U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led a hearing in Washington to consider four nominees for senior positions at the Pentagon.
The nominees appearing before the committee included Marc J. Berkowitz for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Dr. Joseph S. Jewell for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, James R. Caggy for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities, and Brendan P. Rogers for Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment.
In his opening statement, Wicker highlighted the importance of these roles within the Department of Defense. He said: “I welcome our witnesses today and thank them for being here. The American people need public servants to step up and help us deter our enemies. We face a threat environment more dangerous than any since World War II.? I say this at almost every hearing because it bears repeating. In such challenging times, I am grateful that these individuals have answered the call to serve.”
Wicker addressed current challenges in space policy by noting: “Space is an increasingly contested domain. Peer adversaries China and Russia have been rapidly advancing their capabilities to challenge U.S. dominance and disrupt our space-based assets. As these nations invest heavily in anti-satellite weapons and electronic warfare, the United States must move with urgency to stay ahead.”
Regarding Berkowitz’s nomination, Wicker stated: “Mr. Marc Berkowitz has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. If confirmed, he will play a critical role in developing policy. That policy must ensure our space systems are not only modern and resilient but also fielded on timelines that match or outpace our adversaries. We simply cannot deter war with China if we do not have dominance in space.? Our national security depends on maintaining strategic advantage in that domain, and that requires forward-leaning leadership.”
He discussed technology development within defense operations: “Dr. Jewell is nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. The department currently faces bureaucratic bottlenecks when it works to transition technology into fielded weapon systems. If confirmed, Dr. Jewell would help remove those inefficiencies.” Wicker added that research security is vital: “Additionally, he must ensure that our tech research is properly secured from theft by our adversaries. Research security is paramount, whether it has been conducted at a Federally Funded Research and Development Center or at affiliated universities that work on behalf of the department.”
On Caggy’s nomination related to mission capabilities integration across weapon systems, Wicker said: “Mr. Caggy is nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities… His office would coordinate experimentation campaigns that help integrate innovative weapons into the joint force… I would like to understand his views on how the department can more effectively bridge any interoperability challenges across our diverse weapon systems.”
Addressing Navy infrastructure needs tied to Rogers’ nomination as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, Wicker remarked: “Finally, the department cannot project power if it does not have the facilities to do so… Mr. Brendan Rogers has been nominated… If confirmed he would oversee Navy facilities as the department implements crucial reforms, including … maintain a 4% plant replacement value by 2030.” He emphasized facility investments: “We must invest in our facilities so that service members and defense civilians are not working and living in decrepit conditions.” He also mentioned oversight responsibilities regarding housing quality.
The hearing provided an opportunity for senators to examine each nominee’s approach toward addressing ongoing challenges facing U.S military readiness across domains including space operations, technological innovation processes within defense programs, system interoperability issues among various branches’ weapon platforms as well as infrastructure management within naval installations.
