Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing to Consider Four Senior Civilian Pentagon Nominees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing to consider nominations for senior defense financial, acquisition, intelligence, and space leadership positions.

Jules W. Hurst III, nominated to be Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Mr. Richard M. O'Malley, nominated to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. Erich D. Hernandez-Baquero, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, and Dr. L. Roger Mason, Jr., nominated to be Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, all appeared before the committee.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker highlighted the importance of modernizing defense budgeting, streamlining acquisition and sustainment, expanding resilient space capabilities, and improving intelligence collection and analysis, noting that each nominee would play a key role in strengthening the Department of Defense and supporting U.S. national security. The Chairman also took time in his remarks to honor the life of Sen. Lindsey Graham, a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Read Chairman Wicker's hearing opening statement as delivered.

This hearing will come to order.?To begin with, the Senate has lost a giant. A champion. A former member of this committee who, though he went on to other jurisdictions, was one of the strongest advocates for American strength and American partnerships around the world and peace through strength. That is the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. And so, I would ask all of us to bow our heads for a moment of silence in memory of Senator Graham. Thank you very much.

Mr. Ranking Member and fellow members of the committee, since a quorum is now present, we will ask the committee to consider a list of 2,274 pending Military nominations. All these nominations have been before the committee required length of time. Mr. Ranking Member is there a motion to report these 2,274 pending Military nominations to the senate favorably. Is there a second? The motion has been made and seconded. All in favor, say "Aye"; all opposed, say "No." The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Thank you all and this executive session is now adjourned.