OPENING STATEMENT OF U.S. SENATOR JACK REED

RANKING MEMBER, SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

SD-G50

DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

 

To consider the nominations of:

Honorable Patrick J. Murphy to be Under Secretary of the Army;

Dr. Janine Anne Davidson to be Under Secretary of the Navy; and

Honorable Lisa S. Disbrow to be Under Secretary of the Air Force

(As Prepared for Delivery)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.  I join you in welcoming our nominees, and I thank you for holding this hearing to fill the important positions of Under Secretaries of the military departments.  These positions involve significant and challenging duties.  If confirmed, I am confident that our nominees are up to the challenge.

Former Congressman Patrick Murphy has been nominated to be the Under Secretary of the Army, and I thank him for his willingness to serve in this position of great responsibility.  Mr. Murphy was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, and in doing so, became the first veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom to serve in Congress.  During his tenure, Mr. Murphy served with distinction on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and he was an advocate for repealing the Department of Defense’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.   In my view, it is important to note that Mr. Murphy served as an Assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy during his military service, and has continued his support to the Academy as a member of the Board of Visitors since 2011. 

Dr. Davidson has been nominated to be Under Secretary of the Navy.  Dr. Davidson served on active duty with the Air Force, followed by serving in the private sector, in academia, think tanks, and the federal government, and most recently with the Council on Foreign Relations.  Dr. Davidson also served as a Commissioner on the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force, and currently serves as a member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board.  She has long experience in dealing with public policy issues from all of those positions.

Ms. Disbrow has been nominated to be Under Secretary of the Air Force.  Ms. Disbrow served on active duty with the Air Force, and has since served as a civilian in several Federal agencies, including the National Security Council, the Joint Staff, and most recently as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller.  Ms. Disbrow brings a great deal of public policy experience from her various positions.

Again, I thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing, and I look forward to hearing from our nominees.