John McCain

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Madam Secretary, for being here. Thank you for your hard work.

Secretary Donley, what are the major milestones and estimated dates of completion for the environmental impact statement (EIS)?

I am trying to understand the decision announced last year to move two F-16 training squadrons from Luke AFB, AZ, to Holloman AFB, NM.

DOD has proposed an efficiency initiative to reduce the number of Joint Task Forces (JTF).

Secretary Donley, will the basing process be fair and transparent with the criteria made public, and subsequently the results of the assessment made available to Congress?

I want to ensure that the process is fair and based on the most urgent long-term needs of the Air Force, the combatant commands, and national security.

Do you favor establishment of a unified military medical command among the military departments?

General Schwartz, in your opinion, what are the options to help mitigate the strike fighter shortfall?

Secretary Donley, can the Air Force adequately conduct its pilot training mission at Holloman AFB, given the fact that the range to be used for training is owned, managed, and controlled by the Army?

Is this split-base training of F-16 pilots efficient?

If this is a new concept of operations, should the Air Force be conducting other AOC consolidations?

Secretary Donley, is the projected savings based on a final concept of operations for a consolidated AOC? If not, why not?

When should a decision be made for pursuing the development of a follow-on ICBM?

Given that the Air Force has already invested over $500 million to refurbish the JSTARS fleet, including development and non-recurring engineering for the reengining program, wouldn't continuing the reengining program be cost-effective to…

What concerns, if any, do you have about increasingly relying on the old B-52 platform to satisfy our long-range strike capability beyond the 2018 threshold?

Secretary Gates announced, among other things, that he would recommend deferring the start of a new bomber program.

Secretary Donley and General Schwartz, do you have a plan for how to maintain that capacity?

General Schwartz, is it intended to accommodate possible restart of the program or is it sustainment-only?

Secretary Donley, when are the first jets scheduled to arrive?

Secretary Donley, why would the Air Force want to deliberately subject a tight F-16 pilot training syllabus to the impact of having to train on a range they do not own?

Secretary Donley, since both AOCs have been operating with less manning than was planned and authorized, what manpower assumed savings were used to develop the initiative?

The fiscal year 2012 budget proposes to buy three less launch vehicles over the next 5 years yet will cost $3.4 billion more than what was planned in the fiscal year 2011 budget.

There is a strong potential for interference to these critical national security systems.

General Schwartz, is there a projected strike fighter shortfall for the Air Force? If there is, then what is that number?

Secretary Donley, do you anticipate that some funds may need to be reprogrammed for JSTARS reengining this year?