We are appreciative and grateful. We recognize, so many of us recognize just the role of our Reserve Forces.

The United States is an Arctic nation, and of course, this is a strategically important region to us.

Thank you for your leadership.

I think many of us in this committee, in this Congress are very concerned about where we are with our naval fleet.

I feel it is important to always underscore that we never take our eye off of North Korea.

So, let me ask a question about the expansion of research and the modernization funding in OSD.

Maybe sluggish is even too kind of a word but if you have to really critically assess where we are in and how we're improving the acquisition process.

We need to keep leaning in and it's going to take all of us.

I know that this is, again, one of those issues that is generating a lot of debate out there.

Seems to me that if you're a real Marine, by God that's where you want to go train.

In its 2021 Arctic Strategy 'Regaining Arctic Dominance', the Army asserts that a Multi-Domain Task Force in Alaska is the first step in setting the conditions for success in the Arctic.

if we don't take care of our people, if we don't give them predictability, those decades of experience that they have, that will take decades to replace, they are going to vote with their feet, and they are going to do something else.

We are appreciative and grateful. We recognize, so many of us recognize just the role of our Reserve Forces and all that they bring in terms of talent and experience to the fight.

I need to know and I'd like your commitment, Admiral, that the Navy as the contract agent for this effort is proactively supporting the Coast Guard and their acquisition of additional icebreakers.

the concern here of course is that you are going to have an impact on the mission on our preparedness, it seems to me you are potentially taking on a lot of risk there.

I think that tight coupling is where when the dollars get big there needs to be a service partner identified in advance before the money gets too big.

So, the Navy has been very supportive of replicator.

I think would be a strategic critical error.