‘A BREAKDOWN IN TRUST’: At his Senate confirmation hearing yesterday, Kenneth Braithwaite, President Trump’s nominee to be the next navy secretary, blamed a “failure of leadership” for the service’s current woes and pledged to restore a strong culture of “good order and discipline” to the service.
“It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors, but primarily the failure of leadership,” Braithwaite told senators on the Armed Services Committee. Citing recent ship collisions and the handling of the coronavirus outbreak on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Braithwaite said, “They’re all indicative of a breakdown in the trust of those leading the service.”
“Successful organizations have a strong culture, which always starts with leadership,” he said. “Culture exists. I won’t say it’s broken. I think it’s been tarnished.” He promised that his No. 1 priority if confirmed would be to “restore the appropriate culture in the United States Navy.”
RESPECTING THE CHAIN OF COMMAND: While not criticizing former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly directly, Braithwaite indicated he would not be inserting himself into disciplinary actions that would normally be handed by the military chain of command.
Under questioning from Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine about Modly’s decision to fire the commanding officer of the Roosevelt before an investigation was complete, Braithwaite said he would tend to defer to commanders.
“Good order and discipline starts with the chain of command. That has been sacrosanct to military forces since the beginning of time. And if I’m confirmed, I will ensure that that is understood,” he testified.
“Do you see yourself as secretary sort of intervening in personnel decisions that are fairly distant down the chain of command?” asked Kaine.
“No, senator. No, no. I mean, no. I don’t,” replied Braithwaite.
AWAITING FULL INVESTIGATION OF CROZIER: Braithwaite took no position on whether Capt. Brett Crozier should be reinstated as commander of the Roosevelt, as the Navy initially recommended, saying he would wait for the results of an expanded investigation ordered by current acting Navy Secretary James McPherson.
“I look forward to the investigation,” he said. “I believe that whenever you’re confronted with a challenge like this, it’s best to pause, consider all the facts, and then make the right decision.”
“I learned that in flight school as a young naval aviator that whenever any bell or whistle went off in your cockpit, the most important thing to do was sit on your hands for two seconds,” he added, “because then you can assess the problem correctly before shutting down the wrong system.”
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HAPPENING TODAY, VIRTUAL VE DAY: The Pentagon is marking today’s 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe during World War II with a virtual Victory in Europe Day commemoration at 10:30 a.m.
The program will include remarks by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, ABC’s Robin Roberts, NBC’s Tom Brokaw, and comedian Jay Leno.
In addition to airing on Defense.gov, Facebook, and Twitter, the program will be rebroadcast on the Smithsonian Channel at 8 p.m.
ALSO TODAY: The group United Against Nuclear Iran is noting another anniversary – two years since the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear agreement, negotiated under the Obama administration.
“President Trump made a courageous decision to withdraw from the JCPOA two years ago. Its legitimization of Iran’s right to enrich uranium and sunset clauses compromised the security of the United States and its allies,” said former Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who is chairman of the group, and Mark Wallace, who is CEO.
“Because of a concession the U.N. Security Council made when it endorsed the JCPOA, Iran is now claiming it has a right to the lifting of the international arms embargo … in less than six months from now,” Lieberman and Wallace write. “The U.S. government should use all diplomatic tools at its disposal, including invoking the snapback provision under Resolution 2231, to re-impose international sanctions on Iran. It remains the only viable option to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.”
355 SHIPS, 386 SQUADRONS: Yesterday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was unusual in that it considered confirmation of a military officer along with two civilians, something that was done out of concern over the coronavirus.
Gen. C.Q. Brown, nominated to be the next chief of staff of the Air Force, endorsed the service’s previous stated plan to increase the number of Air Force squadrons to 386, while Braithwaite committed to fight for a 355-ship Navy.
Asked if the Air Force is currently large enough to accomplish the missions required by the national defense strategy, Brown answered: “In the immediate term, I think we are, but we still have to be able to grow to the 386. That’s the goal. Anything less than 386 incurs risk.”
Asked by Chairman Sen. Jim Inhofe how big the Navy should be, Braithwaite answered, “Sir, it needs to be minimally 355 ships. Hopefully, we build beyond that.”
Later he added, “If confirmed, I look to a role as being the chief advocate to build a fleet of greater than 355 ships.”
TALIBAN CONCERNS: The third nominee at the hearing was James Anderson, to be deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.
Under questioning, he told the committee that the failure of the Taliban to live up to terms of the withdrawal deal with the U.S. could lead to the Pentagon pausing the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan next year.
“We’ve seen frankly mixed results in terms of Taliban compliance to the agreement. They have refrained from attacking U.S. and coalition troops. They have refrained from attacking major urban centers, but they have been attacking in a robustly and an unfortunate level and an unprecedented level our Afghan partners,” Anderson said. “This is greatly concerning to us.”
He said there are no plans to stop the current troop withdrawals that will reduce the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan to 8,600 by mid-July. “But the department has made very clear that beyond that, reductions will be conditions-based,” Anderson said. “So, we will look very closely as the situation unfolds.”
INDUSTRY WATCH: The National Defense Industrial Association and several other industry groups have written the House and Senate and Armed Services committees opposing several legislative proposals they argue would harm the defense industrial base.
The May 6 letter to Congress takes issue with Pentagon proposals they say would:
- Reverse reforms made in previous National Defense Authorization Acts
- Authorize release of data that could weaken trade-secret protections
- Require contractors to provide uncertified cost information, adding a layer of bureaucracy
- Require contracting officers to determine a commercial equivalent for every procurement
The other signing organizations are the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Computing Technology Industry Association, and the Information Technology Industry Council.
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Decoding Mark Esper
Washington Examiner: Nominee for Navy secretary promises to stay out of personnel issues
Washington Examiner: ‘The proper and just course’: DOJ drops charges against Michael Flynn
Washington Examiner: ‘Unforgivable crime’: Iranian guards allegedly torture and drown dozens of Afghan migrants
AP: Esper: Pentagon Ready For Any New Wave Of Coronavirus
Task & Purpose: Pentagon Health Agency Contradicts Esper’s Claim That Navy Ships At Sea Are ‘Safest Place To Be’ Right Now
Military Times: Updated Guidance Allows Unhospitalized COVID-19 Survivors To Join The Military
The Drive: Navy Wants To Buy 30 New Light Amphibious Warships To Support Radical Shift In Marine Ops
Seapower Magazine: SECNAV Nominee Commits To Advancing Navy’s Arctic Presence
Foreign Policy: Trump’s Navy Pick Would Have Limited Sway on Ship Goal
AP: US investigating ex-Green Beret for Venezuela raid
Just the News: Trump says US not involved in botched mercenary raid on Venezuela; group’s leader explains motive
Washington Post: Iraq names new prime minister, paving the way to tackle nation’s deepening crisis
AP: Putin-Trump call focuses on coronavirus, arms control, oil
Breaking Defense: JEDI: Amazon Formally Protests DoD Do-Over
New York Times: Pentagon Tally Of Civilians U.S. Killed In 2019 Is 132
Washington Examiner: V-E Day, 75 years later — and what it means in the time of coronavirus
Washington Examiner: 75 years ago today, humanity’s greatest ever victory
Calendar
NOTE: Most events in Washington have been moved online in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Pentagon has been conducting frequent daily briefings, which are often announced after 9 a.m. Check https://www.defense.gov for updates to the Pentagon’s schedule.
FRIDAY | MAY 8
11 a.m. — Brookings Institution webinar: “Global China: Assessing China’s Technological Reach in the World,” with Michael Brown, director of the Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit; and former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, visiting governance studies fellow at the Brookings Center for Technology Innovation. https://www.brookings.edu/events/webinar
TUESDAY I MAY 12
5 p.m. — George Mason University National Security Institute “NatSec Nightcap” event with Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Jamil Jaffer, executive director, National Security Institute. https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors, but primarily the failure of leadership.”
Kenneth Braithwaite, testifying at his Senate confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of the Navy.
