▶ 0:24:51>> it familiar face at the desk. I want to welcome all of the families of our witnesses. Thank you for being here this evening. They deepened their cooperation every day. A new cooperative engagement between our enemies strengthens every day.
▶ 0:25:20We need qualified people willing to step up and serve during these dangerous times. Matthew lohmeier has served in the air force and spaceports. He has been an outspoken proponent of eliminating the d.e.I. Agenda. Fortunately, president trump and secretary hegseth have done much toward removing d.e.I..
▶ 0:25:50The nomination for secretary of the air force represents an opportunity to evaluate closely we need in the air force and space force at this pivotal moment. This requires a steady unified presence and someone who could work across the department to advance readiness and mission focus. I'm looking forward to hearing how he intends to be that needed presence.
▶ 0:26:20Mr. justin overbaugh has been nominated to be the doechii -- deputy secretary of defense for the intelligence and security. Overseeing the intelligence, counterintelligence, security, law enforcement functions.
▶ 0:26:43His deep experience as an army officer in intelligence and special operations make him an ideal candidate of this position. I look forward to hearing his priorities to provide timely and accurate intelligence of our war fighters. Safeguard sensitive information from our adversaries.
▶ 0:27:15Mr. daniel zimmerman has been nominated to be the assistant secretary of defense for international security. He would serve as a principal adviser to the under secretary of defense for policy. All it meant to all of the others, Mr. zimmerman would have responsibility ranging the nato alliance and countering russian aggression.
▶ 0:27:46His background as an intelligence officer is experience working in congress make him an ideal candidate for this position. I look forward to hearing his priorities and how he plans to revitalize the nato alliance and to develop initiatives to counter russian aggression. With that I turned to ranking member read.
▶ 0:28:08Sen. Reed: Thank you very much. I want to recognize the nominees and our colleagues. We also want to recognize the families here today. You have been nominated to be the undersecretary for the department of the air force.
▶ 0:28:34Sen. Reed: If confirmed you would run the day to day operation leading the largest aircraft and space assets in the world. You would be responsible for managing the hundreds of thousands of men and women that make up the air force and spaceports. Mr. lohmeier I have deep concern about your ability to represent these men and women.
▶ 0:28:58Sen. Reed: I appreciate your past service, the extreme partisanship and animosity towards military members with whom you disagree politically is in my view disqualifying to be the undersecretary. We must acknowledge your record of behavior and statements in 2020 one while you are active duty space force in command of -- you published a book called irresistible revolution.
▶ 0:29:30Sen. Reed: The book argues that marxism is rampant in the collapse of our military as you wrote, to be perfectly clear while still on active duty and command you went on a far-right podcast which was known for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories to advertise your book.
▶ 0:29:57Sen. Reed: All of this is done with knowledge and approval of department of defense. After leaving the space force, you continued to write and speak senselessly about marxism. You appeared on thousands of podcasts and panels and made hundreds of social media post about this issue. In one respect U.S.
▶ 0:30:23Sen. Reed: Military service members are no different than members of the people's liberation army. Each is proposed of humans who share a common nature. Because we share the same nature , it will do the same. I've read much of your writing. Frankly I would question your interpretation of marxism.
▶ 0:30:48Sen. Reed: I'm concerned that you have a misguided opinion of american military service members and leaders. If confirmed you would lead an organization that like the country it represents is composed of republicans, democrats, independents, men and women of all races, creeds, sexualities, you regard many of these people as adversaries.
▶ 0:31:16Sen. Reed: I would ask that you explain why service members and civilians who do not share your political opinion could trust that they will not be targeted under your tenure. I hope you will pledge not to seek retribution against any military members or civilians with whom you have disagreed and publicly criticized. Especially as many of them would serve under you if confirmed. I hope you will address these issues thoroughly and truthfully during your testimony.
▶ 0:31:51Sen. Reed: Mr. overbaugh you have been nominated to be deck to be -- deputy secretary of defense, you would serve as a principal intelligence provider and oversee the intelligence enterprise. Your experience in special operations should share wealth in this role. You would oversee a complicated network of expanse intelligence agencies.
▶ 0:32:17Sen. Reed: These agencies continue to face challenges in efficiently coordinating intelligence among themselves and providing adequate resources. Such operations require split-second targeted support and I would like to know how you would ensure their success. Mr. zimmerman, you have been nominated to assistant secretary of defense for international affairs.
▶ 0:32:45Sen. Reed: You would be the principal advisor for policy and the secretary of defense on international issues that relate to europe, russia, the middle east, the western hemisphere. Your experience as a career cia officer with expertise in several of these raisins -- regions. We continue to have cooperation and support in europe and the middle east.
▶ 0:33:12Sen. Reed: I'm deeply concerned about the administration's comments and actions regarding nato and ukraine. As the administration continues to expand its campaign in yemen, it would be more important that we have reliable friends to assist us in other areas. I would like to know your plans of balancing the U.S. long-term international security objectives against short-term demand. I look forward to your testimonies.
▶ 0:33:42Chair Wicker: Thank you very much, ranking member. I now have the pleasure of recognizing our colleague, senator hagerty, who I understand will be introducing Mr. zimmerman this morning.
▶ 0:34:02Sen. Hagerty: Thank you to all of my esteemed colleagues, thank you for holding this hearing today. To all of the very capable staff sitting behind the. I hope you look at Mr. zimmerman in the position he is at today and realize he is very direct. I hope many of you will take this as an inspiration. It is an honor to introduce my good friend daniel zimmerman.
▶ 0:34:34Sen. Hagerty: The nominee for assistant secretary of defense for international affairs. Daniel is tailor-made for this role. He has served with distinction at the central intelligence agency, the white house, most recently right here in the senate. While many of the deals of his career remain classified, I could share a few anecdotes that share his expertise. He has risked his life working with special operations forces out of bunkers to hunt isis and other terrorist.
▶ 0:35:06Sen. Hagerty: He has dealt face-to-face with russian energy oligarchs and traveled the world from europe to the middle east, and a pacific, all related to energy and trade security. Daniel was one of the first people the white house hired to support the historic abraham of or. One of president trump signature achievements from his first term. I've had the great pleasure of having him on my senate staff.
▶ 0:35:35Sen. Hagerty: He has been a detail he that served with distinction. His tremendous leadership skills, his knowledge of global issues are matched only by his humility and character. He has been a wonderful colleague and friend. He is the right person to serve as the next assistant secretary of defense for international affairs. Inc. You all for taking him into account this morning.
▶ 0:36:02Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. You are free to stay. >> I think a number of us were hoping to cross senator hagerty. [laughter]
▶ 0:36:20Chair Wicker: Five minutes each for the first round only because it is thursday. We will now begin with opening statements. You are recognized for five minutes for your opening statement.
▶ 0:36:38Mr. Lohmeier: Thank you, members of this committee for considering my nomination to be undersecretary of the department of the air force. I'm thankful for the trust of president trump. To the many troops, men and women, uniform and civilian who have expressed overwhelming support for me, thank you. To those who have served or presently serve, you have my gratitude.
▶ 0:37:08Mr. Lohmeier: I would like to thank my friends and family for their support, some of whom are here today including my parents. I would especially like to thank my wife sarah, who is here. A man who cares deeply about air force values of integrity first, excellence in all we do, to live it with a wife that lives and embodies those values.
▶ 0:37:33Mr. Lohmeier: She, more than anyone else know that I strive to be a man of integrity and I hope inspire others to live in that same spirit. The undersecretary of the air force is the chief management officer of the department of the air force. My experience serving in both the air and space forces makes me unique qualified for the job at this pivotal time in american history. A time that we face serious threats.
▶ 0:38:01Mr. Lohmeier: Even before receiving my commission while still a cadet united states air force academy 20 years ago I began to come aware of the threats we face when I participated in a special exchange program that we no longer have. The united states government sent a small contingent of air force cadets to the people's liberation army air force academy in china north of north korea.
▶ 0:38:26Mr. Lohmeier: For a brief stint in march, 2005 I lived in the dorms with cadets, attended classes, did pt with those cadets, eight and their chow hall and was placed on a losing basketball team so they could film our crushing defeat for distribution in state media. Most cadets know what I mean when I say there's no better view of the air force academy than the rearview mirror.
▶ 0:38:58Mr. Lohmeier: After spending time at the chinese air force academy, it was a treat. After graduating and receiving a commission from the air force academy I finished pilot training where I taught future fighter pilots for the united states and our mission partners. I flew f-15s in japan. That assignment served as yet another reminder to me of the threat posed by the p.r.c.
▶ 0:39:26Mr. Lohmeier: Through our allies and strategic partners as well as economic prosperity. I'm keenly aware of that threat and understand the need for ready air and space forces, well trained and equipped to meet the china challenges. Following my time in the cockpit I transferred to air force space command and provided missile warning for the united states and our allies.
▶ 0:39:54Mr. Lohmeier: When the space force was created I was entrusted with command of that same mission leading a command of $18 billion space-based missile architecture. I share that background to make this point. I speak the language of the air force and the space force. I am air minded and space minded. I understand the necessity of united states superiority. Space in particular is a strategic domain.
▶ 0:40:24Mr. Lohmeier: An area where we pursue many objectives where the united states must prevail. Space is an operational domain because of our ability to access and use space as an interest. I have been startled by how much has changed in the developed technologically since I left active duty four years ago. My surprises evidence of the dynamic and rapidly evolving -- evolving threat environment.
▶ 0:40:53Mr. Lohmeier: Commanders are calling for more air and space capacity, not less. If confirmed, I must be a strong advocate for a larger and better department of the air force. The president has nominated me for this important position with the trust I will be a driving oars behind the culture of integrity in the air force.
▶ 0:41:19Mr. Lohmeier: This includes eliminating unnecessary distraction allowing military members to focus on their mission. Secretary hegseth has said his priorities include war fighting, rebuilding the military, rhea stella j deterrence. -- reinstalling deterrence. I look forward to taking your questions.
▶ 0:41:46Chair Wicker: Thank you very much.
▶ 0:41:48Mr. Overbaugh: Chairman wicker, ranking member reed, distinguished members of this committee, thank you for the chance to appear before you today and your consideration to be deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. I'm honored and grateful for this opportunity to serve our great nation. I'm humbled and thankful to president trump and secretary hegseth for placing their trust in me.
▶ 0:42:20Mr. Overbaugh: I'm grateful to god for his countless blessings and unmerited grace he so generously offers through his son, jesus christ. I'm joined today by my precious wife of 21 years and our watch rosa, joshua, benjamin, gabriel, matthias. We are blessed to have friends and former teammates here today and watching online as well.
▶ 0:42:48Mr. Overbaugh: Having their love and support means the world to me. I look forward to bringing 25 years of intelligence and security experience to the role. I served as director of intelligence for a joint task force supporting a new U.S. special operations command organization focused on global coordination of unique capabilities against great power competitors. They collaborated extensively across the intelligence community and with partners to address high-priority threat.
▶ 0:43:21Mr. Overbaugh: Prior to that I held leadership and staff positions in intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism. I led military and civilian teams in tactical deployments to afghanistan and iraq. Strategic assignments in europe and the united states. I routinely informed the pentagon decision-making regarding joint and multilateral sensitive intelligence operations which I also personally coordinated with chief substation across europe.
▶ 0:43:55Mr. Overbaugh: These operations were instrumental in countering foreign influence and terror threats across the united states and strengthening relationships with key allies to deter and if necessary defeat our adversaries. If confirmed along with supporting priorities of secretary hegseth, I will advocate for the following areas of them.
▶ 0:44:19Mr. Overbaugh: I hope to lead the enterprise shaping defense requirements, ensuring they are data-driven, actionable, and aligned with nationals early priority. I believe we do not have the resources to cover all threats simultaneously. We must be deliberate and discerning about the capabilities we pursue to deter or if necessary defeat our adversaries.
▶ 0:44:44Mr. Overbaugh: I would encourage the enterprise to reassess the frameworks, fostering innovation and adaptive thinking to tackle dynamic threat. I believe the warrior ethos includes challenging personal and institutional bias and overcome bureaucratic intransigence. I would drive the enterprise to prioritize actual intelligent providing clear insights for the platoon leader to the president.
▶ 0:45:15Mr. Overbaugh: I believe intelligence professionals must be able to separate signals from noise to be value-added. Progress in these areas would improve decision support and security for the enterprise and the american. I sincerely believe we face some of the most daunting challenges in the history of our nation. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to answering questions.
▶ 0:45:39Chair Wicker: Thank you.
▶ 0:45:40Mr. Zimmerman: Chairman wicker, ranking member reed and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the chance to appear but are you today to be considered for the role of assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. I'm honored by the president's nomination and his trust. I think the secretary for their support.
▶ 0:46:09Mr. Zimmerman: I'm humbled by senator hagerty's introduction and grateful for his leadership. Mr. chairman, with permission I will talk about priorities that if confirmed I will merit my intentions from day one. It spans russia, ukraine, eurasia, the middle east, africa.
▶ 0:46:33Mr. Zimmerman: It must be addressed judiciously and in ways that fully support the departments primary goals of securing the homeland and deterring china. Doing this will require cultivating strong partnerships in these regions that further U.S. interest and encourage our allies with greater responsibility and burden sharing in their interest and hours.
▶ 0:46:58Mr. Zimmerman: Addressing with allies persistent threats such as those posed by russia, iran developing a nuclear weapon, and terrorism. Countering china's ability to project military influence. All of this can and should be done in a way that advances the america first peace through strength agenda.
▶ 0:47:19Mr. Zimmerman: I would draw on almost two decades of national security experience with policy roles and in the field where I had the privilege to work on many regions involved in this portfolio. The challenges are serious yet familiar. Mr. chairman, if I may introduce my family, my parents are here, to whom ohio immeasurable gratitude. I would like to acknowledge my sister and three brothers.
▶ 0:47:49Mr. Zimmerman: Nathan zimmerman, luke zimmerman , they have all served or are serving in our military. Along with their exemplary colleagues they hold my deepest respect. My four brave children are here. Ransom, anchor, haven, liberty. I have asked them to behave. Unless I get asked a tough question. My wife chloe is here.
▶ 0:48:20Mr. Zimmerman: A constant friend without parallel who continues to transform. I'm grateful for other family and friends listening today. Mr. chairman, if confirmed I would apply myself with all the humility, vigor, excellent our country expects and preserves. Thank you.
▶ 0:48:42Chair Wicker: Thank you to all three of you here. Welcome to the family and friends. We now move to standard questions, which are required of also billion nominees. If you will each turn your microphones on and answer audibly.
▶ 0:49:09Chair Wicker: Could you adhere to applicable laws and regulations regarding conflicts of interest? >> yes.
▶ 0:49:15Chair Wicker: Have you assumed any duties or taken actions that would affect the outcome process? >> no.
▶ 0:49:24Chair Wicker: It makes it important that this committee is -- and other appropriate committees received testimony, briefings, reports, information from the executive branch in a timely basis. Do you agree if confirmed to appear and testify before this committee? >> yes.
▶ 0:49:47Chair Wicker: You agree to provide records, documents, electronic communications requested by this committee, its subcommittees, or other appropriate committees by congress and to consult with the requester regarding the basis where you could delay or deny providing such records? >> yes.
▶ 0:50:05Chair Wicker: Will you ensure that your staff complies with deadlines established by this committee with the production of reports, record, other information including responding to hearing questions for the record? >> yes.
▶ 0:50:21Chair Wicker: Will you cooperate in providing witnesses a response to congressional requests? >> yes.
▶ 0:50:29Chair Wicker: Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal from their testimony or briefings? >> yes.
▶ 0:50:38Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. >> now we will move to questions by individual members of the committee. I will begin. First, for each of you, much of the funding in the reconciliation bill being put together now in the house and senate, because of our rules it has to be unspecific and
▶ 0:51:10Chair Wicker: Technically be at the discretion of the department of defense. We will write recommendations for them. A quick yes or no from each of you beginning with Mr. lohmeier, do you commit to follow unequivocally the defense reconciliation and spending recommendation?
▶ 0:51:31Mr. Lohmeier: Yes.
▶ 0:51:33Mr. Overbaugh: Yes.
▶ 0:51:35Mr. Zimmerman: Yes.
▶ 0:51:37Chair Wicker: Thank you let's move into Mr. zimmerman. In your prepared testimony on the agenda of burden sharing, let's talk about nato. In the first trump term the president talked about each nation meeting their birding sharing -- burden sharing.
▶ 0:52:08Chair Wicker: You think they took this challenge seriously? It seems that they are reversing nearly two decades of decline. Do you believe this spending marks a renewed commitment on the part of our nato allies?
▶ 0:52:30Mr. Zimmerman: Thanks for the question. Nato is a very important alliance that U.S. commitments are grave and serious. I do think there is general consensus that the alliance has to adapt.
▶ 0:52:47Mr. Zimmerman: You mentioned a very appropriately in your own thing remark, a threat or our adversaries are colluding and collaborating even more underscoring the need for strong alliances and partnerships and greater burden sharing. There is reason to be encouraged to take greater ownership of their security needs and be the alliance partners.
▶ 0:53:16Mr. Zimmerman: I think the administration has identified a need, an urgent need for that process to accelerate.
▶ 0:53:24Chair Wicker: I'm glad to hear you come down strongly on behalf of our participation as far as I know, we do not have yet a deputy assistant secretary of defense for nato. Will you commit to filling this at the earliest opportunity?
▶ 0:53:58Mr. Zimmerman: I commit.
▶ 0:53:59Chair Wicker: You agree that would be important based on your earlier testimony?
▶ 0:54:07Mr. Zimmerman: The nato alliance is a very important alliance.
▶ 0:54:17Chair Wicker: Let me choose my words here. Currently including platforms, very soon the future cca. The support infrastructure. The transparency of the process.
▶ 0:54:47Chair Wicker: Are you aware that in the fiscal year 25 which was passed by and signed into law by the president, we prohibited programmatic decisions or sole-source basing decisions, are you aware of that?
▶ 0:55:08Mr. Lohmeier: Yes.
▶ 0:55:10Chair Wicker: If confirmed will you commit to upholding this law?
▶ 0:55:15Mr. Lohmeier: Yes, I'm committed to upholding the law in every respect if I am confirmed.
▶ 0:55:23Chair Wicker: How you do this will be very important. In strategic imperatives and objective criteria that should be paramount rather than political considerations.
▶ 0:55:39Chair Wicker: I'm going to say this after the space command basing decision, do you think we have got some confidence and what will you do to restore confidence with this being called according to statute and by the numbers?
▶ 0:55:58Mr. Lohmeier: I think it's very important and I share your concern that we eliminate the politics of the decision-making process, the service secretaries and the under secretaries should work carefully to make decisions. Decisions that will benefit the war fighter and our strategic posturing.
▶ 0:56:20Mr. Lohmeier: You have my commitment if confirmed that we will do our best to make sure they are on the needs of capabilities and strategy, not based on politics.
▶ 0:56:29Chair Wicker: How is your mandarin?
▶ 0:56:32Mr. Lohmeier: [speaking mandarin]
▶ 0:56:36Chair Wicker: Thank.
▶ 0:56:40Sen. Reed: Mr. lohmeier, you posted the following on your ex account, if we are fortunate enough to see a trump presidency once again, there will be serious consequences for those senior leaders who have participated in the hyper politicization of uniform services and let me tell you about one such office.
▶ 0:57:12Sen. Reed: What did you say about serious consequences, many will be serving in the air force?
▶ 0:57:19Mr. Lohmeier: Thank you for bringing this up. I share your concern for and commitment to ensuring we have a relatively apolitical workplace. It is one of the driving factors prime to my separation from service for the things I wrote. I was never publicly critical of my chain of command.
▶ 0:57:45Mr. Lohmeier: I was never publicly critical of my senior leaders while I served in uniform. That was put out in my capacity as a private citizen in 2024. I have been out of uniform the last four years. I have rather enjoyed my ability to speak freely and express a full range of expression of my ideas on platforms such as c. I'm very committed to making sure we eliminate political distractions from the military work ways.
▶ 0:58:18Mr. Lohmeier: Our servicemembers deserve the opportunity to serve in a nonpartisan military workplace. What I meant by the statement was I believe a trump presidency or administration would take accountability very seriously. We wouldn't overlook that kind of partisan political asian from the militant -- politicalization from the military workplace.
▶ 0:58:44Sen. Reed: You commit to not taking action against any individual, military or civilian who carried out policy and regulation enacted by congress?
▶ 0:58:55Mr. Lohmeier: I think I heard all of the question. I missed probably part of it. The tender was asking a commitment to not hold certain leaders accountable who were following the law or implementing policy. In that vein, spirit, principal, I'm only adjusted and holding people accountable who don't follow the law or honor the constitution, which I take very seriously.
▶ 0:59:25Mr. Lohmeier: I'm interested in nonpartisanship. Giving the right to the american people to entertain partisan arguments. I have no vindictive spirit. I'm not interested in retribution. I'm interested to making sure we have proper accountability and high standards.
▶ 0:59:49Sen. Reed: So you disavow the statement you made? If trump takes over there will be consequences for people? Most of that I assume would be targeting people who had differences with because of their support of policies including equity and other policies, is that true? Or you were just making up all that stuff?
▶ 1:00:15Mr. Lohmeier: I would love to look at the context of all the statements I made. I will make just one point as I have considered and contemplated the path to confirmation or through the confirmation process .
▶ 1:00:33Mr. Lohmeier: I very much had in mind the social media presence, podcast appearances, media appearance I have had and I have left every bit of that online because I'm delivery in what I choose to say. I also reserve the right to be wrong about things and change my opinion. I have nothing to hide. I'm happy to be corrected about things that I'm mistaken.
▶ 1:01:01Mr. Lohmeier: What I was intending to say was I believe accountability matters. That is the spirit of what I was trying to get at. I look forward to a culture of accountability in the department of the air force. That was not intended to be retribution all in nature. Simply intended to communicate that leaders who prioritize accountability and high standard will do the american people and servicemembers to that.
▶ 1:01:33Sen. Reed: We all want to see leaders who are accountable and also the highest standards. Those standards have to be consistent with this country. The men and women who served, they come from many races and nationalities.
▶ 1:01:58Sen. Reed: The goal is as you indicated an apolitical military force. Everything I have read in your book is far from apolitical. You targeted individuals you felt had political reasons, if you carry that attitude into this job, you will cause great confusion in the air force and great animosity in the ranks here.
▶ 1:02:31Sen. Reed: Thank you, Mr. chairman. 's Sen. cotton: I see the job not just through my work in this committee but my work as chairman of the intelligence committee as well. Ins should be the central advocate for the priorities to ensure all defense intelligence agencies were meeting dod needs.
▶ 1:03:01Sen. Reed: All the agencies under the umbrella up your to act on their own accord. Could you commit to working with me on this committee and on the intelligence committee to ensure we improve the enterprise governance to make sure the defense intelligence agency is providing the intelligence all of our war fighters need?
▶ 1:03:24Mr. Overbaugh: I absolutely can.
▶ 1:03:29Sen. Cotton: Do you share that assessment that they seem to be going off in a different direction?
▶ 1:03:34Mr. Overbaugh: I share your concerns. If confirmed I would place an emphasis on ensuring the entire defense security enterprise remains in response to commanders and war fighters to ensure they are well-positioned to deal with global threats.
▶ 1:03:53Sen. Cotton: Part of the issue is ims is not optimized to guide the defense intelligence enterprise. I put report language in last year's ndaa that mandated a review of the authorities and roles of responsibility could you commit to using the findings of that review to inform any organizational changes?
▶ 1:04:17Mr. Overbaugh: Yes. As I mentioned in my opening statement I'm concerned about bureaucratic intransigence. Analyzing the organization would be a key focus if I am confirmed.
▶ 1:04:36Sen. Cotton: As is often the case, the only thing to consider, sometimes not the most important thing is leadership and culture. Ins was the principal director or advisor to the director of national intelligence because congress recognized the urgent need to ensure the broader national intelligence community.
▶ 1:05:06Sen. Cotton: I don't think there's documented procedures and I think past interactions have not been adequate. Could you commit to working to make sure ins is collaborating closely and productively, constructively with odni?
▶ 1:05:28Mr. Overbaugh: I absolutely can. This is something Mr. hensel and I have had an opportunity to talk about. To make sure that last part takes place.
▶ 1:05:46Sen. Cotton: To be clear, the defense intelligence agencies produce. It is often some of the best reporting on the intelligence community. Providing guidance for all of those agencies. Letting the proper intelligence on resources. The air force has been underfunded for a long time.
▶ 1:06:19Sen. Cotton: We have guided many times since world war ii. We need air superiority, do you commit to working with the administration to make sure we increase resources going forward?
▶ 1:06:35Mr. Lohmeier: I commit to that. I do agree.
▶ 1:06:40Sen. Cotton: We have had a shortage of pilots. Retention is only averaging about 40% or 50%. Do you agree that we need to focus on retaining pilots?
▶ 1:06:56Mr. Lohmeier: This is a problem we have had many years. We have had air force administrators, throwing money at the problem sometimes. It tends to keep those who are already publicly on the fence. I talked to many pilots. They are interested in fixing the quality of life and service concerns as well.
▶ 1:07:23Sen. Cotton: The work on this committee with senator king, they are always welcome to money, I don't join the air force for a couple thousand dollars per month. One final question, the international base of arkansas is home to fighting missions, we have the next three years, the air force has worked with senator bozeman and I over the years to get this critical mission vetted down.
▶ 1:07:54Sen. Cotton: I assume you agree for military sales training makes this a viable mission?
▶ 1:07:58Mr. Lohmeier: I do.
▶ 1:08:01Sen. Cotton: We could count on you to ensure the air force supports the mission and they have the ability to train the allies?
▶ 1:08:08Mr. Lohmeier: You have my commitment that I will work with Dr. mink if he is confirmed and I will be transparent about the situation in your statement.
▶ 1:08:19Sen. Shaheen: Thank you gentlemen for your past service to the country and your willingness to continue to serve. On tuesday, secretary hegseth announced by tweet that he was ending implementation of women, peace, security claiming it was a biden era d.e.I. Policy.
▶ 1:08:43Sen. Shaheen: He missed the fact that president trump and members of his current administration including secretary rubio, michael waltz, secretary noem worked on this policy and 2017 and president trump signed it. U.S. combat units began using female engagement teams during operations in iraq and afghanistan to build trust with local communities.
▶ 1:09:07Sen. Shaheen: Years later, we enshrine this concept into law as part of the wps act. Since that time it has been used by the war fighters to identify victims of human trafficking, enjoying exercises on noncombatant evacuations, provide human intelligence on violent extremist groups and understand the human terrain to improve kinetic and non-kinetic targeting.
▶ 1:09:38Sen. Shaheen: I'm very concerned that taking away these tools does not make us a stronger or more lethal fighting force and takes away some of the options we have to be successful. Secretary hegseth also claims war fighters hate it. The newly confirmed joint chiefs not only told this committee about the operational value but he was very clear that he was not d.e.I..
▶ 1:10:09Sen. Shaheen: Made public in an article last night, a memo from the joint staff providing their best military advice to the secretary. This is a direct quote. I ask that the article be introduced into the record.
▶ 1:10:28Sen. Shaheen: The article points out from that memo china and russia have no equivalent of wps and that the combatant commands under the next two years with the program counter china by gaining access to a population. The director continues that wps promotes violent extremist organizations and disrupts the smuggling of narcotics.
▶ 1:11:02Sen. Shaheen: Officials from every combatant command and several other military components concurred with this recommendation from the joint chiefs. This is information that is not new to this committee. Every four star commander tells us about the strategic advantage wps provides to our deployed forces.
▶ 1:11:28Sen. Shaheen: You are nominated to oversee security for the middle east, the western hemisphere. Don't you need all of the tools available to counter violent extremism in africa and the middle east? That is a question.
▶ 1:11:45Mr. Zimmerman: Thank you very much for the question. The bible extremism counterterrorism problem is a major concern. One that I will be focused on. It is -- it does require a whole of government type of approach.
▶ 1:12:09Mr. Zimmerman: Sometimes we could be too siloed as a government. In my background I have had the opportunity to work with many other interagency partners to see the value that comes across our government. If confirmed to the role I would of course make it a priority to work with all the tools to make sure they are available.
▶ 1:12:38Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, the importance of the wps. You are nominated to oversee intelligence functions to the department of fense. I assume you would like all tools available, human intelligence on the ground.
▶ 1:12:56Mr. Overbaugh: Every single one I could get.
▶ 1:12:59Sen. Shaheen: Mr. lohmeier, if confirmed I assume your forward deployed airmen will understand everything they could about the human terrain before taking strikes in yemen, would you agree?
▶ 1:13:14Mr. Lohmeier: I would agree with that.
▶ 1:13:17Chair Wicker: Thank you very much.
▶ 1:13:21Sen. Rounds: First of all, to all of you thank you for your service to the country. How would you handle the threats of cyber artificial intelligence and space?
▶ 1:13:40Sen. Rounds: It would appear to me that right now there is an overarching challenge from multiple near peer adversaries. Not just an the areas you will be overseeing include cyberspace and really space, coordinated. Talk about how you see your role in terms of core noting our response to those adversaries.
▶ 1:14:08Mr. Overbaugh: Thank you for the question. I had a little experience dealing with the soft space cyber triad. It is a critical effort because as we push into new domains to meet adversarial threats we have to stitch those domains together that achieves combined effects for the war fighter and the defense of the american people.
▶ 1:14:36Mr. Overbaugh: As it relates to cyber threats, I'm concerned about the threats to our critical infrastructure. That is information that can come through cyber threats and zero day exploits. Some solutions and zero trust architecture, active cyber defense, public-private collaboration, and offensive cyber capabilities can meet those threats. Space threats.
▶ 1:15:01Mr. Overbaugh: The presence of ever increasingly sophisticated asap weapons, particularly the space-based surveillance of our enemies and jamming and spoofing are of significant concern to me.
▶ 1:15:18Mr. Overbaugh: I will look to advocate from the position I'm being nominated in resilience and redundancy in our constellations and ensuring complete space domain awareness and encouraging commercial partnerships to ensure we can meet those threats effectively.
▶ 1:15:34Sen. Rounds: Senator cotton started on this line of questioning. There are stovepipes, some intended and some unintended with regard to the sharing of information between title x and title 50 participants. You added another item which is critical. The private sector as well, which adds additional challenges.
▶ 1:16:00Sen. Rounds: Can you talk about your role in making sure appropriate information is shared and we make the most out of the information we do gather?
▶ 1:16:09Mr. Overbaugh: I believe the defense intelligence and security enterprise has a role in ensuring we identify the threats accurately. So both public and private entities can work effectively to deal -- design solutions to deal with those threats. As opposed to coming up with solutions that don't match up with the threats we face.
▶ 1:16:33Sen. Rounds: Thank you. Mr. zimmerman, I have one quick question. Right now we have the possibility -- if we have another sorr -- an adversary confronting us in one theater there is a high probability we will have a second theater.
▶ 1:16:56Sen. Rounds: How do you see your role in terms of coordinating with our partners to make sure we have the best advantages to deal with two threats in two different theaters?
▶ 1:17:05Mr. Zimmerman: Senator, I appreciate the opportunity to talk about this for a moment. I think the threat you have articulated requires utmost attention and underscores the relevant of this administration's emphasis on partnering with allies and for them to take greater ownership and take seriously the need to post defense spending.
▶ 1:17:34Mr. Zimmerman: If confirmed, one of the principal aspects of the job is to manage defense relations in the area of responsibility. If confirmed, I would do all I can to partner effectively with allies and partners to ensure their security capabilities are at a level where we can have the right posture to address the threat you are describing.
▶ 1:18:04Mr. Zimmerman: Partnerships are extremely important. If confirmed, I would take that seriously.
▶ 1:18:08Sen. Rounds: Mr. lohmeier, the b 21 raider is one of the best projects out there. Would you seriously consider any requests to increase the number of b-21s that can be acquired for the air force as needs arise?
▶ 1:18:33Mr. Lohmeier: This issue is important to me. One of my priorities is modernizing the nuclear enterprise. The b-2 is an important1 piece. I'm open to discussing more.
▶ 1:18:52Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator hirono.
▶ 1:18:56Sen. Hirono: I want you to respond quickly to the following questions I have asked of all the nominees on any committees on which I said. This goes to fitness to serve. Mr. lohmeier, since he became a legal adult have you made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?
▶ 1:19:21Mr. Lohmeier: No.
▶ 1:19:22Mr. Overbaugh: No.
▶ 1:19:24Mr. Zimmerman: No.
▶ 1:19:25Sen. Hirono: Have you faced discipline related to this conduct?
▶ 1:19:30Mr. Lohmeier: No.
▶ 1:19:31Mr. Overbaugh: No.
▶ 1:19:32Mr. Zimmerman: No.
▶ 1:19:33Sen. Hirono: Before I get to my questions for Mr. lohmeier, maybe clear. Mr. lohmeier, you were fired, removed from command for going on a partisan podcast and pushing political conspiracy theories while in uniform.
▶ 1:19:53Sen. Hirono: Since leaving active duty you have spread divisive, harmful views on race, equality, lgbtq rights, and talked openly about seeking retribution against those he perceived that did you wrong. Exactly the kind of comments that undermine the unity and professionalism that our military depends on.
▶ 1:20:17Sen. Hirono: As if that was not bad enough, you are also a january 6 conspiracy theorist, calling it a government and false flag hoax at the capital. I have deep concerns about your nomination to be under secretary of the air force. Just as much concerned about what this nomination says to the members of our military.
▶ 1:20:47Sen. Hirono: I'm glad senator shaheen asked questions related to a comment to all of you about the importance of -- I'm sorry -- wps. I'm glad she pointed out this is a useful tool that neither russia nor china have to combat extremism.
▶ 1:21:09Sen. Hirono: To me this is another example of the obsession that this administration has against a swath of programs and efforts that this administration deems d.e.I. I will get to my questions. Mr.
▶ 1:21:38Sen. Hirono: Lohmeier, do you believe january 6 attack was a government-let false flag operation?
▶ 1:21:47Mr. Lohmeier: Let me begin by respectably saying I believe you mischaracterized me and my views.
▶ 1:21:55Sen. Hirono: Excuse me, could you respond to whether or not you believe january 6 attack was a government-led false flag operation? If you no longer believe that, just tell me.
▶ 1:22:08Mr. Lohmeier: I have never set exec you what you just attributed to me. I will answer your question. I believe it is evident that they were in fact under government -- undercover government agents at the capitol.
▶ 1:22:25Sen. Hirono: My time is running out. You deny saying it. Deeply the january 6 attack was a hoax?
▶ 1:22:33Mr. Lohmeier: I have never used the word hoax to characterize the event. What I stated, I do believe. There were most certainly --
▶ 1:22:45Sen. Hirono: You deny saying that. Are you planning to reprise -- senator reid asked you some questions but I want to name names. Are you planning to reprise against general whiting, major general pepper, colonel fran, per other active military service number first perceived slights against you?
▶ 1:23:04Mr. Lohmeier: Senator, as I have said previously, I'm very focused on moving forward and making sure I hold people accountable for their -- the following of law.
▶ 1:23:18Sen. Hirono: Let me ask you this. If confirmed, will you recuse yourself from initiating or being involved in any administrative or personnel actions involving general whiting, general pepper, and colonel fran?
▶ 1:23:32Mr. Lohmeier: 902 -- 902 of the individuals you mentioned -- I know two of the individual's you mentioned. One is a compact matte with the trust a of the president.
▶ 1:23:47Sen. Hirono: Could you just answer my question? I kn I kyou are taking up my time. Plea recuse yourself from taking action against the people I mentioned?
▶ 1:23:59Mr. Lohmeier: I will treat all people fairly and try to do my best and the the job to the best my ability.
▶ 1:24:06Sen. Hirono: That is not reassuring. I have other questions for this nominee.
▶ 1:24:10Chair Wicker: We will have other routes. Mr. lohmeier, you were beginning to say what you do believe about january 6. Go ahead and finish that thought.
▶ 1:24:24Mr. Lohmeier: Thank you, senator. I believe there were many americans who were gathered that day as part of a protest. I think it has been politically fraught for many years and continues to be brought up because there's so much uncertainty about what was really going on. Totally outside of my lane as a nominee for the undersecretary of the air force.
▶ 1:24:45Mr. Lohmeier: If confirmed, it is my job to organize, train, and quick forces -- the quick forces -- equip forces.
▶ 1:24:56Sen. Hirono: Do you have any follow-up questions at this point? Ok. Thank you very much.
▶ 1:25:03Sen. Hirono: My comment is his refusal to answer clearly the questions does not reassure me at all that he is qualified to take this position.
▶ 1:25:12Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator ernst.
▶ 1:25:17Sen. Ernst: Thanks to the witnesses are being here today and for continuing your service to these great united states of america. I want to start. Mr. lohmeier, we will talk about an issue that is extremely important to me and to all of iowa. That is about our air national guard refueling wing located in sioux city, iowa.
▶ 1:25:42Sen. Ernst: When the national guard's 185th air refueling wing was converted from the f-16 fighters to the kc 135 tankers in 2003, the air force said it would upgrade the airfield at the iowa national guard facility. This is 22 years ago. This is an important issue. It is one I have pushed with the air force for a number of years now.
▶ 1:26:12Sen. Ernst: The line of questioning should be no surprise. Because the tankers require -- they have heavier airframes and greater fuel loads they will be delivering, the runway is unable to hold that load. This is critical importance. Unfortunately the air force and national guard never followed through on their promise to upgrade that runway. They failed in their commitment to complete the runway upgrades.
▶ 1:26:45Sen. Ernst: I'm additionally concerned with this failure because now we have a conversion of the 135s to the kc-46s. The squadron could lose its mission because of the failure to upgrade this runway. It will directly impact their attention of the immense talent of these guardsmen in sioux city. This is completely unacceptable.
▶ 1:27:15Sen. Ernst: The air force must live up to its commitment as a 22 years ago. Mr. lohmeier, he the air national guard a vital component of the air force?
▶ 1:27:27Mr. Lohmeier: Yes senator, it is.
▶ 1:27:30Sen. Ernst: Is it essential to air national guard has the infrastructure and resources necessary to execute its missions effectively?
▶ 1:27:39Mr. Lohmeier: Yes. Every time the guard comes up I reflect on the fact when I was an f-15 fighter pilot I never knew what unit was providing fuel to me on the tanker in front of me. There's a seamless integration between the active-duty reserve and guard personnel. It's in a very -- it's a very important issue.
▶ 1:27:58Sen. Ernst: If confirmed, do I have your commitment unequivocally you will find the runway upgrade at the iowa national guard facility in sioux city and ensure its at the top of the air national guard priorities for the fiscal year 2026 ndaa.
▶ 1:28:17Mr. Lohmeier: I don't like it when people make a minutes cannot keep them. It's important to the trust of the american people and important for the air force to keep its commitment. I'm familiar with the history you have laid out. Unlike perhaps those that have gone before, I will commit different the two you that I will be very transparent in my communications with you. I will take this issue seriously. I want to make sure if I make a commitment to you or the american people I will be able to follow through. I take that seriously.
▶ 1:28:47Sen. Ernst: That is disappointing, Mr. lohmeier. I think I heard a commitment to senator cotton about his home state priority. I'm asking for a commitment from my home state priority. The very mission of this unit relies upon in upgrade of its runway. This is very problematic for me. I have in bringing this up with the air force for years now.
▶ 1:29:17Sen. Ernst: I am asking that a commitment be honored for our iowa air national guard. In the community that supports this national guard unit. Given the lack of commitment around this project and his direct impact 185th's ability to perform its mission, again, I will give you a second chance.
▶ 1:29:44Sen. Ernst: Can I have your commitment you will work with the secretary the air force to pause any discussion -- any discussion on changing the 185th air refueling wing's mission set?
▶ 1:29:57Mr. Lohmeier: You have my commitment I will work closely with Dr. mink if confirmed to carefully make data-driven concision, consider all variables. I don't think these are decisions that should be taken lightly. I don't like that we can't follow through with commitments we have made. I make the same commitment to you I may diminis -- I made to senator cotton or any senator in this room.
▶ 1:30:23Mr. Lohmeier: I will wait each matter in a nonpolitical manner to try to make the best decisions for the course. I'm interested in honoring the commitments made in the past where that is feasible. I look forward to learning more about that.
▶ 1:30:36Sen. Ernst: Thank you, Mr. lohmeier. This is not just about the runway. It's about whether our air national guard is treated as an equal partner, as you stated earlier, in the national defense or as an afterthought. Unfortunately they have been treated as an afterthought. Iowa's 185th has served with honor in the desert infrastructure that matches their operational demands. I will continue to press on this.
▶ 1:31:07Sen. Ernst: I hope I have resolution in the near future. We need to make sure these commitments are honored. Thank you, Mr. chair.
▶ 1:31:14Chair Wicker: Senator kaine.
▶ 1:31:17Sen. Kaine: Congratulations for your nominations. There is a beautiful phrase in the new testament in both the gospels of luke and matthew that goes something like this. "from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks." Mr. lohmeier, I want to ask about your active mouth and what it reveals about your heart. Your tweeting. I will give you examples. August 9, 2024.
▶ 1:31:43Sen. Kaine: "the left lies about in the every thing it does and tens of millions of americans believe the lies." trashing the left and calling tens of millions of americans dupes. August 2, 24. "if you're wondering why the left and mitt romney seem to have entirely lost any semblance of a moral compass, vladimir lenin provides you the answer." april 1, 2023.
▶ 1:32:10Sen. Kaine: " all that is good and decent, the left is the real oppressor." I want to ask about the one senator hirono asked you about. She redneck cert. "-- she read an excerpt. "pick this up in my basic exchange of buckley air force base several weeks after j6. This is what the biden-harris administration ushered in.
▶ 1:32:38Sen. Kaine: After the false flag hoax of the capitol, they demonized men and women in uniform and then they purged conservatives and christians with mandates. Brilliant planning actually." tell me what the phrase you wrote, government led false flag and hoax of the capitol, what is that mean with reference to january 6?
▶ 1:32:59Mr. Lohmeier: Thank you for bringing this up again, senator. Like the verses you read, agree it matters a great deal that we try to speak truthfully. I will remind you respectfully that the comments I made that you just shared were shared on my x account I presume while a private citizen. In 2024, I had been out of uniform for three years with no intention of returning to public service. I was enjoying public life and criticizing people as I wish.
▶ 1:33:29Sen. Kaine: They were a sincere reflection of what you had in your heart?
▶ 1:33:32Mr. Lohmeier: As much as those statements were properly contextualized, and I cannot speak to the context in which you read, I try to speak honestly and refer --
▶ 1:33:47Sen. Kaine: What does with respect to january 6, what is your phrase a government-led false flag and hoax at the capitol?
▶ 1:33:57Mr. Lohmeier: Let me share while I do recognize the other quotes you read, I don't recall having written those words you just read about january 6. That could be partly a memory problem. It could be I retweeted something on the been pulled. I don't recall using that phrase.
▶ 1:34:16Mr. Lohmeier: I believe that private citizens in this country can have the right to express their views as mean or wrong as they might be and that the many women in uniform defend the right of the private citizen to speak those views and my concern while in uniform was in fact that the kind of partisan rhetoric I had used that you just quoted from was actually being inserted into the military workplace in a way that divides troops.
▶ 1:34:47Mr. Lohmeier: I was trying to hold our military cultural and workplace environment accountable to a standard of nonpartisanship so that we could thrive in unity and not division.
▶ 1:35:01Sen. Kaine: I completely agree that private citizens have the right to say and believe what they want. This is a hearing about your qualifications for the position. The qualifications are essentially a mixture of three things. Background, character, and judgment. It is about judgment. I don't want to confirm somebody into the pentagon who would fall for conspiracy theories that a fourth-grader would find incredible.
▶ 1:35:28Sen. Kaine: If I searched your social media and I saw you praising the great pumpkin over and over, you have the right to have that view. I would not want somebody who believed in the great pumpkin to be in the position you are nominated for. If I'm thinking about people in the military -- virginia has a lot of people in the military. One of my kids is in the military. There are people in the military who are left, right, center and some who completely disinterested in politics.
▶ 1:35:58Sen. Kaine: How would somebody who's in the left or considers themselves in the left serving in the air force when you say the left lies about nearly everything it does, of all that is good and decent, the left is the real oppressor, how would any person who identifies that we feel any confidence that U.S. a leader would have their back?
▶ 1:36:16Mr. Lohmeier: That's a great question and when I actually share your concern for and care greatly about. Let me share briefly. At the time I departed from active duty I had young men and women in uniform, all racial and ethnic backgrounds, certainly different political backgrounds coming to me privately, sending me notes and saying I never knew what your political worldview was. I don't understand completely why you have chosen to now take a stand for these issues but I respect you as a leader.
▶ 1:36:46Sen. Kaine: My time has run over. In yielding back to the chairman, I don't know where you are on january 6. Most of us were here. A lot of us had a friend who was a capitol police officer who died as a result of january 6. His widow is one of my constituents.
▶ 1:37:04Sen. Kaine: When I hear somebody, anybody, talk about what happened here as a false flag or a hoax, it is insulting to those of us that were here and particularly insulting to those who lost loved ones that day. I yield back.
▶ 1:37:21Chair Wicker: Senator sullivan.
▶ 1:37:23Sen. Sullivan: Mr. lohmeier, I will cover the topics you and I talked about in my office a couple of days ago. I would like to ask nominees -- maybe all of you -- billy mitchell was testifying in front of senate armed services, the father of the U.S. air force in the 1930's. He talked about a certain place in the world, the most strategic place on the planet.
▶ 1:37:52Sen. Sullivan: Whoever controlled that place would control the world. Mr. lohmeier, I will start with you as an air force guy. You know what billy mitchell was talking about?
▶ 1:38:01Sen. Sullivan: I do.
▶ 1:38:05Mr. Lohmeier: It was the state of alaska. >> the most strategic place in the world.
▶ 1:38:12Sen. Sullivan: You guys are starting out well here. Our adversaries see it is quite strategic. This is a depiction of the russian and chinese incursions into our eez in the last 2.5 years. I will show you the numbers. It is several. That's in the last 2.5 years. Pretty remarkable.
▶ 1:38:42Sen. Sullivan: Does not make a lot of news on the lower 48. Our airspace, northerners base. The green ones are depictions of joint strategic bomber taskforces in joint U.S. -- russia-chinese naval incursions. They are doing joint tops in the northern pacific in alaska. Just a couple -- two weeks ago. Mr.
▶ 1:39:10Sen. Sullivan: Lohmeier, you are a former f-15 pilot. But the other slide up. -- put the other slide up. How tough are those missions? Every one of those incursions we intercepted them with f-22s, f-16s, f-35s. If you're flying out to the ades, is that a tough mission?
▶ 1:39:38Mr. Lohmeier: The sea is not comfortable when you're spending hours hitting the tanker multiple times.
▶ 1:39:44Sen. Sullivan: Probably four or five times just to do the intercept. In february, middle the night, you doing the intercept of thei -- up there. A single engine f-16 intercepting russian bombers in february and have to punch out, how likely are you going to be to survive?
▶ 1:40:09Mr. Lohmeier: Those are incredibly high-risk missions. We have great men and women who put their next on the line every day doing what you described -- ni necks on the line every day doing what you described.
▶ 1:40:26Sen. Sullivan: They said we need more infrastructure appear to support these missions. They keep saying the russians and chinese will keep doing this even more. Will you work with me on this committee on those goals? We are looking at adak as a navy base. Two 8000 foot airstrips.
▶ 1:40:53Sen. Sullivan: For looking at a hangar at barrow to station search-and-rescue operations. Galena, the former air force base. Would you work with me and this committee? I'm looking at that infrastructure that can support the minute women in alaska who are literally on the front lines of great power competition doing these missions. Hard missions. Our military in alaska do such a great job.
▶ 1:41:24Sen. Sullivan: Can you support me in this -- and this committee working on this infrastructure projects? The commanders testified they need?
▶ 1:41:37Mr. Lohmeier: I share your interest in this area. This is a cornerstone of our projection of power in the indo pacific theater. You have my commitment to work closely with you on what the secretary and I are trying to do from abasing and infrastructure perspective if confirmed.
▶ 1:42:02Sen. Sullivan: The secretary nominee in his testimony committed to me the air force is committed in committed to me in this committee to get more tankers. The last secretary the air force, the previous echo force, the previous e secretary.
▶ 1:42:24Sen. Sullivan: Can you commit to me to work to get the four 135s they have been promising to have tanking capacity to do these real world missions? Can you commit to me to get those four 135s?
▶ 1:42:41Mr. Lohmeier: If confirmed, I commit to you I will work to ensure the commitments Dr. mink has made are fulfilled.
▶ 1:42:51Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator blumenthal.
▶ 1:42:55Sen. Blumenthal: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Mr. lohmeier, the role of undersecretary of the air force is not a platform for ideology or grievances. It is a demanding leadership position is possible for overseeing the budget, personnel, institutional integrity.
▶ 1:43:20Sen. Blumenthal: Give requires a strategic vision -- it requires a strategic vision and managerial experience. That is to say hands-on experience managing a major organization.
▶ 1:43:39Sen. Blumenthal: I'm at a loss to see what in your background qualifies you to lead or actually run the air force when you have never led an organization that approaches this one at anything like the scale and scope of what you would be expected to do if confirmed.
▶ 1:44:05Mr. Lohmeier: Senator, thanks for the opportunity to address that. As I mentioned in my opening statement, I have spent time in both the air force and space force. I was trusted with -- to be an aircraft commander on a $50 million air superiority fighter and placed in command of our $18 billion space-based architecture a decade ago. That was my first foray into working with program managers.
▶ 1:44:33Sen. Blumenthal: What is the largest number of people under your direct response ability? -- response ability? -- responsibility?
▶ 1:44:44Mr. Lohmeier: I was a squadron commander was just over 100 people in our unit.
▶ 1:44:49Sen. Blumenthal: 100? How many will you be responsible for if you are confirmed?
▶ 1:44:56Mr. Lohmeier: Proximally 700,000 active duty guard and reserve and civilian personnel.
▶ 1:45:02Sen. Blumenthal: 100 versus 700,000. How long were you in charge of that squadron?
▶ 1:45:08Mr. Lohmeier: One year.
▶ 1:45:10Sen. Blumenthal: Wen yu. Is that -- one year. Is that the standard length of time?
▶ 1:45:15Mr. Lohmeier: It is not.
▶ 1:45:17Sen. Blumenthal: Why was it shorter?
▶ 1:45:19Mr. Lohmeier: I was relieved of command for publishing a book that has been mentioned in this hearing that was advocating for a return to an apolitical military workplace instead of dividing troops along political ideological lines.
▶ 1:45:34Sen. Blumenthal: This is very strikingly reminiscent of what we heard before in these confirmation hearings seemingly for the secretary of defense, who also in effect was relieved of his responsibility when he was running a veterans organization and in effect ran it into the ground, which should have been a warning for all of
▶ 1:46:04Sen. Blumenthal: Us. It was for me and others on this committee about lack of managerial experience being potentially a great pitfall. I'm fearful we are going to see the same in others in the department of defense. There is no room for managerial misguidance or mistakes.
▶ 1:46:35Sen. Blumenthal: Let me ask you what in your experience qualifies you for this job?
▶ 1:46:38Mr. Lohmeier: I agree with you and share your concern. We have no room at this critical time for the threats we face for our service secretaries and under secretaries to mismanage, to break the law, do not take the priorities of an administration appropriate -- seriously. In fact, we need real leaders in place to make hard decisions about budgets and acquisition processes, major defense programs.
▶ 1:47:07Mr. Lohmeier: We need them to make hard decisions about the nuclear modernization efforts underway. I will take that very seriously. I'm a fast learner and I will surround myself with experts, including Dr. mink, to try to solve the problems.
▶ 1:47:19Sen. Blumenthal: Would you use signal?
▶ 1:47:23Mr. Lohmeier: I do use signal.
▶ 1:47:24Sen. Blumenthal: To talk to others in the department of defense or the national security establishment about the plans for pilots in the air force to do military missions?
▶ 1:47:41Mr. Lohmeier: One of the things I have become quite good at over my 15.5 year career in the air force and space force is understanding very well there are sensitive and classified materials that should only be discussed in appropriate platforms. We have appropriate platforms in media for those communications.
▶ 1:47:58Sen. Blumenthal: The answer is no.
▶ 1:47:59Mr. Lohmeier: Signal is an unclassified messaging app. Although encrypted. If confirmed, that is something we need to take seriously in those roles.
▶ 1:48:09Sen. Blumenthal: Is your answer no?
▶ 1:48:11Mr. Lohmeier: I will abide by the law and make sure any sensitive or classified communications are accomplished on the appropriate mediums.
▶ 1:48:21Sen. Blumenthal: This is a yes or no answer. You would not use signal from your answer? Yes or no?
▶ 1:48:28Mr. Lohmeier: I will use it for private discussions that are unclassified with friends and colleagues as I always have.
▶ 1:48:34Sen. Blumenthal: Not to discuss missions, pilots in the air force?
▶ 1:48:41Mr. Lohmeier: Correct. That's an easy commitment.
▶ 1:48:44Sen. Blumenthal: They would be flying in hostile territory such as those pilots were on the secretary of defense used to signal on two occasions to communicate about those highly sensitive confidential potentially dangerous missions, putting pilots at risk. You wouldn't do it?
▶ 1:49:02Mr. Lohmeier: You have my commitment I will not use signal to discuss those things.
▶ 1:49:06Sen. Blumenthal: Thank you.
▶ 1:49:07Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. Senator scott.
▶ 1:49:11Sen. Scott: Congratulations on your nominations. Your jobs will be exciting. It's an exciting time to be part of building and making sure we have a great military. You will all three do a great job. I did not know I was supposed asked for a military base in my state. I have one that's important, homestead. I just got back from europe.
▶ 1:49:39Sen. Scott: This is it for consistent -- consistent. Allies complain about two things. They are trying to buy our equipment. They complain about the foreign military sales process to get approval from the government. Then they complain about they cannot get the equipment quickly because our defense contractors are not on time. Mr.
▶ 1:50:03Sen. Scott: Zimmerman, can you talk about what you think we can do and what you plan on doing to make it easier to make a decision? We were just in denmark, finland, and estonia. We had the conversation with all three. They don't understand when there are allies and they cannot get answers. Does that answer -- what frustrates me is give me an answer.
▶ 1:50:34Sen. Scott: They can go to israel or south korea or other places to buy some of the equip and need. It is just a black hole.
▶ 1:50:41That Doesn'T Mr. Zimmerman: Mr.
▶ 1:50:42Zimmerman: Make any sense. Senator, per my understanding from the issue, I share your frustration and understand why allies have thoughts about the process. If confirmed to the role, I understand the way in which I would be connected to the fms process is an advising role. Particularly looking at privatization both with european allies in here.
▶ 1:51:10Zimmerman: We are in a situation dealing with and underinvestment in the defense industrial base in the last several years that has limited supply what they need. That is a challenge. I would give my best advice to the secretary and undersecretary how to prioritize allied security needs through the fms system.
▶ 1:51:31Sen. Scott: You may not be involved in this. We pay for them to develop a product and then they own the ip for the product? Is that true?
▶ 1:51:47Mr. Zimmerman: Senator, I don't know the answer to that. I would get back to you about that.
▶ 1:51:53Sen. Scott: Did make much sense? Our government pays for it with taxpayer dollars and they own the ip?
▶ 1:52:01Mr. Zimmerman: It sounds like if true it is one of the challenges in the program.
▶ 1:52:05Sen. Scott: What do you think we could do to get our defense contractors to fulfill the obligations they have committed to? We hear this from allies all over the world. Our defense contractors are not meeting -- not just with commitments to us but commitments to our allies for equipment they need to make sure they can defend, which is what president trump wants them to do. Defend themselves first.
▶ 1:52:30Mr. Zimmerman: It is a great question. If confirmed, I would do all he could within the scope of the isa portfolio and how it touches on fms to ensure the process is as painless and seamless as possible. It's important for the goal of burden sharing to have an efficient process.
▶ 1:52:52Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator king has yielded to senator kelly. Sen. c
▶ 1:53:05Sen. Kelly: Mr. lohmeier, you made a post that seemed to indicate russia was justified in its invasion of ukraine because russia feared native expansion. -- nato expansion. It is the exact kind of misinformation that russia pushed to justify them rolling troops and tanks across the border into ukraine and balmy ukrainian cities. -- bombing ukrainian cities. Mr.
▶ 1:53:35Sen. Kelly: Lohmeier, was russia justified in its invasion of ukraine?
▶ 1:53:41Mr. Lohmeier: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me the weekend a half ago. I will say as directly as I can, I don't believe I used the word justified in my post. I'm a bit of a historian. Highlight context. What I said is all heads of state have to make determinations for their own security.
▶ 1:54:06Mr. Lohmeier: When I say something like that, whether it is with vladimir putin or any head of state, they are entitled to make those decisions whether we agree or not. It's a bit outside of the lane of the undersecretary of the air force whose role as chief management officer is to organize, train, and equip forces for the fight.
▶ 1:54:27Sen. Kelly: I will give you the posted not say that. You did post an article by john meishmeyer said why the ukraine crisis is the west's fault. You did not say that was your opinion. In your opinion, was russia justified in its invasion of ukraine?
▶ 1:54:53Mr. Lohmeier: For context which matters a great deal, that was written by john, an international relations scholar in 2014. It was a comment about russia's annexation of crimea in 2014 and some of the history leading up to that. It was not an article that had any bearing upon what happened in the decade that followed per se. It was an international relations academic piece that talked about the annexation of crimea.
▶ 1:55:21Mr. Lohmeier: His opinion in the article, and it's an insightful article, traces the history of native expansion -- nato expansion. It's an academic piece. It is something we study.
▶ 1:55:35Sen. Kelly: It was part of ukraine. In my view it is still part of ukraine.
▶ 1:55:40Mr. Lohmeier: Yes. The point I make is that the opinion of the shared -- that was shared about that article had to do with past conflict and applications for the ways in which allies interact on the world stage and how that influences the decisions heads of state make. It was not intended to excuse the behavior of any head of state, including president putin.
▶ 1:56:07Sen. Kelly: Two questions. The title was "why the ukraine crisis is the west's. Fault" -- west's fault."
▶ 1:56:19Mr. Lohmeier: It's an enticing title. It was pertaining to decisions that were being made a decade prior to the conflict you are asking about. It's an incredibly informative academic work that is based on international relations theory. I very much liked the paper and would recommend people if they're interested in understanding the conflict in the region, it is a rich resource of information.
▶ 1:56:47Sen. Kelly: Do you agree the ukraine crisis is the west's fault?
▶ 1:56:51Mr. Lohmeier: No. That is far too simplistic. Global politics is messy and complicated. I will say that it is clear a couple of years ago russia invaded ukraine. Ukraine has been on the defensive to fight the war. It had bipartisan support in congress.
▶ 1:57:13Sen. Kelly: Was russia justified in invading ukraine?
▶ 1:57:18Mr. Lohmeier: With respect, I have not said that. The reason I'm hesitating should not be interpreted to imply an answer one way or the other. I like context, not yes and nos. I don't like soundbite media.
▶ 1:57:43Mr. Lohmeier: I believe heads of states retain the right to make decisions on who they go to war with. That is not something you know to say towards leaders get to decide as much as we want to weigh in on the positions. I can say --
▶ 1:57:59Sen. Kelly: It's ok for whatever adversaries to invade whenever allies?
▶ 1:58:04Mr. Lohmeier: I did not say that. What I will say is that I'm grateful there are efforts underway by this administration to seek full resolution -- a peaceful resolution. It is time that it ends.
▶ 1:58:17Sen. Kelly: Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:58:21Chair Wicker: Senator tupper berville.
▶ 1:58:34Sen. Toomuberville: Centcom forces have targeted the houthi terrorist organization. As of april 27, they have struck 27 targets and killed hundreds of fighters and numerous leaders including senior leaders and officials. Have U.S.
▶ 1:59:01Sen. Toomuberville: Operations against the houthis been a success?
▶ 1:59:07Mr. Zimmerman: I support the administration's forcible approach toward the houthi, beginning in the early days of the administration with executive order that called for the elimination of the threat of the houthis with allies and designating them as a foreign terrorist organization. I don't think I have access to the classified information I would like to have to make an assessment about the efficacy of the strikes. I support with the administration is trying to do.
▶ 1:59:34Sen. Tuberville: Mr. overbaugh, one of the organizations you help oversee if confirmed is the missile and space intelligence center, a component of dia and located in huntsville, alabama. Provides a world-class analysis on the performance of foreign weapon systems, which is critical to ensuring our war fighters dominate the battlefield against our adversaries. Mr. overbaugh, are you familiar with msic and its analysis?
▶ 2:00:04Sen. Tuberville: Can you talk about how important the mission is?
▶ 2:00:07Mr. Overbaugh: Senator, I am confirmed -- familiar with msic and their role of feeding quality intelligence to ensure we have an accurate picture. Even more important is the potential for msic to play a key role ensuring we understand the adversarial threat as it relates to ensuring our golden dawn Mrs. effective as apostolate can be -- golden dome can be as effective as a possible.
▶ 2:00:39Sen. Tuberville: I hope you get to visit soon. Mr. lohmeier, you have an absolutely outstanding and unique career path is respected military officers. Thank you for your service. You have a breath of a prince air force and space force which is very uncommon but none of those experiences were managing large budgets.
▶ 2:01:02Sen. Tuberville: Why should you be trusted when we are taking physical responsibility more seriously than ever before and while there is a growing demand from the american people we have a clean audit of the defense department.
▶ 2:01:18Mr. Lohmeier: I'm glad I get to readdress this. While it's true that I don't personally have extensive experience with a large budget in the organization. Or acquisition experience, I have sound judgment. I demonstrated it throughout my life.
▶ 2:01:41Mr. Lohmeier: Secretary make demonstrated for the past clean audit since -- audits and he would be a phenomenal leader to work with. We have got exceptional professionals who have been trying to solve the budget and acquisition problems. Many have had extensive acquisition and budgeting experience but that doesn't mean you can solve the problem.
▶ 2:02:09Mr. Lohmeier: What I can commit to this committee and the american people as I'm interested in making managerial decisions, and exercising keen judgment and discernment about budget decisions, and coming to the right decisions I believe the american people would be grateful for and trust and doing that in concert with secretary mink and in support of the secretary of defense's priorities.
▶ 2:02:31Sen. Tuberville: Your knowledge will be important moving into space. You have a lot of exterior into that area. We look forward to working with you. It is going to be much more important part of our military in the near future. Thank you, john. I look forward to confirming you.
▶ 2:02:48Chair Wicker: I would mention the members what is going on on the floor. I think we can possibly finish this hearing before that vote ends. Senator king.
▶ 2:03:01Sen. King: Mr. lohmeier, the follow up on that question, my concern is the air force and your position will be responsible for two thirds of the modernization of the nuclear triad. The sentinel piece is looking like the most consequential civil works project the pentagon or perhaps in this whole country has ever undertaken.
▶ 2:03:36Sen. King: I am not satisfied with saying your data-driven and you will hire good people. My concern is you are the boss. You will be. Would be if confirmed. I'm uncomfortable -- I'm not talking about past tweets or books. I'm talking about the future.
▶ 2:03:58Sen. King: That is the management of probably the most complex and important defense project ever undertaken by the pentagon try to reassure me. A great centerfielder for the red sox is not necessarily qualified to be general manager. Your service is important. We are talking about these critically important acquisition projects. Try to reassure me if you can.
▶ 2:04:28Mr. Lohmeier: Thank you. I agree with your concern. I share your concern for the criticality of the sentinel program concerning the breach it has experienced. Modernization of the nuclear enterprise is a priority of mine. Here's the way I can reassure you. As I have throughout the rest of the hearing.
▶ 2:04:50Mr. Lohmeier: I have been entrusted throughout my career with both leadership of men and women in uniform as well as being entrusted with safeguarding and employing exceptionally exquisite and expensive weapons systems in the air force and the space -based infrared system, the missile warning architecture. An $18 billion architecture.
▶ 2:05:18Mr. Lohmeier: This is not a question of whether or not someone has the qualifications to manage the defense department. Who -- most human beings have never had that experience. This is a question of scale or scope. I have always been faithful to the trust committed to me. Even though the scale has been much smaller. I will say humbly I believe them up to the challenge and well qualified for the job.
▶ 2:05:44Mr. Lohmeier: I am air minded and space minded and the threats we face from our peer competitors in china.
▶ 2:05:50Sen. King: Thank you.
▶ 2:05:52Mr. Lohmeier: That is my best attempt to say I'm grateful for the opportunity but also humbled by it and concerned about it. I look forward to confirm to doing the utmost best to manage this serious program.
▶ 2:06:05Sen. King: Mr. overbaugh, every time -- like senator because I serve on the intelligence committee. The most important quality for any intelligence official is the willingness to tell the truth to the boss even if it is and what they want to hear. Dan coats said the job the intelligence community is to find the truth and tell the truth.
▶ 2:06:30Sen. King: Will you commit to me you are willing to walk into the oval office or into the office of the secretary of defense and say this is the intelligence we have about this particular problem that contradicts the policy desires of the president or the secretary or the head of the joint chiefs?
▶ 2:06:51Mr. Overbaugh: I can absolutely commit to that and I agree wholeheartedly that seeking the truth is one of the most important if not the most important components of an intelligence professionals job.
▶ 2:07:03Sen. King: Some of our real disasters have been caused by slanted or what I call cooked intelligence. That is to be avoided. Did russia start the war in ukraine by invading?
▶ 2:07:19Mr. Overbaugh: It's a military fact that russia invaded ukraine in february of 2022.
▶ 2:07:27Sen. King: There is one challenge about intelligence we have learned in afghanistan and then again in ukraine. That is the analysis of the will to fight of a population. We blew it in both cases. We overestimated the afghans' will to fight and had the disaster at the end of that war. Then we did not -- underestimated the ukrainians' will to fight.
▶ 2:07:57Sen. King: The intelligence was they would be -- the russians would be in give in two weeks -- kyiv in two weeks. The challenge is to pay attention to that. That will be a factor in our policy decision about taiwan. It is not an easy question. Not as easy as counting tanks from a satellite. It is nonetheless incredibly important intelligent challenge. I hope that is something you will pay attention to.
▶ 2:08:25Mr. Overbaugh: Senator, I will. I see that we are over time but I want to address this and I mentioned it in my opening statement about the importance of evaluating and questioning assumptions we used to make the assessments we make.
▶ 2:08:41Mr. Overbaugh: In examining the frameworks to determine how much they are may be by personal bias or bureaucratic bias, political influence or any other type of interference which would inhibit our ability to provide our decision-makers with the very best picture of adversarial threat to include, which I personally think is one of the most important components of any capability, will to fight.
▶ 2:09:08Sen. King: Find the truth and tell the truth. Mr. zimmerman, I will submit questions for the record.
▶ 2:09:14Chair Wicker: Senator budd.
▶ 2:09:17Sen. Budd: Congratulations to each of you and thank you for the families and friends to be here. Mr. lohmeier, are you familiar with the strategic basing process?
▶ 2:09:32Mr. Lohmeier: Somewhat senator.
▶ 2:09:34Sen. Budd: Right. -- great. Last month the department of air force transmitted its plan to congress for the sustainment and recapitalization of the air national guard fighter fleet. It was the result of much analysis and careful planning. It is this document right here. Have you had a chance to read this?
▶ 2:09:57Mr. Lohmeier: I have not.
▶ 2:10:00Sen. Budd: Suffrage air national guard base in michigan received -- is receiving 15 ex's. That is not part of the plan. Which I can guess will change things for the air force's frontline units, not the guardian it's. The frontline units -- guard units. Seymour johnson will have to train these a-10 pilots on the platform of the f-15.
▶ 2:10:31Sen. Budd: The mission using their f-15 e strike eagles. You flew the f-15?
▶ 2:10:37Mr. Lohmeier: C models, yes.
▶ 2:10:40Sen. Budd: That's a large unplanned increase in flying training compared to the simulator-based differences training for transitioning currently qualified f-15 pilots to the ex model. I want to paraphrase a statement from the air force about the training capacity down at seymour johnson. F-15 program flying training requirements will jump by greater than 50% in fiscal year 2027 and 2028.
▶ 2:11:13Sen. Budd: The air force has no training coded aircraft capacity to meet that requirement without reflow of combat coded f-15es. The air force is examining drastically cutting the f-15 syllabus length to meet those requirements.
▶ 2:11:34Sen. Budd: This creates risk on both quality and basic course aircrew graduate and on combat air forces that will receive aircrew with potentially subpar combat airman ship skills. -- airmanship skills. That statement was given by the air force in february. That is before suffrage basing decision was made.
▶ 2:12:01Sen. Budd: If confirmed, what will you do to ensure the fourth fighter wing at seymour johnson base has what they need to make ends meet with this additional training requirement?
▶ 2:12:14Mr. Lohmeier: I'm glad you brought all this up. You have my attention. I understood everything you said. It is of great interest. I'm familiar with the missions being flown out of seymour johnson. I will say publicly it matters a great deal to the air force and american people that we had over 80 drones shot down in the middle east this past year by a out of seymour johnson.
▶ 2:12:38Sen. Budd: They had just arrived at that very moment.
▶ 2:12:42Mr. Lohmeier: Potential mass casualty events and dozens of men and women suit up everyday out of seymour johnson doing a critical mission in defense of the homeland. You have my commitment that if confirmed I will look forward to working with Dr. mink if confirmed to look at these things in a nonpartisan way, the basing decisions and the proper force structure. I'm interested in learning more from you about seymour johnson in particular.
▶ 2:13:10Sen. Budd: Just to be clear, you will be responsible for assisting the secretary in organizing, training, and equipping the air force?
▶ 2:13:19Mr. Lohmeier: Yes. That's exactly what the role of the undersecretary is. Our chief prerogative is organizing training and equipment air and space forces to provide our combat and commanders.
▶ 2:13:33Sen. Budd: If confirmed, I look forward to hearing the plan on how the air force will solve this issue at seymour johnson air force base. Thank you all.
▶ 2:13:45Chair Wicker: Senator duckworth.
▶ 2:13:48Sen. Duckworth: You know from your military service that upholding good order and discipline is a foundation for our professional fighting force. Lethality relies on a holland practice of service members following lawful orders. Does not agree to look for weapons of mass destruction in iraq and we should have been destroying the taliban in afghanistan, still volunteered.
▶ 2:14:23Sen. Duckworth: Sometimes service numbers have to serve against personal opinions. Circumventing in real time can lead to life or death mistakes. Officers must carry out a policy to the best of their ability even when they might disagree with that policy. I have questions about your commitment to this core principle and the troubling signals your confirmation was sent to those in uniform. You claim to have only written your book and gone public after the inspector general concluded your complaint had no merit.
▶ 2:14:55Sen. Duckworth: There are other channels available to service members concerned about commander decisions or policy choices beyond the ig. Before you chose to write your book or speak out in the media about policies that concerned you, did you consider being a whistleblower to your senators or representatives which would have been protected under title x, section 1034?
▶ 2:15:15Mr. Lohmeier: Yes, senator.
▶ 2:15:18Sen. Budd: You did consider it. -- Sen. duckworth: did you consider.
▶ 2:15:26Mr. Lohmeier: I will do that, senator.
▶ 2:15:31Sen. Duckworth: Did your father conflate that all service vendors to seek redress for iran conducted by commander? -- for a wrong conducted by commander?
▶ 2:15:41Mr. Lohmeier: I did not.
▶ 2:15:43Sen. Duckworth: Why did you not?
▶ 2:15:45Mr. Lohmeier: There are many months in question of the timeframe we are talking about. The time we separated after I was relieved of command -- there was a command directed investigation about me and the general officer that have relieved me of my command. It was a traumatic period, hardship for my family and --
▶ 2:16:08Sen. Duckworth: I'm talking about when you wrote the book in uniform. You made the decision to write the book because you said there was no other way for you to address your concerns. You said you reached out to members of congress, which is news to me. You did not file an article 138 complaint prior to speaking.
▶ 2:16:28Mr. Lohmeier: I misunderstood your question. In my answer if I had considered reaching out to members of congress and the answer was yes.
▶ 2:16:35Sen. Duckworth: Did you do it?
▶ 2:16:38Mr. Lohmeier: I had communication with members of congress and I will be happy to provide that to you. I exhausted the means available to me. I had counseling with the base ig, space horse ig, pentagon public affairs, and the chain of command to include members of the joint chief before published the book.
▶ 2:16:56Sen. Duckworth: Nobody talked about article 138 complaint, records you could've taken?
▶ 2:17:04Mr. Lohmeier: If that was discussed, article 138, I don't recall the circumstances as to why I chose.
▶ 2:17:16Sen. Duckworth: I'm concerned you did not follow through on the recourses. There are rules governing how public servants -- public service nevers can be in opposition to lawful orders. He signaled to those it is ok to be insubordinate. A scholar that served in george w.
▶ 2:17:36Sen. Duckworth: Bush counsel -- they have ample -- the country would not be better served by senior officers provoking a civil military crisis to advertise policy differences with civilian leaders. You will relieved not because of your beliefs but for how you chose to express them on active duty while holding a position of authority over others. That is not persecution. That is accountability.
▶ 2:18:08Sen. Duckworth: If as a former commander you cannot recount the basis -- basic recourses available to service members, how can we expect you to lead airman and guardians? You were relieved not for your beliefs but for how you chose to express them on active duty while holding a position of authority over others. If itif it is true you follow te steps you to circumvent the chain of command while on active duty to speak out publicly without inform your leadership.
▶ 2:18:42Sen. Duckworth: You are decided to continue serving in violate your personal ethics. The rules governing opposition to lawful orders. I feel like you broke the rules. There are ways to do this and you chose to an said circumvent those rules. That sets the standards for people you are about to take charge of to continue to circumvent the rules. That is not conducive to good order and discipline within the military. Do you understand that?
▶ 2:19:13Sen. Duckworth: >> if chairman wicker is ok with me responding.
▶ 2:19:17Chair Wicker: Is the question is do you understand? >> I understand your view. I think in principle you and I agree on many things. I will reject the idea that I did anything unlawful, unethical , or publicly contrary. I never publicly criticized my chain of command.
▶ 2:19:43Chair Wicker: I was never politically partisan while acting an official capacity in both of those allegations are the reasons I was relieved of my command and I was not found guilty of either of those things.
▶ 2:19:53Chair Wicker: Thank you senator duckworth. I think the distinguished ranking member has a follow-up question.
▶ 2:20:02Sen. Reed: Earlier this year it came to our attention that current civil and military personnel have been receiving emails threatening them with being fired for supporting dot policy.
▶ 2:20:22Sen. Reed: One states that with the incoming administration looking to remove this corrupt traitorous officers such as yourself will certainly be putting your name on the list to be removed. No about the whoop d.e.I. -- we know about the woke d.e.I. Policies.
▶ 2:20:54Sen. Reed: You and redacted spouses name will be lucky if you're able to correct your military retirement. End quote. If you became aware of someone sending threatening messages what would you do? >> the way leaders communicate with their troops matters a great deal. Having been in command there is no way to retain the respect of your troops of every background.
▶ 2:21:23Sen. Reed: I do not appreciate the tone in which that email was written. I don't know who wrote it. I don't know the background of that email. I will say I share this committees commitment to an apolitical military. I do not believe witchhunts are healthy in the military. I believe unity is our strength and when we start to go down the path of discussing partisan politics and ideology it divides men and women.
▶ 2:21:55Sen. Reed: That is why the american people tend to be so divided. Our uniform wearers on to be focused on the mission and not being caught up in this rhetoric. If these kinds of things came to my attention than they deserve attention. Every man and woman in uniform deserve to be treated with respect. >> do you believe it would be disqualifying for someone on active service in the military as an officer or civilian if they sent such an email?
▶ 2:22:32Mr. Lohmeier: Notionally. I think the context matters. I would not write in email with that tone personally. What is disqualifying at a very high level is whether or not people are acting ethically and legally, upholding their oath to defend the constitution and filing the lawful orders of those who have been appointed to lead them. That is what every enlisted and officer troop across every branch of the military is taught to believe.
▶ 2:23:04Mr. Lohmeier: Whatever baggage I bring to my service in uniform politically, ideologically I leave that at my doorstep. I get the same haircut as those next to me, I believe the same color and focus on the same mission and we care about readiness and lethality.
▶ 2:23:18Sen. Reed: I believe context is important and if you look at the context, they create an impression of someone committed to frankly reprisal, revenge, weeding out from the service those people who do not ascribe to your thoughts. You said it in so many words in your filings and your work.
▶ 2:23:52Sen. Reed: I find it very difficult for this enlightenment that will disabuse you of all of those notions and make you someone who you claim today is apolitical, not concerned about the extracurricular activities of people in terms of their political positions.
▶ 2:24:21Sen. Reed: That is totally inconsistent with what you have done over the last four years.
▶ 2:24:25Mr. Lohmeier: Am I allowed to respond?
▶ 2:24:29Vice Chair Murray: Of court --
▶ 2:24:30Sen. Reed: Of course.
▶ 2:24:33Mr. Lohmeier: I will say briefly that I believe everyone who has been in this hearing understands time authentic and trying to be true to what I say. I believe every man and woman who has ever worked with me, would be glad to welcome me back into public service.
▶ 2:24:49Sen. Reed: Does that include the people who find name you threatened?
▶ 2:24:56Mr. Lohmeier: I have not by name threatened anybody?
▶ 2:24:59Sen. Reed: You indicated your displeasure with lots of people by name.
▶ 2:25:04Mr. Lohmeier: I am displeased with the cowardly behavior of many people that I've never threatened anybody. We have many great men and women in uniform high and low who all have the right to try their best to serve this country faithfully. I do not agree with all of the decisions they make but I'm not a vindictive person. I love all people and I think men and women in uniform would be grateful to see me come back into service.
▶ 2:25:31Sen. Reed: Thank you for your testimony. I will have questions for Mr. overbaugh and Mr. zimmerman.
▶ 2:25:41Chair Wicker: This concludes today's hearing. I would like to thank our witnesses for the testimony. Submit materials for review within two business days of the conclusion of this hearing which is right now. We are adjourned.