27.608 confident cyber command is well 10:27.608 --> 10:29.552 postured to meet the ever evolving 10:29.552 --> 10:31.552 challenges we face today , creating 10:31.552 --> 10:33.608 advantage for the department and the 10:33.608 --> 10:35.840 nation . Our mission is to direct 10:35.849 --> 10:37.960 synchronize and coordinate cyberspace 10:37.960 --> 10:40.071 planning and operations to defend and 10:40.071 --> 10:41.738 advance national interests in 10:41.738 --> 10:43.516 collaboration with domestic and 10:43.516 --> 10:45.460 international partners . We defend 10:45.460 --> 10:47.460 forward by countering cyber threats 10:47.460 --> 10:49.682 before they can reach us . Networks and 10:49.682 --> 10:51.460 critical infrastructure . These 10:51.460 --> 10:53.516 proactive defensive measures ranging 10:53.516 --> 10:55.405 from network hardening and threat 10:55.405 --> 10:57.571 hunting to information sharing bolster 10:57.571 --> 10:59.738 the resilience of our systems and foil 10:59.738 --> 11:01.960 potential cyber attacks before they can 11:01.960 --> 11:04.071 materialize . We are aligned with the 11:04.071 --> 11:06.293 national defense strategy and the deity 11:06.293 --> 11:08.516 cyber strategy to protect Department of 11:08.516 --> 11:10.516 Defense Information Systems support 11:10.516 --> 11:12.682 joint force commanders with cyberspace 11:12.682 --> 11:14.793 operations and defend the nation from 11:14.793 --> 11:16.627 significant cyber attacks . I am 11:16.627 --> 11:18.682 excited with what 2024 means for the 11:18.682 --> 11:20.905 maturation of us . Cyber command . This 11:20.905 --> 11:23.159 is a year of opportunity for us and I'd 11:23.169 --> 11:25.336 like to thank Congress for the service 11:25.336 --> 11:26.947 like enhanced budget control 11:26.947 --> 11:29.960 authorities granted by the 2022 NDA A 11:29.979 --> 11:31.989 and enacted with the fy 24 11:32.000 --> 11:34.440 appropriation . This authority creates 11:34.450 --> 11:36.617 tighter alignment between requirements 11:36.617 --> 11:38.672 and acquisition which will result in 11:38.672 --> 11:40.839 faster capability and fielding for our 11:40.839 --> 11:42.894 cyber mission force . Additionally , 11:42.894 --> 11:45.117 this committee has been instrumental in 11:45.117 --> 11:47.283 focusing attention on readiness across 11:47.283 --> 11:49.450 the cyber emission force . The studies 11:49.450 --> 11:51.561 you have authorized are driving us to 11:51.561 --> 11:53.617 do work needed to ensure we have the 11:53.617 --> 11:55.672 force structure and force generation 11:55.672 --> 11:57.839 strategy necessary to field a force of 11:57.839 --> 12:00.169 the highest quality today . I hope we 12:00.179 --> 12:02.290 have an opportunity to unpack several 12:02.290 --> 12:04.457 of these initiatives today since Cyber 12:04.457 --> 12:06.290 Command's elevation in 2018 to a 12:06.290 --> 12:08.512 unified combatant command Cyber Command 12:08.512 --> 12:10.235 has worked to make most of its 12:10.235 --> 12:12.929 authorities , resources and support of 12:12.940 --> 12:15.162 these authorities . None is as vital to 12:15.162 --> 12:17.510 national security and the command as 12:17.520 --> 12:19.742 Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence 12:19.742 --> 12:21.853 Surveillance Act , which is essential 12:21.853 --> 12:24.020 for identifying malicious cyber actors 12:24.020 --> 12:26.020 in protection of the nation and the 12:26.020 --> 12:28.187 Department of Defense . I am confident 12:28.187 --> 12:30.298 we are successful in our mission each 12:30.298 --> 12:32.464 and every day . Thanks to our people , 12:32.464 --> 12:34.576 our innovation and our partnerships . 12:34.576 --> 12:36.742 My top three priorities that ensure we 12:36.742 --> 12:38.631 deliver outcomes against national 12:38.631 --> 12:40.798 priorities in Foreign Intelligence and 12:40.798 --> 12:42.909 cyber security . First , our strength 12:42.909 --> 12:44.853 lies in our people , skilled cyber 12:44.853 --> 12:46.520 warriors who are dedicated to 12:46.520 --> 12:48.464 protecting the nation from threats 12:48.464 --> 12:50.631 posed by our rivals and adversaries in 12:50.631 --> 12:52.576 cyberspace , we win because of our 12:52.576 --> 12:55.390 people . Second , Cyber Command remains 12:55.400 --> 12:57.511 committed to a relentless approach in 12:57.511 --> 12:59.733 innovation , to strengthen our military 12:59.733 --> 13:01.400 now and into the future . Our 13:01.400 --> 13:03.622 investment and technological innovation 13:03.622 --> 13:05.622 is key to maintaining our overmatch 13:05.622 --> 13:07.567 against our adversaries . Lastly , 13:07.567 --> 13:09.789 Cyber Command maintains our competitive 13:09.789 --> 13:11.567 advantage through sustained and 13:11.567 --> 13:13.678 deliberate partnerships . In addition 13:13.678 --> 13:15.622 to the unique partnership with the 13:15.622 --> 13:17.456 national security agency , Cyber 13:17.456 --> 13:19.233 Command further embraces a team 13:19.233 --> 13:21.122 approach , working with my fellow 13:21.122 --> 13:23.178 combatant commanders and interagency 13:23.178 --> 13:25.344 partners while also collaborating with 13:25.344 --> 13:27.567 academic and inner and industry experts 13:27.567 --> 13:29.567 and cooperating with our allies and 13:29.567 --> 13:31.567 partners by establishing collective 13:31.567 --> 13:33.733 security . I am extremely proud of the 13:33.733 --> 13:35.844 effort Cyber Command has achieved and 13:35.844 --> 13:35.609 the direction we are headed . I look 13:35.619 --> 13:37.841 forward to your questions . Thank you , 13:37.841 --> 13:40.400 General . Um You expressed , I believe 13:40.409 --> 13:42.729 that the section uh 15 , I'm 13:42.739 --> 13:44.961 recognizing myself for questions . OK . 13:44.961 --> 13:47.183 So it was not apparent . Uh the section 13:47.183 --> 13:49.489 1533 study was looking at all options 13:49.500 --> 13:51.389 to include the establishment of a 13:51.389 --> 13:54.549 separate , uh a service and hence a , a 13:54.580 --> 13:56.979 separate analysis what isn't necessary . 13:57.369 --> 13:59.429 But we required the department to do 13:59.440 --> 14:02.190 the study in the 2020 NDA A 14:02.200 --> 14:04.311 specifically to study the independent 14:04.311 --> 14:06.200 service idea as part of the Cyber 14:06.200 --> 14:08.549 Posture review . It seems to me that 14:08.559 --> 14:10.950 dod ignored that requirement and then 14:10.960 --> 14:14.219 pointed us to uh a section in the 14:14.229 --> 14:16.669 Posture review that included an 14:16.679 --> 14:18.901 assessment . Um But if you look at that 14:18.901 --> 14:21.809 section , no such assessment existed 14:22.030 --> 14:24.197 with this , this context , I , I guess 14:24.197 --> 14:26.539 we want to address that . Um But why 14:26.549 --> 14:28.660 should we believe that the department 14:28.660 --> 14:30.493 will follow on with an objective 14:30.493 --> 14:32.438 analysis as part of the 1533 study 14:32.438 --> 14:34.549 given that it was ignored previous to 14:34.549 --> 14:37.640 this Chairman Gallagher . I , I have no 14:37.650 --> 14:40.609 experience with the 2020 study . I can 14:40.619 --> 14:42.841 tell you what we're doing today . So we 14:42.841 --> 14:45.210 have taken that uh direction and , and 14:45.219 --> 14:47.840 we've really , uh that's an area for us . 14:47.849 --> 14:50.016 It's really about the readiness of our 14:50.016 --> 14:52.293 force and how do we generate our force . 14:52.293 --> 14:53.905 So we have looked at that in 14:53.905 --> 14:56.039 combination with other studies that 14:56.049 --> 14:58.105 you've asked us to do this year . So 14:58.105 --> 15:00.271 there are other studies to look at our 15:00.271 --> 15:00.099 headquarters , to look at our 15:00.109 --> 15:02.690 acquisition force , to look at how we 15:02.700 --> 15:05.619 uh examine our architecture and each of 15:05.630 --> 15:07.686 those we think make up a really good 15:07.686 --> 15:10.099 opportunity for us to evaluate what's 15:10.109 --> 15:12.276 the future of this force . So specific 15:12.276 --> 15:15.210 to your question on 1533 and the study 15:15.219 --> 15:17.450 that is underway , the the book ends 15:17.460 --> 15:20.020 that are required by the law are the 15:20.030 --> 15:22.919 way it was done last year . And a 15:22.929 --> 15:26.280 evaluation of a cyber service , we are 15:26.289 --> 15:28.289 going to look at both of those book 15:28.289 --> 15:30.122 ends and then look at options in 15:30.122 --> 15:32.345 between that would allow us to generate 15:32.345 --> 15:34.289 the force that we need . The other 15:34.289 --> 15:36.345 things that I think are , are that , 15:36.345 --> 15:38.511 that I know we are doing . Uh today is 15:38.511 --> 15:40.567 the partnership we have uh with a SD 15:40.567 --> 15:42.678 Cyber who is the other portion of the 15:42.678 --> 15:44.789 study . So being done with a SD Cyber 15:44.789 --> 15:47.760 in uh Os D and Cyber command , we owe 15:47.770 --> 15:50.020 that to the secretary in June and we're 15:50.030 --> 15:51.919 required to brief him in June the 15:51.919 --> 15:53.974 results of that study . Um And , and 15:53.974 --> 15:56.141 we're moving at pace to ensure that we 15:56.141 --> 15:57.974 look at all the options that you 15:57.974 --> 15:59.863 directed . Now , I'm on record as 15:59.863 --> 16:01.919 favoring something like a zero based 16:01.919 --> 16:04.086 budgeting for congressional studies uh 16:04.086 --> 16:03.719 because they accumulate over time and 16:03.729 --> 16:05.840 periodically we need to sort of clear 16:05.840 --> 16:07.951 them out . But when they are a matter 16:07.951 --> 16:09.951 of us law , they should be complied 16:09.951 --> 16:12.118 with MS Manning . Do you know how many 16:12.118 --> 16:14.229 congressional requirements the dod is 16:14.229 --> 16:16.396 currently uh delinquent on ? Thank you 16:16.396 --> 16:18.562 for your question , Mr Chairman . This 16:18.562 --> 16:20.729 is actually one of the first questions 16:20.729 --> 16:22.951 I asked when I got into the seat and we 16:22.951 --> 16:24.840 are tracking 12 reports where our 16:24.840 --> 16:24.780 office is the office of Primary 16:24.789 --> 16:27.380 Responsibility to be able to conduct 16:27.390 --> 16:29.612 and conclude these reports . I received 16:29.612 --> 16:31.779 a status update on all these reports . 16:31.779 --> 16:33.668 There are a couple that have been 16:33.668 --> 16:35.779 delayed because they were independent 16:35.779 --> 16:37.723 studies that uh we're dependent on 16:37.723 --> 16:39.668 getting funding and because of the 16:39.668 --> 16:41.723 continuing resolutions , it's gotten 16:41.723 --> 16:41.242 delayed a little bit . But my 16:41.252 --> 16:43.308 commitment is to , to you is to make 16:43.308 --> 16:45.363 progress on all of these reports and 16:45.363 --> 16:47.474 ensure that we are delivering them as 16:47.474 --> 16:49.696 quickly as possible . I would note that 16:49.696 --> 16:51.696 there are a myriad of other reports 16:51.696 --> 16:51.583 related to Cyber that have been 16:51.593 --> 16:53.742 directed across the department and we 16:53.752 --> 16:56.122 are providing support as a coordinating 16:56.132 --> 16:58.945 uh entity on many of those , those 16:58.955 --> 17:01.177 reports . And in the interim , if there 17:01.177 --> 17:03.288 are specific issues where you want to 17:03.288 --> 17:05.344 understand a bit more about what the 17:05.344 --> 17:07.233 department is doing and how we're 17:07.233 --> 17:09.288 addressing issues myself and my team 17:09.288 --> 17:11.511 are always willing to come up and brief 17:11.511 --> 17:11.066 you on those . I appreciate that we're 17:11.076 --> 17:13.676 tracking 40 but that may be a broader 17:13.686 --> 17:16.576 aperture than just your office . Um But 17:16.586 --> 17:18.649 we very much would like to clear the 17:18.659 --> 17:20.881 backlog and , and work with both of you 17:20.881 --> 17:22.937 on , on clearing the backlog because 17:22.937 --> 17:25.159 again , wherever those reports appear , 17:25.159 --> 17:24.948 it means that we , you know , we voted 17:24.958 --> 17:27.014 on it . We had a debate on it and it 17:27.014 --> 17:29.069 means there's questions we just need 17:29.069 --> 17:31.069 answers to . Uh And so I just would 17:31.069 --> 17:33.069 welcome your commitment to clearing 17:33.069 --> 17:35.180 that backlog . MS Manning your office 17:35.180 --> 17:34.369 will also be assuming the 17:34.379 --> 17:36.268 responsibility for certifying the 17:36.268 --> 17:38.157 cyberspace operations budget . Uh 17:38.157 --> 17:40.019 Within dod . Last year , we were 17:40.029 --> 17:42.229 informed that the fy 24 Cyber ops 17:42.239 --> 17:44.959 budget was 7.4 billion . But then this 17:44.969 --> 17:47.280 year the fy 25 ops budget , if I'm 17:47.290 --> 17:50.430 correct is 6.4 billion . What we're 17:50.439 --> 17:52.328 trying to understand is does this 17:52.328 --> 17:55.160 represent a net decrease or a confusion 17:55.170 --> 17:57.226 about categorizing investments ? Can 17:57.226 --> 17:59.392 you share your view of what appears to 17:59.392 --> 18:01.559 be a net reduction of nearly 1 billion 18:01.559 --> 18:03.503 or or more than 15% of the overall 18:03.503 --> 18:05.837 budget ? Thank you for your question on , 18:05.837 --> 18:07.892 on our budget uh because it's really 18:07.892 --> 18:10.003 important that we get this right . So 18:10.003 --> 18:12.059 my understanding is that overall our 18:12.059 --> 18:14.170 cyber activities budget has increased 18:14.170 --> 18:16.114 by almost a billion dollars due to 18:16.114 --> 18:18.170 added investment in cyber security . 18:18.170 --> 18:20.170 The teams in both policy and in the 18:20.170 --> 18:22.392 office of the Chief Information Officer 18:22.392 --> 18:24.503 reviewed the various efforts that are 18:24.503 --> 18:26.337 included in the in the different 18:26.337 --> 18:28.170 budgets and decided that certain 18:28.170 --> 18:30.226 portions of the cyber ops budget are 18:30.226 --> 18:32.392 actually better categorized as part of 18:32.392 --> 18:34.614 the cyber security budget . So there is 18:34.614 --> 18:36.503 no reduction . It's more of a rec 18:36.503 --> 18:38.170 categorization of some of the 18:38.170 --> 18:40.337 activities that we are funding between 18:40.337 --> 18:40.030 the different budget categories . Thank 18:40.040 --> 18:42.151 you . My time is expired . Mr Khan is 18:42.151 --> 18:44.484 recognized for five minutes . Thank you , 18:44.484 --> 18:46.540 Mr Chair . Apologies for being a few 18:46.540 --> 18:48.429 minutes late . We had a oversight 18:48.429 --> 18:50.262 hearing where I had to vote . Uh 18:50.262 --> 18:52.484 General Hawk . Great to see you again . 18:52.484 --> 18:54.596 I appreciated uh our conversation the 18:54.599 --> 18:56.766 other day and Miss Manning , thank you 18:56.766 --> 18:59.319 for your testimony . Uh General Hawk , 18:59.329 --> 19:01.739 one of the things that we had discussed 19:01.750 --> 19:03.694 is the importance of getting young 19:03.694 --> 19:06.339 talent into uh our military service , 19:06.349 --> 19:08.250 particularly young talent and 19:08.260 --> 19:11.030 technology and the military can also be 19:11.040 --> 19:13.689 a place where they develop uh initial 19:13.699 --> 19:16.430 skills and training . Uh Something that 19:16.439 --> 19:19.369 may be more accessible frankly for uh 19:19.380 --> 19:22.140 people than uh just starting at uh in 19:22.339 --> 19:24.395 uh Silicon Valley , which often does 19:24.395 --> 19:26.506 not have as unfortunately broad based 19:26.506 --> 19:29.400 hiring . Uh Can you talk about efforts 19:29.410 --> 19:32.599 at creating uh recruiting programs at 19:32.839 --> 19:35.170 uh community colleges or Historically 19:35.180 --> 19:37.760 Black uh uh colleges , Hispanic serving 19:37.770 --> 19:40.250 institutes and uh other public uh 19:40.260 --> 19:42.859 universities across the country that 19:42.869 --> 19:45.699 would allow us to recruit folks and per 19:45.709 --> 19:47.876 perhaps even recruit folks who may not 19:47.876 --> 19:50.010 have a four year degree . Uh I 19:50.400 --> 19:52.859 certainly rank mea th this is our 19:52.869 --> 19:54.758 important issue is how do we grow 19:54.758 --> 19:56.980 talent and , and for us , Cyber Command 19:56.980 --> 19:59.202 for the Department for the Nation . And 19:59.202 --> 20:01.091 so when we look across what Cyber 20:01.091 --> 20:03.258 Command and NSA are responsible for in 20:03.258 --> 20:05.202 Cyber Command , we've now grown an 20:05.202 --> 20:07.670 academic network to allow us to partner 20:07.680 --> 20:09.847 with universities across the country . 20:09.847 --> 20:11.902 So we , we have right now around 100 20:11.902 --> 20:13.902 and 20 universities in the National 20:13.902 --> 20:16.550 Security Agency , around 430 . Both 20:16.560 --> 20:18.560 those provide a really foundational 20:18.560 --> 20:20.969 opportunity for us to participate with 20:20.979 --> 20:23.146 uh our academic institute institutions 20:23.146 --> 20:25.334 on growing cyber curriculum and also 20:25.344 --> 20:27.744 working uh with a number of research 20:27.755 --> 20:29.922 institutions to be able to allow us to 20:29.922 --> 20:32.088 recruit that talent . So when we think 20:32.088 --> 20:33.588 about it internally to our 20:33.588 --> 20:35.755 organizations , that's how we maintain 20:35.755 --> 20:37.977 our partnership , growing relationships 20:37.977 --> 20:40.199 uh with Historically Black colleges and 20:40.199 --> 20:42.795 universities . And also uh looking at 20:42.805 --> 20:45.114 universities like University of Texas , 20:45.125 --> 20:47.859 San Antonio , uh that has a large 20:47.869 --> 20:49.930 number of first generation Americans 20:49.939 --> 20:51.772 and Hispanic Latino population , 20:51.772 --> 20:54.140 drawing talent from across the country 20:54.270 --> 20:56.381 to be able to ensure that we have the 20:56.381 --> 20:58.437 highest qualified workforce . And do 20:58.437 --> 21:00.770 you need more flexibility from Congress ? 21:00.770 --> 21:02.937 And because I've heard mixed things in 21:02.937 --> 21:05.048 terms of you want someone to come for 21:05.048 --> 21:07.214 three years , four years and then they 21:07.214 --> 21:09.437 wanna go on to the private sector . Are 21:09.437 --> 21:11.548 you able to do that ? Are you able to 21:11.548 --> 21:10.930 have flexibility if you wanna recruit 21:10.939 --> 21:12.883 someone who doesn't have a college 21:12.883 --> 21:15.106 degree and is talented or wants to do a 21:15.106 --> 21:16.772 few years or do you need more 21:16.772 --> 21:19.145 flexibility in in the hiring ? So last 21:19.155 --> 21:21.211 year , uh one of the studies that we 21:21.211 --> 21:24.625 executed uh was under section 1502 and 21:24.635 --> 21:26.857 it was about readiness and I'm required 21:26.857 --> 21:28.691 each year to provide a report on 21:28.691 --> 21:30.913 service readiness . In that report , we 21:30.913 --> 21:32.968 identified five provisions that were 21:32.968 --> 21:35.191 all around personnel and administrative 21:35.191 --> 21:37.413 policies . So what we're really looking 21:37.413 --> 21:39.191 for is we're seeing good things 21:39.191 --> 21:41.191 happening in each of the services . 21:41.191 --> 21:43.024 We'd like them all to adapt each 21:43.024 --> 21:44.913 other's best practice . So as you 21:44.913 --> 21:47.459 identified in this NDA A section 1535 21:47.469 --> 21:50.239 was to begin to drive those authorities 21:50.250 --> 21:52.250 across the department . And I think 21:52.250 --> 21:54.194 that would be an example of a step 21:54.194 --> 21:56.139 where we wanna continue to provide 21:56.139 --> 21:58.194 updates on which types of provisions 21:58.194 --> 22:00.250 would help and then we work together 22:00.250 --> 22:02.361 with the services to be able to enact 22:02.361 --> 22:04.583 those provisions . MS Manning , I don't 22:04.583 --> 22:06.417 know if you have any comments or 22:06.417 --> 22:08.583 thoughts on how we recruit more talent 22:08.583 --> 22:11.900 uh uh into our uh military . No , I 22:11.910 --> 22:14.132 would say , first of all , I , I really 22:14.132 --> 22:16.243 applaud the efforts that are underway 22:16.243 --> 22:18.299 to tackle this issue . It's , it's a 22:18.299 --> 22:18.270 real challenge across government in 22:18.280 --> 22:21.030 terms of how you recruit and retain top 22:21.040 --> 22:23.770 talent uh to support our , our ongoing 22:23.780 --> 22:25.891 efforts and , and really building out 22:25.891 --> 22:28.002 the workforce that's necessary for us 22:28.002 --> 22:29.613 to be able to accomplish our 22:29.613 --> 22:31.780 operational missions . So I think in , 22:31.780 --> 22:33.947 in addition to what we're doing within 22:33.947 --> 22:33.359 the department , I think looking at 22:33.369 --> 22:35.369 sharing best practices across other 22:35.369 --> 22:37.313 departments and agencies will help 22:37.313 --> 22:39.313 generate new ideas in terms of what 22:39.313 --> 22:41.202 more we can do as a government to 22:41.202 --> 22:43.313 ensure that we are bringing people in 22:43.313 --> 22:45.647 to be able to serve our missions . Well , 22:45.647 --> 22:47.813 thanks and you don't have to answer it 22:47.813 --> 22:49.925 now , but I , I , I've just been told 22:49.925 --> 22:51.813 that there's some restrictions on 22:51.813 --> 22:53.980 people being able to be hired only for 22:53.980 --> 22:56.202 a few years . That , that , that's hard 22:56.202 --> 22:58.313 to do because of civil service , uh , 22:58.313 --> 22:58.270 protections . I don't know if that's 22:58.280 --> 23:00.530 the case or not . Uh , but I just , I 23:00.540 --> 23:02.762 didn't know if Congress needs to act in 23:02.762 --> 23:04.984 any way to simplify that . I , I , what 23:04.984 --> 23:07.207 I would expect that you're referring to 23:07.207 --> 23:09.429 is our ability to have people leave and 23:09.429 --> 23:11.596 come back . And those are areas that I 23:11.596 --> 23:13.540 think we've got to work internally 23:13.540 --> 23:15.707 within the department in terms of , of 23:15.707 --> 23:17.762 how we leverage the policies that we 23:17.762 --> 23:19.818 already have . But I think that's an 23:19.818 --> 23:19.449 area that we should be continue to 23:19.459 --> 23:21.459 explore that if somebody leaves and 23:21.459 --> 23:23.681 goes to industry , how do we bring that 23:23.681 --> 23:25.848 expertise back into our force ? Not as 23:25.848 --> 23:27.848 if they're a new hire , but they're 23:27.848 --> 23:29.570 returning expert back into the 23:29.570 --> 23:33.339 department . Thank you , MS 23:33.349 --> 23:35.627 Manning . I think you're totally right . 23:35.627 --> 23:37.127 When you say that China is 23:37.127 --> 23:39.293 prepositioning capabilities in advance 23:39.293 --> 23:41.910 of uh some deployment of them is one 23:41.920 --> 23:45.859 way China does that by having 23:45.869 --> 23:49.420 us based technology platforms that they 23:49.430 --> 23:51.939 own or control uh in order to 23:51.949 --> 23:54.109 preposition for their , their cyber 23:54.119 --> 23:56.939 capability . Thank you for your 23:56.949 --> 23:59.750 question . You know , as I said , Pr C 23:59.760 --> 24:01.982 is really our pacing challenge . And as 24:01.982 --> 24:03.927 you note , they're using malicious 24:03.927 --> 24:05.619 cyber activity to counter us 24:05.630 --> 24:07.739 conventional military power and to 24:07.750 --> 24:09.806 degrade the combat capability of the 24:09.806 --> 24:11.806 joint force . And we need to ensure 24:11.806 --> 24:13.861 that we are employing both defensive 24:13.861 --> 24:15.528 and offensive capabilities to 24:15.528 --> 24:17.528 strengthen our deterrence and , and 24:17.528 --> 24:19.639 gain our , our advantage . I defer to 24:19.639 --> 24:21.639 general haw for more of the details 24:21.639 --> 24:23.861 when it comes to how we are operating . 24:23.861 --> 24:22.969 Yeah , I'm really interested in the 24:22.979 --> 24:26.194 defensive part . Um vis a vis like what 24:26.204 --> 24:28.260 China might be doing with technology 24:28.260 --> 24:30.482 platforms in the United States . Do you 24:30.482 --> 24:32.648 have anything to add on that general ? 24:32.648 --> 24:34.704 So I think the area where we've seen 24:34.704 --> 24:36.815 specific action that has concerned us 24:36.815 --> 24:38.815 is hacking activity at our critical 24:38.815 --> 24:40.871 infrastructure and at Guam , I think 24:40.871 --> 24:42.982 those are specific examples in use of 24:42.982 --> 24:45.093 technology within the United States , 24:45.093 --> 24:47.260 having Huawei presence and things like 24:47.260 --> 24:49.482 that is risk . So I that's what I wanna 24:49.482 --> 24:51.704 get into because I agree the hacking is 24:51.704 --> 24:51.484 sort of like if they're breaking into 24:51.494 --> 24:54.510 your house . But the Huawei example you 24:54.520 --> 24:56.687 give is more like inviting them in the 24:56.687 --> 24:58.798 front door . Have either of you heard 24:58.798 --> 25:02.680 of this company called tutor.com ? Ok . 25:02.689 --> 25:05.810 So this is a technology platform that 25:05.819 --> 25:08.140 is owned by Chinese nationals uh 25:08.150 --> 25:10.459 through the Primavera Holding Limited 25:10.469 --> 25:14.050 company . And it is principally used by 25:14.239 --> 25:16.500 Dido by the Department of Defense's 25:16.510 --> 25:19.280 Education System for military connected 25:19.290 --> 25:22.069 families . If you had a technology 25:22.079 --> 25:25.089 platform that was being used 25:25.099 --> 25:27.880 specifically by military families owned 25:27.890 --> 25:30.469 by Chinese nationals , would that raise 25:30.479 --> 25:32.459 any red flags based on what you're 25:32.469 --> 25:34.959 talking about regarding the need to be 25:34.969 --> 25:36.869 uh well , resilient to that 25:36.880 --> 25:38.713 prepositioning that Miss Manning 25:38.713 --> 25:41.750 discussed I think we wanna dive deeper 25:41.760 --> 25:43.538 and , and ensure that we're not 25:43.538 --> 25:45.760 bringing risk um in , in , by whomever 25:45.770 --> 25:47.937 we partner with and whatever company . 25:47.937 --> 25:50.103 Yeah . No , I , I would just encourage 25:50.103 --> 25:52.326 you because this one sort of , I mean , 25:52.326 --> 25:51.920 I know how much you care about 25:51.930 --> 25:53.874 resilience , particularly with our 25:53.874 --> 25:56.097 service members and their families . We 25:56.097 --> 25:58.469 all know that their targets uh often 25:58.479 --> 26:00.535 times . And so if we're inviting the 26:00.535 --> 26:02.757 Chinese in the front door here , I just 26:02.757 --> 26:04.868 would advise you to look at that . Uh 26:04.868 --> 26:04.569 And I would draw your attention to the 26:04.579 --> 26:06.801 fact that Manny Diaz , the Commissioner 26:06.801 --> 26:08.857 of Education in the State of Florida 26:08.857 --> 26:11.562 has advised superintendents of schools 26:11.572 --> 26:13.883 and charter schools to discontinue the 26:13.892 --> 26:17.282 use of this technology . And even after 26:17.302 --> 26:19.302 the State of Florida , Secretary of 26:19.302 --> 26:21.524 Education made that pronouncement based 26:21.524 --> 26:23.413 on these ties , the Department of 26:23.413 --> 26:25.524 Defense Education System continued to 26:25.524 --> 26:28.152 offer that platform to students of 26:28.162 --> 26:30.083 military connected families um in 26:30.093 --> 26:32.260 Florida and elsewhere . Shifting gears 26:32.260 --> 26:34.260 just briefly to this concept of the 26:34.260 --> 26:36.371 cyber force . Uh I wanna draw a finer 26:36.371 --> 26:38.371 point on what Mr K was saying about 26:38.371 --> 26:41.306 recruitment . I've noticed anecdotally 26:41.316 --> 26:43.595 at our academy nights that we have in 26:43.605 --> 26:45.605 our district , that we get a lot of 26:45.605 --> 26:47.661 students that are real interested in 26:47.661 --> 26:49.605 going to the academies and they're 26:49.605 --> 26:51.549 fired up about Space force . And I 26:51.549 --> 26:53.661 never really understood how a focused 26:53.661 --> 26:55.605 mission set like that could really 26:55.605 --> 26:57.716 ignite a great deal of interest . And 26:57.716 --> 26:59.938 do you think that we could get the same 26:59.938 --> 27:02.105 type of positive effect with the cyber 27:02.105 --> 27:04.776 force to uh recruit specific people for 27:04.786 --> 27:08.719 a specific domain general . So , 27:08.729 --> 27:10.840 so I think from our standpoint , what 27:10.840 --> 27:12.729 what we have done is we've really 27:12.729 --> 27:15.007 focused on what are the services doing ? 27:15.007 --> 27:16.729 How are they doing in terms of 27:16.729 --> 27:19.007 recruiting ? Uh one of the first doing ? 27:19.007 --> 27:21.118 Great . So where , where they , where 27:21.118 --> 27:23.229 they have done congressman is , is in 27:23.229 --> 27:25.340 specific areas particularly , um as I 27:25.340 --> 27:27.562 look , the area we've focused on is has 27:27.562 --> 27:29.785 been the Navy and , and as we've looked 27:29.785 --> 27:31.951 at where the navy's readiness has been 27:31.951 --> 27:34.062 this past year , the navy got 100% of 27:34.062 --> 27:36.007 their cyber warfare technicians in 27:36.007 --> 27:38.173 terms of their recruiting numbers . Um 27:38.173 --> 27:40.340 that shows me the services can do it . 27:40.340 --> 27:43.000 Um And that a a focused effort and 27:43.010 --> 27:45.066 continue and sustain that they'll be 27:45.066 --> 27:47.177 able to meet some of those . I'm open 27:47.177 --> 27:49.177 minded . I think Chairman Gallagher 27:49.177 --> 27:51.510 made some good points . And Mr Chairman , 27:51.510 --> 27:53.677 before my time concludes , I wanted to 27:53.677 --> 27:53.479 thank you for your outstanding service 27:53.489 --> 27:55.660 as chairman of our subcomittee , your 27:55.670 --> 27:57.837 great work on the House Armed Services 27:57.837 --> 27:59.726 Committee . And in the house more 27:59.726 --> 28:02.003 broadly , it has certainly been to the , 28:02.003 --> 28:04.226 the country's benefit . It's been to my 28:04.226 --> 28:06.448 personal benefit to sit next to you for 28:06.448 --> 28:08.614 seven years , eight years and to learn 28:08.614 --> 28:07.890 a great deal from you along the way . 28:07.900 --> 28:09.733 And I know many of our community 28:09.733 --> 28:11.456 members feel the same that the 28:11.456 --> 28:13.511 thoughtfulness you've brought to the 28:13.511 --> 28:15.733 position is certainly uh been a great , 28:15.733 --> 28:15.180 been a great benefit to all of us so 28:15.189 --> 28:17.300 greatly appreciate it . You're back , 28:17.550 --> 28:19.550 Mr Chairman if I could speak out of 28:19.550 --> 28:21.606 order because I didn't know this was 28:21.606 --> 28:23.717 your last meeting and I don't know if 28:23.717 --> 28:27.489 there's an objection . Uh But I , I 28:27.500 --> 28:29.819 just wanna say from the democratic side 28:29.829 --> 28:31.699 that it's really been a pleasure 28:31.709 --> 28:33.931 working with you and you have displayed 28:33.931 --> 28:36.400 a patriotism and bipartisanship on this 28:36.410 --> 28:38.577 committee . Uh that I think has been a 28:38.577 --> 28:41.500 model uh for what leadership looks like , 28:41.510 --> 28:43.489 even when we've disagreed , I have 28:43.500 --> 28:45.389 never questioned that you put the 28:45.389 --> 28:47.444 country's interests first . And uh I 28:47.444 --> 28:49.611 know that this isn't gonna be the last 28:49.611 --> 28:51.611 of your public service . And uh you 28:51.611 --> 28:53.778 certainly have someone who's a admirer 28:53.778 --> 28:55.889 on this side and I think very many of 28:55.889 --> 28:57.556 my colleagues feel the same . 29:01.239 --> 29:04.359 Appreciate it . Uh Mr Ryan . All right . 29:04.369 --> 29:06.480 Well , I guess I'm not allowed to say 29:06.480 --> 29:08.591 nice things . So thank , thank you Mr 29:08.591 --> 29:10.702 Chair . I'll leave it at that on many 29:10.702 --> 29:12.647 levels . Um And thank you both for 29:12.647 --> 29:14.758 being here . Uh I wanna build on some 29:14.758 --> 29:14.560 of the different directions that my 29:14.569 --> 29:16.819 colleagues were taking , particularly 29:16.829 --> 29:20.819 honing in on as , as we continue 29:20.829 --> 29:23.420 to , to , to everyone's credit across 29:23.430 --> 29:25.430 the board , develop more mature and 29:25.430 --> 29:27.263 robust and sort of broader cyber 29:27.263 --> 29:29.670 capability . I wanna push and get your 29:29.680 --> 29:31.902 thoughts general on kind of that . What 29:31.902 --> 29:33.958 is that ? Right ? Intersection point 29:33.958 --> 29:37.339 between cyber com services co coms I 29:37.349 --> 29:39.516 know that's a very broad question . So 29:39.516 --> 29:41.738 maybe to hone it a little bit , can you 29:41.738 --> 29:44.689 let , let's talk about , um le let's 29:44.699 --> 29:46.760 look actually at the U com A or for 29:46.770 --> 29:49.140 example , just as in theory , how is 29:49.150 --> 29:51.261 that playing out right now ? Where do 29:51.261 --> 29:53.483 you see the future going in terms of as 29:53.483 --> 29:56.130 we build more capability ? How , what's 29:56.140 --> 29:58.362 the right hand off point to co coms and 29:58.362 --> 30:00.640 services ? So if that makes sense , it , 30:00.640 --> 30:02.807 it does . And , and what I would first 30:02.807 --> 30:04.807 start with is where are we today in 30:04.807 --> 30:06.807 terms of now the authorities that , 30:06.807 --> 30:08.973 that you've given us in the department 30:08.973 --> 30:11.196 is given to you as Cyber command uh for 30:11.196 --> 30:13.196 the original stand up of us , Cyber 30:13.196 --> 30:15.307 command , our goal has been to become 30:15.307 --> 30:17.084 SOCOM like to have service like 30:17.084 --> 30:19.029 authorities two weeks ago when the 30:19.029 --> 30:20.973 appropriation passed , that is the 30:20.973 --> 30:23.084 first time that we've now had service 30:23.084 --> 30:25.084 like authorities to do budget to do 30:25.084 --> 30:26.973 acquisition , to set the training 30:26.973 --> 30:29.084 standards for the department . So now 30:29.084 --> 30:31.251 what we really want to be graded on is 30:31.251 --> 30:33.251 what is our ability to generate new 30:33.251 --> 30:35.473 capability . So as , as things emerge . 30:35.473 --> 30:37.696 So today , our partnership with Ucom is 30:37.696 --> 30:39.584 really strong and , and I was the 30:39.584 --> 30:41.696 component to U COM as the Air Force , 30:41.696 --> 30:43.862 Cyber commander and the 16th Air Force 30:43.862 --> 30:46.029 commander at the outset of , of Russia 30:46.029 --> 30:48.084 Ukraine . And so that partnership is 30:48.084 --> 30:50.307 really about them driving priorities in 30:50.307 --> 30:52.469 that theater and then how we leverage 30:52.479 --> 30:54.535 each of our components to be able to 30:54.535 --> 30:56.479 respond to that , to be able to do 30:56.479 --> 30:58.757 defensive activities at their priority , 30:58.757 --> 31:00.979 but also to be able to generate options 31:00.979 --> 31:02.979 that give a number of things to the 31:02.979 --> 31:05.201 secretary and to the U COM commander uh 31:05.201 --> 31:07.368 that allow us to consider how we would 31:07.368 --> 31:09.146 impose costs based off of their 31:09.146 --> 31:11.368 guidance and direction . I think it has 31:11.368 --> 31:13.535 worked well . I think the area that we 31:13.535 --> 31:13.520 need to be able to accelerate is 31:13.530 --> 31:16.079 capability development and how we use 31:16.089 --> 31:18.410 our budget control and our authorities 31:18.420 --> 31:21.109 to generate an acquisition . We should 31:21.119 --> 31:23.230 be able to develop things faster than 31:23.230 --> 31:25.286 anybody else in the department . The 31:25.286 --> 31:27.397 only thing we're developing is code . 31:27.397 --> 31:29.452 How do we do that faster ? How do we 31:29.452 --> 31:28.819 get it in the hands of our cyber 31:28.829 --> 31:31.051 emission force faster and , and you see 31:31.051 --> 31:33.170 that primarily happening or the large 31:33.180 --> 31:35.819 preponderance of it happening at , at 31:35.829 --> 31:37.996 me essentially rather than out there . 31:37.996 --> 31:40.218 Where , where do you , where do you see 31:40.218 --> 31:42.273 that ? We see increasingly that that 31:42.273 --> 31:44.329 would be a balance , we'll drive the 31:44.329 --> 31:46.440 requirement , we'll drive the overall 31:46.440 --> 31:48.662 acquisition oversight and the dollars , 31:48.662 --> 31:50.551 but we will also partner with the 31:50.551 --> 31:52.718 services , it'll just look different . 31:52.718 --> 31:54.662 Whereas before they , the services 31:54.662 --> 31:56.829 would be able to do that . We're doing 31:56.829 --> 31:58.940 that in support of their own forces . 31:58.940 --> 31:58.469 They presented which was very 31:58.479 --> 32:00.535 disconnected from operations . We're 32:00.535 --> 32:02.535 not gonna be able to drive that and 32:02.535 --> 32:04.535 we've got good service partnerships 32:04.535 --> 32:06.535 with their program offices and with 32:06.535 --> 32:08.757 their acquisition force . So we need to 32:08.757 --> 32:10.923 be able to move faster and we would be 32:10.923 --> 32:10.869 able to be able to recast those 32:10.880 --> 32:13.047 relationships that are more responsive 32:13.410 --> 32:15.719 and last follow up on this thread . Um 32:16.380 --> 32:18.436 So am I hearing you right ? That the 32:18.436 --> 32:20.269 general direction though is more 32:20.269 --> 32:22.269 capability at the cyber com command 32:22.269 --> 32:24.589 level to push more , you know , 32:24.859 --> 32:26.970 technical capabilities out there . Do 32:26.970 --> 32:30.219 you have the , do you have enough sort 32:30.229 --> 32:33.689 of people and , and capability at your 32:33.699 --> 32:35.921 level to do that ? Like do , do you see 32:35.921 --> 32:37.921 the direction , do we have the pace 32:37.921 --> 32:37.380 that we need ? Do you have the 32:37.390 --> 32:39.501 resources you need to speed that up ? 32:39.501 --> 32:41.557 So from , from our perspective , the 32:41.557 --> 32:43.779 department has , has asked us to be the 32:43.779 --> 32:45.668 integrator of the joint cyber war 32:45.668 --> 32:47.723 fighting architecture . That's the , 32:47.723 --> 32:46.979 those are the platforms and 32:46.989 --> 32:49.156 capabilities that cyber command fights 32:49.156 --> 32:51.719 from . So for that , now we've got to 32:51.729 --> 32:53.451 be able to drive that with our 32:53.451 --> 32:55.618 authorities , our team it that we have 32:55.618 --> 32:57.729 from an acquisition perspective , I'm 32:57.729 --> 32:59.951 very confident in they're small . We've 32:59.951 --> 33:02.173 now been given more resources , we have 33:02.173 --> 33:04.340 to hire quickly and we have to use the 33:04.340 --> 33:06.507 authorities that Congress has given us 33:06.507 --> 33:08.451 to be able to hire data scientists 33:08.451 --> 33:10.396 under what we previously knew as a 33:10.396 --> 33:12.340 section 1708 authority , we've now 33:12.340 --> 33:14.507 started to hire , we've got the policy 33:14.507 --> 33:14.219 in place . So we've got to use all 33:14.229 --> 33:16.285 those tools to really accelerate our 33:16.285 --> 33:18.285 acquisition team to be able to meet 33:18.285 --> 33:20.173 those objectives , I only have 40 33:20.173 --> 33:22.285 seconds . But at the , as you look 10 33:22.285 --> 33:24.451 years ahead or 20 even in terms of the 33:24.451 --> 33:26.839 quality of the American , essentially , 33:26.849 --> 33:28.960 you're getting to show up . What more 33:28.960 --> 33:30.738 do we need to do at the sort of 33:30.738 --> 33:32.849 community college level , high school 33:32.849 --> 33:34.905 level ? I know that's a big question 33:34.905 --> 33:34.560 with 30 seconds . But so I think we 33:34.569 --> 33:36.791 have an opportunity , we have expertise 33:36.791 --> 33:38.847 and we've got partnerships across uh 33:38.847 --> 33:41.180 the , the really this the cadre of 33:41.189 --> 33:43.189 higher institutions that are really 33:43.189 --> 33:44.911 focused on cyber , we can help 33:44.911 --> 33:47.022 influence that curriculum . How do we 33:47.022 --> 33:49.245 accelerate the curriculum in a way that 33:49.245 --> 33:51.245 allows them to be able to adopt and 33:51.245 --> 33:53.022 then to be able to make it more 33:53.022 --> 33:55.189 available , particularly as technology 33:55.189 --> 33:57.356 changes ? Because I think what we find 33:57.356 --> 33:59.467 when we receive somebody today , they 33:59.467 --> 33:58.944 have a good foundation , but they're 33:58.954 --> 34:01.300 not necessarily current of date . Thank 34:01.310 --> 34:03.254 you . And you go back , Mr Chair , 34:03.254 --> 34:05.939 Doctor mccormick . Thank you , Mr Chair 34:05.949 --> 34:08.171 and uh at the risk of being gaveled out 34:08.171 --> 34:10.530 for being out of order uh in this uh 34:13.379 --> 34:15.590 and this era of politics where people 34:15.600 --> 34:17.870 are vilified for a green and vilified 34:17.879 --> 34:21.239 for dissenting . Uh Mr Chair . You've 34:21.250 --> 34:23.439 been an honor to , to uh to serve with 34:23.449 --> 34:27.070 you . Uh my fellow marine . Uh Let me 34:27.080 --> 34:29.191 just summarize by saying you could be 34:29.191 --> 34:31.870 my wing man anytime uh that I'm I'm the 34:31.879 --> 34:34.830 top gun class . So I can say that um 34:36.500 --> 34:39.040 considering uh we're at war basically 34:39.050 --> 34:41.272 cyber war right now and our , our , our 34:41.510 --> 34:43.788 adversaries are attacking us regularly , 34:43.899 --> 34:45.949 uh , almost momentarily around the 34:45.959 --> 34:48.239 clock 24 hours a day and how A I will 34:48.250 --> 34:50.028 affect that into the future and 34:50.028 --> 34:52.250 accelerate that process . Uh , a lot of 34:52.250 --> 34:54.361 times the perception at least is that 34:54.361 --> 34:56.417 we're always on the defense . Uh , I 34:56.417 --> 34:58.250 was hoping generally , you could 34:58.250 --> 35:00.472 actually address that over the last two 35:00.472 --> 35:00.050 years , the new concepts such as 35:00.060 --> 35:02.310 persistent engagement , hunt Ford and 35:02.320 --> 35:04.699 defend Ford have started to dominate 35:04.709 --> 35:06.931 the conversation . And I was hoping you 35:06.931 --> 35:08.765 could elaborate on how the wider 35:08.765 --> 35:10.876 concepts are distinct from each other 35:10.876 --> 35:13.042 as we go forward . Congressman . Thank 35:13.042 --> 35:15.376 you for the for the question . So first , 35:15.376 --> 35:17.487 as we think about campaigning against 35:17.487 --> 35:19.598 any one of those adversaries that are 35:19.598 --> 35:21.542 targeting either our nation or the 35:21.542 --> 35:23.765 department , really think of it through 35:23.765 --> 35:23.399 three lens . First , how do we generate 35:23.409 --> 35:25.760 insights ? How do we understand what's 35:25.770 --> 35:27.881 underway ? How do we communicate that 35:27.881 --> 35:30.103 to the broadest audience possible ? How 35:30.103 --> 35:32.159 do we enable defense that's enabling 35:32.159 --> 35:34.492 industry , it's enabling the department , 35:34.492 --> 35:36.548 it's enabling our foreign partners . 35:36.548 --> 35:36.395 And then what are our options to impose 35:36.405 --> 35:39.264 costs ? Some of those are how we use 35:39.274 --> 35:41.635 our defensive force and then others are 35:41.645 --> 35:43.812 how we partner across the inter agency 35:43.812 --> 35:45.812 and then how we generate options uh 35:45.812 --> 35:48.089 that allow us to contest in cyberspace . 35:48.089 --> 35:50.145 So I think from our perspective , we 35:50.145 --> 35:52.256 wanna be able to bring a full menu of 35:52.256 --> 35:54.929 not only defensive activities but those 35:54.939 --> 35:57.889 things that we can do uh from uh both 35:57.899 --> 35:59.566 the inter agency and from the 35:59.566 --> 36:01.677 department to impose costs . Is there 36:01.677 --> 36:03.677 anything that we can do to keep you 36:03.677 --> 36:05.732 from being inhibited from doing what 36:05.732 --> 36:07.955 you need to do to be optimized to going 36:07.955 --> 36:10.066 forward , using A I and other weapons 36:10.066 --> 36:11.899 that we have to , to be not just 36:11.899 --> 36:14.066 posturing defensively , but also being 36:14.066 --> 36:16.288 proactive . So I think what you've done 36:16.288 --> 36:18.510 is you have empowered us in a number of 36:18.510 --> 36:20.566 different ways . Uh in terms of , of 36:20.566 --> 36:22.399 how we have brought together our 36:22.399 --> 36:24.455 acquisition force and how we brought 36:24.455 --> 36:26.566 together our authorities . Uh we will 36:26.566 --> 36:28.732 identify areas throughout this year as 36:28.732 --> 36:30.899 we begin to use those authorities that 36:30.899 --> 36:33.121 I suspect you'll start to see in budget 36:33.121 --> 36:35.343 request for fy 26 . We're gonna learn a 36:35.343 --> 36:37.455 lot with the establishment of our A I 36:37.455 --> 36:39.677 task force . We pre we completed an A I 36:39.677 --> 36:41.732 road map last year and that lays out 36:41.732 --> 36:43.955 for us , the technologies that we wanna 36:43.955 --> 36:46.121 begin to experiment with and pilot and 36:46.121 --> 36:48.288 introduce to our force . Those will be 36:48.288 --> 36:47.949 areas that I would expect you're gonna 36:47.959 --> 36:49.903 see from us in the future . That's 36:49.903 --> 36:52.015 great . Uh With that said , now , now 36:52.015 --> 36:53.792 that we looked at this is about 36:53.792 --> 36:56.219 interesting uh enough by our chair . Uh 36:56.229 --> 36:58.649 As far as the integrated cyber command 36:58.659 --> 37:00.659 versus the individual departments , 37:00.659 --> 37:02.826 I've had plenty of people here testify 37:02.826 --> 37:04.881 saying , well , we like , can I keep 37:04.881 --> 37:06.937 this in columns because each service 37:06.937 --> 37:09.159 has its own specific requirements . But 37:09.159 --> 37:11.159 as A I continues to be a problem of 37:11.159 --> 37:11.139 integration , whether it be on weapon 37:11.149 --> 37:13.179 systems , information collecting uh 37:13.189 --> 37:15.389 dissemination of information , the way 37:15.399 --> 37:17.566 it needs to be integrated throughout a 37:17.566 --> 37:19.732 blue , a purple force if you will . Uh 37:19.732 --> 37:21.399 my concern is that we'll have 37:21.399 --> 37:23.621 difficulties integrating even different 37:23.621 --> 37:25.566 weapon systems . Let alone the the 37:25.566 --> 37:27.677 comprehensive Battlefield . Like when 37:27.677 --> 37:29.843 you talk about purple assets , whether 37:29.843 --> 37:31.677 it be electronic jamming or , or 37:31.677 --> 37:31.459 information gathering , I'm just 37:31.469 --> 37:33.649 wondering , is there a compromise in 37:33.659 --> 37:35.826 there that we could , we could come to 37:35.826 --> 37:37.715 in information sharing , which is 37:37.715 --> 37:39.881 already the biggest problem we have in 37:39.881 --> 37:39.139 the military anyways , it's kind of our 37:39.149 --> 37:41.149 Achilles heel whether it be through 37:41.149 --> 37:42.871 coms or just getting the right 37:42.871 --> 37:45.038 information to the right people in the 37:45.038 --> 37:47.260 right way . That's my biggest concern . 37:47.260 --> 37:49.427 If we don't have a cyber command , how 37:49.427 --> 37:51.593 do we do that in an efficient way ? So 37:51.593 --> 37:51.129 what I would , the way that I think the 37:51.139 --> 37:53.083 department looks at it , the , the 37:53.083 --> 37:54.972 deputy secretary has , has really 37:54.972 --> 37:57.280 empowered the CD A O to set our data 37:57.290 --> 37:59.719 standards and to do that across the 37:59.729 --> 38:01.896 department . And so when I look at our 38:01.896 --> 38:04.580 teammates that we have in the dod Cio 38:04.949 --> 38:07.899 in CD A O , how do we enable their 38:07.909 --> 38:10.020 ability to go faster in some of those 38:10.020 --> 38:12.187 data standards ? And I think we have a 38:12.187 --> 38:14.409 role to play in that and I think we can 38:14.409 --> 38:16.576 help and assist not only in how we set 38:16.576 --> 38:16.340 some of those standards . But how we 38:16.350 --> 38:18.406 think about defense of each of these 38:18.406 --> 38:20.517 activities from a cyber perspective , 38:20.517 --> 38:22.239 from the outset as we begin to 38:22.239 --> 38:23.794 introduce some of those new 38:23.794 --> 38:25.850 technologies . OK , I I just for the 38:25.850 --> 38:27.850 record , I I , you can see a lot of 38:27.850 --> 38:29.961 congressmen are , are concerned about 38:29.961 --> 38:32.128 this integration process . China has a 38:32.128 --> 38:31.909 huge advantage in this one area that 38:31.919 --> 38:34.030 they have one command structure , one 38:34.030 --> 38:36.030 government , they all agree on each 38:36.030 --> 38:35.699 other because it's kind of a 38:35.709 --> 38:37.876 monopolistic government and it's gonna 38:37.876 --> 38:40.098 be a lot easier for them to integrate A 38:40.098 --> 38:42.320 I throughout their weapon systems . The 38:42.320 --> 38:44.487 way they do to the technologies , it's 38:44.487 --> 38:46.653 a lot less um distractions . There are 38:46.653 --> 38:46.229 a lot more fal and I think if we get 38:46.239 --> 38:48.295 outpaced in the A I arena , we're in 38:48.295 --> 38:50.406 big , big trouble . So I hope we do a 38:50.406 --> 38:52.572 good job on that . Thank you with that 38:52.572 --> 38:55.860 AI Mr M . Thank you , Miss , thank you 38:55.870 --> 38:57.870 Mr Chairman . And uh thank you very 38:57.870 --> 38:59.926 much for being here . Um A couple of 38:59.926 --> 39:02.092 weeks ago , the Foundation for Defense 39:02.092 --> 39:04.314 of Democracy Think Tank issued a report 39:04.314 --> 39:06.481 calling for a separate cyber force and 39:06.481 --> 39:08.648 I suspect you've read this . Uh I know 39:08.648 --> 39:10.370 this is not a new topic . It's 39:10.370 --> 39:12.592 something that I've discussed myself uh 39:12.592 --> 39:15.050 over the years . Um And I was curious , 39:15.060 --> 39:17.282 I mean , basically the main argument of 39:17.282 --> 39:19.004 the report is that because the 39:19.004 --> 39:21.171 individual services each run their own 39:21.171 --> 39:20.560 recruitment , training and promotion 39:20.570 --> 39:22.626 systems for their cyber operations , 39:22.626 --> 39:24.459 those who get sent to us , Cyber 39:24.459 --> 39:26.681 command have inconsistent knowledge and 39:26.681 --> 39:28.737 qualifying experience . So general , 39:28.737 --> 39:30.848 how have these inconsistencies across 39:30.848 --> 39:33.070 the services impacted the effectiveness 39:33.070 --> 39:35.181 of us Cyber command and executing its 39:35.181 --> 39:38.300 mission ? Uh So Congressman first , if , 39:38.310 --> 39:40.310 if I address the study , one of the 39:40.310 --> 39:42.719 areas that I do think that as we go 39:42.729 --> 39:45.000 through this year , the 1533 study and 39:45.010 --> 39:46.760 we evaluate all of the options 39:46.770 --> 39:48.826 available for fourth generation , we 39:48.826 --> 39:51.048 certainly are gonna look really closely 39:51.048 --> 39:53.270 at what are the implications of a cyber 39:53.270 --> 39:55.437 service . We will evaluate that one of 39:55.437 --> 39:57.659 the other responsibilities that that is 39:57.659 --> 39:59.826 in both our Unified Command plan . And 39:59.826 --> 40:01.937 in the law is that I'm responsible to 40:01.937 --> 40:04.159 evaluate the overall health of the duty 40:04.159 --> 40:06.419 cyber workforce . So I'm responsible to 40:06.429 --> 40:08.596 do that in plain English , both to the 40:08.596 --> 40:10.429 Secretary of Defense and back to 40:10.429 --> 40:12.151 Congress . So I think from our 40:12.151 --> 40:14.151 perspective , uh those reports have 40:14.151 --> 40:16.590 allowed us to identify where are areas 40:16.600 --> 40:18.959 that the services could improve . And , 40:18.969 --> 40:21.191 and in doing so , it is also allowed us 40:21.191 --> 40:22.969 to build a partnership with the 40:22.969 --> 40:25.136 services on how do we work together to 40:25.136 --> 40:27.358 improve the readiness ? Because I think 40:27.358 --> 40:29.525 what areas we had seen in the past was 40:29.525 --> 40:31.691 not necessarily uh from the recruiting 40:31.691 --> 40:33.636 perspective , but more so from the 40:33.636 --> 40:35.858 assignment and retention . And Congress 40:35.858 --> 40:38.080 has given us a number of authorities to 40:38.080 --> 40:40.136 the department that , that allow for 40:40.136 --> 40:42.136 retention incentives . What we were 40:42.136 --> 40:44.439 seeing was it uh the services implement 40:44.449 --> 40:46.616 those differently . And so what we are 40:46.616 --> 40:48.838 encouraging and what we did in our 1502 40:48.838 --> 40:51.040 report last year was to ask for some 40:51.050 --> 40:53.239 specific authorities that , that 40:53.250 --> 40:55.379 encouraged our ability to for 40:55.389 --> 40:57.278 assignment policies and personnel 40:57.278 --> 40:59.820 policies to ensure that those trained 40:59.830 --> 41:02.070 individuals stay in our force . And we 41:02.080 --> 41:04.302 have seen the services respond to those 41:04.302 --> 41:06.469 requests . So we wanna be able to lock 41:06.469 --> 41:08.580 those in and then continue to work on 41:08.580 --> 41:10.802 other areas that will improve readiness 41:10.802 --> 41:10.739 within the force . Do you feel that 41:10.750 --> 41:12.472 you're doing enough to use the 41:12.472 --> 41:14.694 authorities that the Congress has given 41:14.694 --> 41:16.917 you ? So , I , I think now that we have 41:16.917 --> 41:19.028 budget control authority uh that we , 41:19.028 --> 41:21.194 that we received last month , that now 41:21.194 --> 41:23.306 gives us a new series of options that 41:23.306 --> 41:25.417 will allow us to drive our priorities 41:25.417 --> 41:27.250 in training in readiness . We're 41:27.250 --> 41:29.361 responsible for the advanced training 41:29.361 --> 41:31.528 of the Department Cyber Force . How we 41:31.528 --> 41:33.528 use those dollars in many ways will 41:33.528 --> 41:35.306 determine our readiness and our 41:35.306 --> 41:37.361 proficiency . I'd like to ask just a 41:37.361 --> 41:39.528 couple of questions about deterrence . 41:39.528 --> 41:41.694 Uh deterrence is obviously important , 41:41.694 --> 41:43.750 writ large . But of course , when we 41:43.750 --> 41:46.719 look at a China uh attack on Taiwan , 41:46.729 --> 41:48.951 we want to deter that from happening in 41:48.951 --> 41:51.062 the first place . Deterrence is tough 41:51.062 --> 41:53.285 in , in , in the cyber world because we 41:53.285 --> 41:55.451 worry about giving up our capabilities 41:55.451 --> 41:57.562 when we , we use them . How are you , 41:57.562 --> 41:59.340 how is your thinking about this 41:59.340 --> 42:02.239 evolving and how do you think ? Um I'd 42:02.250 --> 42:04.250 love to hear uh general a couple of 42:04.250 --> 42:06.361 comments and then MS Manning , how do 42:06.361 --> 42:08.528 you think about this in the integrated 42:08.528 --> 42:10.583 deterrence environment ? But general 42:10.583 --> 42:12.806 price we could stop start with you just 42:12.806 --> 42:14.972 how at , with , with cyber force , how 42:14.972 --> 42:17.028 do you think about deterrence ? So , 42:17.028 --> 42:19.250 from a cyber command perspective , what 42:19.250 --> 42:19.189 we really think about an integrated 42:19.199 --> 42:21.949 deterrence or who can we bring ? That's 42:21.959 --> 42:24.181 a partner that will allow us to be able 42:24.181 --> 42:26.181 to have the outcome we're trying to 42:26.181 --> 42:27.792 achieve . And for us , those 42:27.792 --> 42:29.792 partnerships look different than in 42:29.792 --> 42:31.792 some of the other domains . When we 42:31.792 --> 42:33.959 think about how the role that industry 42:33.959 --> 42:35.959 plays in terms of both creating the 42:35.959 --> 42:37.959 domain and also being the ones with 42:37.959 --> 42:37.959 their own sensors that are global in 42:37.969 --> 42:39.747 nature . How do we partner with 42:39.747 --> 42:41.858 industry ? How do we partner with our 42:41.858 --> 42:44.080 foreign allies and partners that either 42:44.080 --> 42:45.969 bring capability or have the same 42:45.969 --> 42:47.969 common threat ? We partner with our 42:47.969 --> 42:49.969 fellow combatant commanders as they 42:49.969 --> 42:52.136 think about cyber security defense and 42:52.136 --> 42:53.969 how do we integrate capabilities 42:53.969 --> 42:56.080 together to be able to have options ? 42:56.080 --> 42:58.136 So I think for us , we have a unique 42:58.136 --> 43:00.136 set of partners and we've got to be 43:00.136 --> 42:59.860 able to use our authorities and how we 42:59.870 --> 43:01.981 defend forward and do it every single 43:01.981 --> 43:04.203 day . MS Manning , how are you thinking 43:04.203 --> 43:06.259 about working with your counterparts 43:06.259 --> 43:08.481 and other agencies to , to fulfill this 43:08.481 --> 43:10.537 goal of integrated deterrence ? No , 43:10.537 --> 43:10.250 thank you for your question , 43:10.260 --> 43:12.649 Congressman . We really do see cyber 43:12.659 --> 43:14.881 deterrence , as you mentioned , as part 43:14.881 --> 43:16.937 of overall integrated deterrence and 43:16.937 --> 43:19.048 thinking about integrating across the 43:19.048 --> 43:21.103 department across domains across the 43:21.103 --> 43:23.159 interagency and also with allies and 43:23.159 --> 43:25.048 partners and those private public 43:25.048 --> 43:26.770 partnerships that General Hawk 43:26.770 --> 43:28.937 mentioned . And it's important that we 43:28.937 --> 43:30.881 work together with our interagency 43:30.881 --> 43:32.715 partners , with our partners and 43:32.715 --> 43:34.659 industry , with our our allies and 43:34.659 --> 43:36.881 partners to really look at ways that we 43:36.881 --> 43:38.881 can deny adversaries the benefit of 43:38.881 --> 43:40.770 cyber attack by one being able to 43:40.770 --> 43:42.770 provide indications and warnings of 43:42.770 --> 43:44.715 threats to benefit our interagency 43:44.715 --> 43:46.659 partners and then also by imposing 43:46.659 --> 43:48.603 consequences on our adversaries by 43:48.603 --> 43:50.937 disrupting their operations . Thank you , 43:50.937 --> 43:53.103 Mr Chairman . Uh I think I should note 43:53.103 --> 43:54.770 the section 1533 study that I 43:54.770 --> 43:56.770 referenced earlier was I believe Mr 43:56.770 --> 43:58.826 Moulton's amendment . So he deserves 43:58.826 --> 44:00.548 credit for provoking and , and 44:00.548 --> 44:02.715 stimulating the debate that led to the 44:02.715 --> 44:04.826 report he referenced . And so I thank 44:04.826 --> 44:04.459 him for that . Uh Mr Fallon is 44:04.469 --> 44:07.570 recognized . Thank you Mr Chairman and 44:07.580 --> 44:09.469 thank you for your service to the 44:09.469 --> 44:11.691 country . I'm sorry to see you go . But 44:11.691 --> 44:13.840 as uh to quote the immortal words of 44:13.850 --> 44:16.560 Doctor Seuss don't cry because it's 44:16.570 --> 44:19.610 over smile because it happened . So um 44:21.459 --> 44:25.419 last November , the North 44:25.429 --> 44:27.373 Texas municipal water district got 44:27.373 --> 44:30.270 hacked and it was a domestic , uh 44:31.489 --> 44:33.340 it was a domestic attack , but 44:33.350 --> 44:35.461 nonetheless , and they didn't shut it 44:35.461 --> 44:37.628 down , but they showed that they could 44:37.628 --> 44:39.889 have and it reminded me of J BS and 44:40.129 --> 44:42.110 Colonial pipeline and general , I 44:42.120 --> 44:44.287 wanted to ask you what have we learned 44:44.287 --> 44:46.342 because that's the greatest f we all 44:46.342 --> 44:48.342 have is that these critical areas , 44:48.342 --> 44:50.760 water , electricity , energy , fuel , 44:50.909 --> 44:52.853 um what have we learned from those 44:52.853 --> 44:55.729 attacks that we can employ um within 44:55.739 --> 44:58.520 the defense department ? So I , I'll 44:58.530 --> 45:00.752 give you a couple of different things . 45:00.752 --> 45:03.060 Congressman , one is , this is an area 45:03.070 --> 45:05.237 that we've clearly identified that the 45:05.239 --> 45:07.649 PR C is targeting . So this wasn't in 45:07.659 --> 45:09.826 this case , but we know that's an area 45:09.826 --> 45:11.992 they're targeting . So from a National 45:11.992 --> 45:13.937 Readiness perspective , we have to 45:13.937 --> 45:16.103 consider that the other thing we think 45:16.103 --> 45:18.103 about is what does it look like for 45:18.103 --> 45:20.326 defense critical infrastructure , those 45:20.326 --> 45:19.919 things that are the nexus between our 45:19.929 --> 45:22.151 private infrastructure and those things 45:22.151 --> 45:24.350 the department would rely upon if we 45:24.360 --> 45:26.027 were mobilizing . So that's a 45:26.027 --> 45:28.138 partnership with North Com and it's a 45:28.138 --> 45:30.304 partnership with Homeland Security . I 45:30.304 --> 45:32.416 think those are areas that within the 45:32.416 --> 45:34.638 department . Uh We've now focused , how 45:34.638 --> 45:36.969 do we think about that nexus ? And what 45:36.979 --> 45:39.146 will it mean for the department from a 45:39.146 --> 45:41.312 cyber security standpoint ? So I think 45:41.312 --> 45:43.535 we have now been applying some of those 45:43.535 --> 45:43.510 lessons . We're gonna have to continue 45:43.520 --> 45:45.576 to scale as we think about it within 45:45.576 --> 45:47.909 the department . And then , um you know , 45:47.909 --> 45:49.964 with uh you , you mentioned that the 45:49.964 --> 45:53.020 CCP and like vault typhoon comes to 45:53.030 --> 45:56.790 mind . Um There's no doubt that they're 45:56.800 --> 46:00.459 actively probing . Uh Of course , can 46:00.469 --> 46:02.469 you talk about the work that you're 46:02.469 --> 46:04.525 doing with industry partners because 46:04.525 --> 46:06.469 you know , the ch the chain meet , 46:06.469 --> 46:08.691 weakest link . If we've got some of our 46:08.691 --> 46:10.913 partners were buttoned up and secure as 46:10.913 --> 46:12.969 a uniform service or even a along as 46:12.969 --> 46:15.330 the dod . But uh , a private company 46:15.340 --> 46:17.229 that's working with us isn't , it 46:17.229 --> 46:19.451 doesn't get us anywhere . So , um , can 46:19.451 --> 46:21.699 you talk to us about um what we're 46:21.709 --> 46:23.709 doing to enhance , particularly the 46:23.709 --> 46:25.876 cyber security of our partners ? Yes . 46:25.876 --> 46:28.179 Congressman . Uh both Congress and the 46:28.189 --> 46:30.411 department have given cyber command and 46:30.411 --> 46:32.459 NSA authorities to work with our 46:32.469 --> 46:34.669 defense industrial base . And , and 46:34.679 --> 46:36.846 that information sharing component has 46:36.846 --> 46:38.957 now allowed us to establish over 1000 46:38.957 --> 46:40.840 partnerships and that allows to 46:40.850 --> 46:43.017 exchange information . It allows us to 46:43.017 --> 46:45.128 do it in real time at an unclassified 46:45.128 --> 46:47.419 level so that we can make industry 46:47.429 --> 46:49.919 aware of those threats . Um As we think 46:49.929 --> 46:51.985 about those partnerships , now , dod 46:51.985 --> 46:53.800 CIO is also funded additional 46:53.810 --> 46:55.899 activities that allow us to provide 46:55.909 --> 46:58.242 services to the defense industrial base , 46:58.242 --> 47:01.080 protective DNS so that they have a 47:01.090 --> 47:03.280 service that is uh uh that would make 47:03.290 --> 47:05.399 it more difficult for a redirection 47:05.409 --> 47:07.242 attack or a spear fishing attack 47:07.242 --> 47:10.000 informed by N SAS knowledge . Uh The 47:10.010 --> 47:11.899 other things we've been doing are 47:11.899 --> 47:14.066 scanning of uh various elements of the 47:14.066 --> 47:16.121 defense industrial base . We provide 47:16.121 --> 47:17.899 them a scan , we tell them what 47:17.899 --> 47:20.010 vulnerabilities we see and allow them 47:20.010 --> 47:21.843 to correct those vulnerabilities 47:21.843 --> 47:23.899 themselves . We're gonna continue to 47:23.899 --> 47:23.840 look at what other services we could 47:23.850 --> 47:26.072 provide , but we're also looking at how 47:26.072 --> 47:28.489 can we extend those partnerships to a 47:28.500 --> 47:30.611 broader number that would ensure that 47:30.611 --> 47:32.556 we're , we're covering the highest 47:32.556 --> 47:34.389 priority things that support the 47:34.389 --> 47:36.611 department . Thank you . And then , you 47:36.611 --> 47:36.449 know , when people come into our 47:36.459 --> 47:39.350 offices , they're all dying in , uh , 47:39.360 --> 47:41.138 for labor , doesn't matter what 47:41.138 --> 47:43.304 industry it is . Well , I asked them , 47:43.304 --> 47:45.471 do you have , um , you know , you have 47:45.471 --> 47:47.693 job openings and they're all crying for 47:47.693 --> 47:49.916 labor , so , particularly skilled labor 47:49.916 --> 47:51.916 even more . So . So I wanted to ask 47:51.916 --> 47:53.971 maybe Miss Manning as well . Um What 47:53.971 --> 47:56.249 can we do if anything do we need to do ? 47:56.249 --> 47:58.304 Um I remember being a junior officer 47:58.304 --> 48:00.304 and the , the doctors got paid more 48:00.304 --> 48:00.120 because , you know , it's just the 48:00.129 --> 48:02.296 market , right ? You wanna , you wanna 48:02.296 --> 48:04.240 have those medical doctors stay on 48:04.240 --> 48:07.010 after maybe they uh owe some time after 48:07.020 --> 48:09.187 getting going through medical school . 48:09.189 --> 48:11.189 But in particularly in this field , 48:11.219 --> 48:13.441 it's just the high demand and it , they 48:13.441 --> 48:15.679 make quite a bit of money . Uh Do we , 48:15.689 --> 48:18.320 is there incentive pay for folks uh in 48:18.330 --> 48:20.530 this service ? And if does it need to 48:20.540 --> 48:22.596 do we need to ratchet it up ? I just 48:22.596 --> 48:24.651 wanted to kick that to both of you . 48:25.820 --> 48:28.042 You know , I think at this point , it's 48:28.042 --> 48:29.764 important that we consider all 48:29.764 --> 48:31.876 different ideas of how we can recruit 48:31.876 --> 48:33.653 and retain top talent . I think 48:33.653 --> 48:35.876 incentives are one tool that we have in 48:35.876 --> 48:37.820 our tool kit . I think also though 48:37.820 --> 48:39.931 there's a sense of mission that comes 48:39.931 --> 48:39.699 with doing the work in the department . 48:39.820 --> 48:42.159 And so thinking about how we can make 48:42.169 --> 48:44.169 people feel really connected to the 48:44.169 --> 48:46.391 mission itself is another thing that we 48:46.391 --> 48:48.447 can think about . But I think really 48:48.447 --> 48:50.280 understanding what is it that is 48:50.280 --> 48:52.613 motivating people to come to these jobs , 48:52.613 --> 48:54.447 what is allowing them to sustain 48:54.447 --> 48:56.669 careers in government long term ? And I 48:56.669 --> 48:58.780 think pay incentives are , are one of 48:58.780 --> 48:58.395 the tools we have at our disposal . I 48:58.405 --> 49:00.516 just don't want the canyon to be this 49:00.516 --> 49:02.627 big . You know , if it's 300 grand on 49:02.627 --> 49:02.495 the private market and it's 100 grand 49:02.504 --> 49:04.782 here , that's just too big of a canyon , 49:04.782 --> 49:06.837 even if you're really rewarded if we 49:06.837 --> 49:09.115 can close it . That's kind of my point . 49:09.115 --> 49:08.594 Thank you , Mr Chairman , I , you back 49:09.034 --> 49:12.570 Mr Latrell . Thank you , Mr 49:12.580 --> 49:15.719 Chairman uh General in December 2022 . 49:15.750 --> 49:17.639 Se officially elevated Cybercom 49:17.649 --> 49:19.850 Offensive Arm , the Cyber National 49:19.860 --> 49:22.260 Mission Force to a sub Unified Command . 49:22.270 --> 49:24.270 The logic was that it would provide 49:24.270 --> 49:26.270 greater enabling resources for this 49:26.270 --> 49:28.214 critical mission set with how much 49:28.214 --> 49:30.270 adversary activity we have witnessed 49:30.270 --> 49:32.437 against dod networks . It would appear 49:32.437 --> 49:34.548 that your defensive arm , armed joint 49:34.548 --> 49:36.437 forces headquarters could similar 49:36.437 --> 49:38.714 benefit . Could you share your opinion ? 49:38.714 --> 49:40.937 Uh Thank you , Congressman . So when we 49:40.937 --> 49:42.881 stood up , uh when we elevated the 49:42.881 --> 49:44.937 Cyber National Mission Force , uh it 49:44.937 --> 49:47.159 was at a point . So we now that's about 49:47.159 --> 49:49.270 a third of our force and , and with a 49:49.270 --> 49:51.492 very distinct headquarters and assigned 49:51.492 --> 49:53.548 forces um that has now , I think was 49:53.548 --> 49:55.770 absolutely the right thing for us to do 49:55.770 --> 49:55.560 that . We , we're allowing it to create 49:55.570 --> 49:57.792 an identity , we're allowing it to grow 49:57.792 --> 49:59.737 its own uh the staff to expand its 49:59.737 --> 50:01.403 planning and then , and other 50:01.403 --> 50:03.570 capability development . I think we're 50:03.570 --> 50:05.681 seeing benefit from that . This is an 50:05.681 --> 50:07.792 area that we are gonna look at in the 50:07.792 --> 50:09.848 1533 study , which is as we start to 50:09.848 --> 50:11.959 think about or , or actually the 1537 50:11.959 --> 50:13.792 study that you've asked us to do 50:13.792 --> 50:15.848 looking at our headquarters . What's 50:15.848 --> 50:17.848 the right way to position the joint 50:17.848 --> 50:19.959 force headquarters ? Doen in terms of 50:19.959 --> 50:22.126 the right resources and authorities to 50:22.126 --> 50:24.237 make sure that it has the capacity to 50:24.237 --> 50:26.126 really set the globe . That's the 50:26.126 --> 50:28.348 mission we've given them when we have a 50:28.348 --> 50:30.626 crisis , we want them to set the globe . 50:30.626 --> 50:29.879 So I think it's an area that we're 50:29.889 --> 50:32.280 certainly gonna evaluate . Um and it 50:32.290 --> 50:34.401 does look different as a headquarters 50:34.401 --> 50:36.568 also in terms of assigned forces , but 50:36.568 --> 50:38.734 it's something that we will definitely 50:38.734 --> 50:40.846 be looking at . Thank you , Miss be I 50:40.846 --> 50:43.012 apologize Mr for walking into Mi Mi Mr 50:43.012 --> 50:46.850 Fin's questions to expand or to 50:46.860 --> 50:50.510 create an expansiveness of talent . We 50:50.520 --> 50:52.780 wanted to reach out to academics , of 50:52.790 --> 50:55.399 academics , a academia and institutes 50:55.409 --> 50:58.060 of higher performance , correct ? Um 50:58.500 --> 51:01.699 Are we doing that from your , in your 51:01.709 --> 51:03.889 opinion ? I have , I have universities 51:03.899 --> 51:06.066 in my district and then of course , as 51:06.066 --> 51:08.232 I travel , the state and the country , 51:08.232 --> 51:10.343 I we I have these discussions when it 51:10.343 --> 51:10.030 comes to cyber risk , cyber threat , 51:10.040 --> 51:12.207 cyberspace , artificial intelligence , 51:12.207 --> 51:14.729 machine learning and how it seems like 51:14.739 --> 51:17.610 we're missing the , the the rising wave 51:17.620 --> 51:19.979 because the our our brilliant minds are 51:19.989 --> 51:22.760 traveling elsewhere . Are we creating 51:22.770 --> 51:25.300 effective narrative from your position 51:25.310 --> 51:27.421 in order to share that with the youth 51:27.421 --> 51:29.643 and say , hey , I say youth , but our , 51:29.643 --> 51:31.919 our next generation of computational 51:32.590 --> 51:35.689 mathematicians , I think there are two 51:35.699 --> 51:38.530 aspects to this . I think one is making 51:38.750 --> 51:41.719 uh folks see a career in government as 51:41.729 --> 51:43.785 something that they want to pursue . 51:43.785 --> 51:45.870 And they see building the skills in 51:45.879 --> 51:48.310 cyber and in other fields as something 51:48.320 --> 51:50.469 where they can have a unique role in 51:50.479 --> 51:52.649 terms of defending our national 51:52.659 --> 51:54.881 security interests by having jobs . You 51:54.881 --> 51:56.770 can really only do when you're in 51:56.770 --> 51:58.992 government . How do we make working for 51:58.992 --> 52:01.215 the government ? Sound cool . I I think 52:01.215 --> 52:00.810 that's a really important point and I 52:00.820 --> 52:03.030 think also beyond just making it sound 52:03.040 --> 52:05.207 cool how you have the lack of a better 52:05.207 --> 52:07.429 term . I'm sorry , I should say no . II 52:07.429 --> 52:09.429 I think , you know , it needs to be 52:09.429 --> 52:11.540 relatable and we also though need the 52:11.540 --> 52:13.318 mechanisms to bring people into 52:13.318 --> 52:15.373 government . So looking at different 52:15.373 --> 52:17.596 tools like the cyber accepted service , 52:17.596 --> 52:19.762 looking at the presidential management 52:19.762 --> 52:21.651 tool , uh fellowship , looking at 52:21.651 --> 52:23.151 different scholarships and 52:23.151 --> 52:23.074 opportunities . I think all of this 52:23.084 --> 52:25.195 should be on the table so that we can 52:25.195 --> 52:27.362 give folks the opportunity not only to 52:27.362 --> 52:29.584 want to serve in government , but to be 52:29.584 --> 52:31.751 able to have the mechanisms to come in 52:31.751 --> 52:33.917 and be able to be a part of our team ? 52:33.917 --> 52:36.350 Are we looking at having them serve in 52:36.360 --> 52:38.527 the , in the , in the various branches 52:38.527 --> 52:40.749 of armed services or just government in 52:40.749 --> 52:43.409 general ? Because as we know , we're , 52:43.419 --> 52:45.419 we're having trouble recruiting the 52:45.419 --> 52:48.379 bodies for , for those platforms . Is 52:48.389 --> 52:51.510 it , is it both in between or is it 52:51.520 --> 52:53.520 just something we're trying to cast 52:53.520 --> 52:55.576 that wide net and fill all the , all 52:55.576 --> 52:57.687 the silos ? I would defer to my , the 52:57.687 --> 52:59.742 team who's responsible for personnel 52:59.742 --> 53:01.853 and readiness in terms of the overall 53:01.853 --> 53:03.964 policy . That's a great shift . But I 53:03.964 --> 53:05.909 think there are opportunities both 53:05.909 --> 53:07.853 within uh the command , within the 53:07.853 --> 53:10.020 services for , for individuals to come 53:10.020 --> 53:12.187 in and to serve . You got something on 53:12.187 --> 53:14.353 that one . So what , what I would give 53:14.353 --> 53:14.320 you is what do , what do we see that 53:14.330 --> 53:16.441 that are things that are , are pretty 53:16.441 --> 53:19.060 exciting that are really looking at 53:19.070 --> 53:21.237 high schools and middle schools . Uh I 53:21.237 --> 53:23.126 just attended the finals of Cyber 53:23.126 --> 53:25.689 Patriot 5000 schools across the country 53:25.760 --> 53:27.927 where they're doing cyber competitions 53:27.927 --> 53:30.149 in middle school and in high school and 53:30.149 --> 53:32.093 then ROTC programs . Those are the 53:32.093 --> 53:34.204 types of things that we wanna be able 53:34.204 --> 53:36.316 to do is early . We would like to see 53:36.316 --> 53:38.538 being done as early as possible so that 53:38.538 --> 53:40.649 we're really trying to capture people 53:40.649 --> 53:40.159 and , and what it looks like to be that 53:40.169 --> 53:42.679 that can be both cool and really 53:42.689 --> 53:44.850 impactful things for our nation . I 53:44.969 --> 53:47.136 think they have a willingness to put a 53:47.136 --> 53:49.136 uniform on . I , I think what we've 53:49.136 --> 53:51.302 seen is they've done a really nice job 53:51.302 --> 53:53.302 of , of bringing people towards the 53:53.302 --> 53:55.469 technology and then it's our job to be 53:55.469 --> 53:57.525 able to , to have opportunities with 53:57.525 --> 53:59.525 the Razzi programs that are in high 53:59.525 --> 54:01.747 school and also to be able to reach out 54:01.747 --> 54:03.969 and , and be able to explain what would 54:03.969 --> 54:06.080 you do if you came and worked with us 54:06.080 --> 54:08.413 either as a civilian or in the military ? 54:08.413 --> 54:10.747 That's our story that we've got to tell . 54:10.747 --> 54:10.250 Yes , sir . Thank you , Mr Chairman . 54:11.250 --> 54:13.560 Thank you . Uh Does any other member 54:13.570 --> 54:17.540 have a follow up question ? Ok . Uh The 54:17.550 --> 54:19.717 FDD , we're going to have a classified 54:19.717 --> 54:21.772 session after this , but I think the 54:21.772 --> 54:23.994 FDD report that you've heard referenced 54:23.994 --> 54:26.161 numerous times here . Uh Again , I , I 54:26.161 --> 54:25.639 think , I mean , I'm biased because I 54:25.649 --> 54:27.816 work with a lot of these people in the 54:27.816 --> 54:29.927 cyberspace Solarium Commission . I'll 54:29.927 --> 54:32.038 admit that , but I think what is most 54:32.038 --> 54:34.205 compelling in it is the testimony from 54:34.205 --> 54:36.371 active duty ranging from company grade 54:36.371 --> 54:38.371 to general grade officers . And I'd 54:38.371 --> 54:40.482 like to read one statement from uh uh 54:40.482 --> 54:42.482 Marine Corps captain and all wisdom 54:42.482 --> 54:44.649 emanates from Marine Corps captains as 54:44.649 --> 54:46.871 Mr Moulton . And I know quite well , uh 54:46.871 --> 54:48.871 uh leading in the cyberspace domain 54:48.871 --> 54:50.760 demands technical competency that 54:50.760 --> 54:50.350 cannot be taught in a 12 month 54:50.360 --> 54:52.360 schoolhouse alone . One of my worst 54:52.360 --> 54:54.249 professional experiences involved 54:54.249 --> 54:55.916 working underneath a woefully 54:55.916 --> 54:58.027 unprepared commander with a degree in 54:58.027 --> 55:00.138 culinary arts under no circumstance , 55:00.138 --> 55:02.304 would a cyber officer be asked to lead 55:02.304 --> 55:04.360 a squadron of aircraft ? And yet the 55:04.360 --> 55:04.270 opposite is often true . That's just 55:04.280 --> 55:06.502 one of many quotes in the report that I 55:06.502 --> 55:08.502 think are , are worth reading . And 55:08.502 --> 55:10.669 again , I'm not biasing the outcome of 55:10.669 --> 55:12.780 the study you guys are gonna do or an 55:12.780 --> 55:14.724 independent study . But I , I just 55:14.724 --> 55:16.780 think it's fair to say at this point 55:16.780 --> 55:18.947 that the status quo is not getting the 55:18.947 --> 55:21.113 job done . So we're asking you to take 55:21.113 --> 55:23.336 a hard look at this problem and work in 55:23.336 --> 55:25.447 partnership with us to come up with a 55:25.447 --> 55:27.613 better model as was referenced by some 55:27.613 --> 55:27.239 of my colleagues . We've given so many 55:27.250 --> 55:29.659 authorities to dod in the eight years . 55:29.669 --> 55:31.725 I've been on this committee and it's 55:31.725 --> 55:33.725 all been well intentioned . It just 55:33.725 --> 55:35.558 seems like it's not adding up or 55:35.558 --> 55:37.725 producing the outcome we want . And so 55:37.725 --> 55:39.780 I know you're both relatively new to 55:39.780 --> 55:41.891 your respective jobs . Uh and they're 55:41.891 --> 55:43.780 critically important jobs and our 55:43.780 --> 55:45.836 commitment is to work with you uh to 55:45.836 --> 55:47.891 get this right because the safety of 55:47.891 --> 55:50.169 our country and our , our citizens are , 55:50.169 --> 55:52.113 are quite literally hanging in the 55:52.113 --> 55:51.830 balance . And so we appreciate your 55:51.840 --> 55:54.007 time today . We look forward to the um 55:54.007 --> 55:55.951 classified session . And finally , 55:55.951 --> 55:58.118 since he was not here when I said nice 55:58.118 --> 55:57.459 things about him , I just want to 55:57.469 --> 55:59.840 reiterate how uh much of a pleasure to 55:59.850 --> 56:02.017 spend a work with the ranking member , 56:02.017 --> 56:04.128 Rohana , not just on this committee , 56:04.128 --> 56:06.017 but on many issues , uh one of my 56:06.017 --> 56:08.239 fondest memories is the op ed we did on 56:08.239 --> 56:10.350 congressional reform together when we 56:10.350 --> 56:12.461 were uh impetuous uh freshman members 56:12.461 --> 56:16.459 of congress uh Children . My biggest 56:16.469 --> 56:18.580 failure of my time here , term limits 56:18.580 --> 56:20.636 didn't happen . We went to the White 56:20.636 --> 56:22.802 House together to talk about that . Uh 56:22.802 --> 56:24.969 But ro you've always been incredibly , 56:24.969 --> 56:27.247 obviously smart and independent minded , 56:27.247 --> 56:27.030 but you have a bias for action that I , 56:27.040 --> 56:28.984 that I admire that I think is rare 56:28.984 --> 56:31.610 among uh uh people in public service . 56:31.620 --> 56:33.787 And uh I also appreciate your sense of 56:33.787 --> 56:36.009 humor and that you take the mission but 56:36.009 --> 56:38.231 not yourself too seriously . So , thank 56:38.231 --> 56:40.342 you for your productive partnership . 56:40.342 --> 56:40.320 Appreciate that with that . The open 56:40.330 --> 56:42.497 hearing is adjourned and we'll move to 56:42.497 --> 56:42.260 a classified session .