John McCain

Mr. Kendall, outside the context of rapid acquisitions, do you believe the Department should explore ways that do not involve Government funding for research and development?

Mr. Kendall, in the context of traditional procurements, what are your views on items that are developed by industry without any Government funding?

I definitely see value in the development of a streamlined path for rapid acquisition.

I hope to strengthen the discussion of cost risks in the budgetary and acquisition materials that the Department provides to Congress for major defense programs.

What cost estimate information do you think it is important for Congress to have when considering funding for major defense acquisition programs?

Ms. Fox, you bring a wealth of analytical and research management experience to this new position, and we went to great lengths to ensure that you have the independence, resources, and access needed to provide the advice and information…

Mr. Yonkers, what special steps, if any, would you take to ensure that others might not purposefully or inadvertently make decisions that might result in the inappropriate awarding of task or delivery orders under this program?

In your opinion, should the internal Air Force assessments of installations and ranges used to select bases for the F-35 be open and transparent to allow review by local communities affected by the basing decisions?

If Mr. Kendall and Ms. Fox are confirmed--and I am confident that they will be--they will each play a vital role in implementing the provisions of the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009.

Our objective here is first and foremost that our servicemembers in theater have the weapons they need when they need it.

I support the President's decision to close the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay.

What specific steps has the Joint Staff taken, and do you anticipate will be taken, to help ensure the requirements of the recently enacted Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 to implement much needed changes to the…

Mr. Yonkers, what role would you have, if any, in issuing task orders under WERC 09 to prime contractors under this program?

Please provide the current planning timeline for the Air Force to select bases and commence F-35 operations.

I have concerns, however, about the possibility that those Services and commands might not be going about the right way.

I believe JCIDS should be revised or canceled.

We need combat troops now, we need more of them, and as quickly as possible.

Time is not on our side.

Now, help me through why we have a restatement of the President's strategy which was announced in March and yet there is no recommendation on what is obviously the most important aspect, both strategically and domestically?

I think I speak for all Senators in thanking you for your personal efforts to address the welfare of our wounded warriors.

If we followed such a course, do you think the situation in Afghanistan would improve or get worse?

As you may recall, by April 2004, in fact, the Department of Defense (DOD) reported that there were 208,000 Iraqis either on duty or being trained for security units.

I urge you and Secretary Gates to continue to advocate in the strongest possible terms for the weapons systems we need for the readiness and effectiveness against our current enemies.

There are no easy choices in Iraq and the temptation is to wash our hands of this messy situation. To follow this impulse, however, would portend catastrophe. Withdrawing before there's a stable and legitimate Iraqi authority would turn…

If we await the day when the Afghan National Army is increased in size and capable of carrying out all of these operations fully on its own, it may well be too late.