Mark Begich

Part of the work you do in the military is try to look at risk analysis... If you can reduce the risk you save lives.

I was just in Afghanistan... that's powerful. That gives us tactical advantage, at least from my perspective.

We should have further discussion on the need for a U.S.-controlled deepwater port in the Arctic.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), do you support it?

Thank you very much.

This kind of agreement in the future of the Arctic is going to be another piece of the equation to our military positioning.

I believe that I probably occupy--80 to 85 percent of the ALCOM commander's time.

Your gap analysis, will that also then be utilized as you move forward in your long-term budget planning?

Admiral Willard, would you please provide manpower summaries (military, contractor, and civilian billets) for Alaskan Command for fiscal year 2012?

I firmly believe Alaskan Command is and will remain an integral component of enabling PACOM to carry out its mission.

Admiral Willard, Northern Edge is a critical exercise to prepare forces for contingencies in the PACOM AOR.

Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey, why not utilize U.S. locations, like Alaska, as we shift our focus to the Asia-Pacific region to simultaneously promote economic development and readiness?

Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey, the Sea-Based X-Band (SBX) radar is critical to GMD system performance and warfighter confidence in the system.

The request for BRAC appears to be preemptive and driven by budget constraints, not by national security needs.

Secretary Panetta, BRAC 2005 cost DOD $35 billion to implement.

The costs of a potential BRAC round will not be known until after DOD has developed its recommendations.

Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey, last week, Admiral Locklear, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) commander nominee, recognized Alaska's strategic location, calling the State and its installations critical and significant to his mission.

Shouldn't we ensure the military's global footprint is aligned with our strategy?

Why is DOD not pursuing a more aggressive effort to identify sites overseas for closure and realignment?

The formal BRAC Commission process is the most objective, thorough, and non-partisan route to pursue with respect to real property management.

The Air Force intends to put Eielson in warm status by 2015.

Once infrastructure is lost in the United States, the capacity may never be gained back.

Secretary Panetta, please provide more details regarding DOD's intent to seek authority for BRAC.

The fact is there are only four countries that have not signed on: North Korea, Libya, Iran, and us.

Thank you very much.