Years of continuous combat operations and inadequate funding have put the Navy and Marine Corps aviation into a hole from which they are only now beginning to recover.

You cannot say that often enough.

We are going to try to give you a Seapower title that gives you what you need.

The MAGTF never possessed a 'dedicated' Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) capability.

The Navy intends to divest all Legacy Hornets from its active component squadrons by 2019, with full department divestiture complete by 2030.

Yes, MEUs would benefit from organic airborne EW capabilities.

Well, further comparing what you all are doing to the Air Force, Admiral Conn, the Air Force has opted to cancel its JSTARS recapitalization plan, arguing that the proposed replacement was not able to survive a high-end fight.

Does the current program of record provide sufficient capability and capacity to support the NDS priority of China and Russia?

It has taken too long to get into the hands of our warfighters. That is the biggest issue I have with that program.

On that, let's keep our thinking caps and look for innovative approaches.

congress recently passed a 2-year budget agreement providing additional funds to the Department of Defense in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

Please explain how the Department's Legacy Divestiture plan affects USMC aviation readiness and combat capability.

Should we dismiss it out of hand, or would your advice to the President of the United States be to follow up, with caution?

Our National Defense Strategy now states that, for long-term security competitions, our competition with China and Russia are foremost.

There was a RAND study that came out in December... they said that, under plausible scenarios, the United States could actually lose the next war.

I think one of the most strategic acts in the next few months or in the next few years is that Russia demonstratively lose in Ukraine.

We are in a competition for talent, and it is not just with the airlines.

How does this budget request begin to lay the groundwork to fully equip and man the 10th carrier air wing?