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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing to examine the qualifications of two Department of Defense nominees.

Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.

The United States is up against the most dangerous threat environment we have faced since World War II.  I say this at almost every hearing we have because it bears repeating and it’s true and I’m not sure that Americans realize this or frankly that everyone in this town understands this. In such challenging times, I am grateful that these two individuals, and others, have stepped up.

Mr. Tony Tata has been nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.  If confirmed, he would assume a critical role.  He would oversee total force management, including policies governing personnel readiness, health affairs, training, and quality of life.  His nomination comes as I say, at this pivotal time.  The Department is working to refocus on warfighting and readiness following years of misplaced emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Mr. Tata is a decorated combat veteran, as we’ve already heard, and retired Brigadier General, and he will bring a warfighter’s perspective to this position.  I am interested to learn how Mr. Tata plans to build on recent recruitment and retention successes, how he hopes to ensure high readiness standards grounded in operational realities, and how he will work to enhance quality of life for service members and their families – particularly in healthcare and family support.

Ms. Sutton has been nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy.  Ms. Sutton has over two decades of experience in cyber policy, technology development, and legislative oversight.  Her expertise in this domain has been helpful to this Committee, especially during her tenure as a Professional Staff Member for the late Chairman Jim Inhofe.

If confirmed, Ms. Sutton will be only the second individual ever to hold this position, which was formally created in March 2024 as directed by the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.  Though the role is new, it is very important.  Ms. Sutton would be the senior official responsible for cyber operation policies.

If confirmed, she would be responsible for ensuring our cyber forces have what they need to stay ahead of threats such as Volt Typhoon, a series of Chinese cyber activities that create opportunities for future attacks on America’s critical infrastructure.  Our nation needs the cyber mission force to be ready, trained, and equipped with state-of-the-art tools developed using advanced technology such as artificial intelligence. I look forward to hearing her views on deterrence in cyberspace, how to bring technology to our cyber operators at a more rapid pace, and what additional resources she will need and what and authorities are required to build the capabilities needed.