I want to join Senator Inhofe in welcoming General Lyons to the Committee this morning.  I would also like to thank you, General Lyons, for your many years of service to our nation, and for your willingness to continue to serve in positions of great responsibility.  We also thank your family who are here today – your wife, Maureen, and your children, Kara and Dylan-- for their support and sacrifice.

The men and women of TRANSCOM perform duties that sustain the whole Department of Defense effort in protecting our nation’s security.  With the competitive edge in its ability to deploy and sustain America’s armed forces, TRANSCOM provides DOD with unique capabilities that some may have come to take for granted.  TRANSCOM forces are busy supporting all of the combatant commanders every day, and without these TRANSCOM forces, the United States would be at a significant disadvantage almost everywhere in the world. 

TRANSCOM faces a number of daunting tasks.  Given that you, General Lyons, have served for two years as Deputy Commander of TRANSCOM, these are not new issues for you.  

One primary concern is addressing a unique set of cyber threats because TRANSCOM must work extensively with private-sector entities in the transportation and shipping industries to support DOD deployment operations.  This situation creates increased exposure of TRANSCOM to the commercial internet and creates challenges for operating our strategic transportation system.  General Lyons, I look forward to your views on how to ensure that TRANSCOM’s network is secure and that sensitive information is protected. 

The Ready Reserve Force, a group of cargo ships held in readiness by the Maritime Administration, is aging and will need to be modernized over the next decade. 

Last year, the Committee authorized the Department to start a program to recapitalize the Ready Reserve Force by authorizing DOD to purchase up to two foreign-built vessels, while the Navy moves forward on a plan to design a family of auxiliary vessels for a number of uses, including recapitalizing the Ready Reserve Force.  This year, the Administration asked for authority to purchase up to 24 foreign-built vessels to modernize this force.  The Committee is proposing to only increase the current authorization to allow the Department to procure up to seven foreign-built vessels for that purpose.  General Lyons, I look forward to hearing what criteria you think we should consider as we undertake this large modernization program.   

In addition to the Ready Reserve Force, the Defense Department also needs to ensure that the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, or CRAF program, which provides as much as 40 percent of wartime airlift needs, remains viable after operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and will be able to provide needed surge capacity in the future.  General, I am interested in your views on the state of this fleet and if anything needs to be done to ensure their readiness.  

In his testimony to the Committee earlier this year. General McDew stated that DOD has have been conducting analyses to assess mobility requirements for an environment where our mobility forces would be challenged.  I also understand that the Department intends to share those results later this year.  The Committee would appreciate any update you may have on these analyses.    

Thank you again for your decades of services and I look forward to your testimony.