Cramer Questions TRANSCOM, USFK Nominees on Modernization Efforts, Access to ISR at SASC Hearing

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nominations of Lieutenant General Randall Reed to be Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson to be Commander of United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

TRANSCOM is a unified combatant command, which conducts globally integrated mobility operations and provides enabling capabilities in order to sustain the Joint Force in support of national objectives. USFK deters aggression and defends the Republic of Korea (ROK) to maintain stability in Northeast Asia by supporting and training joint ROK-U.S. forces and United Nations Command multi-national forces.

Cramer highlighted two important airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) bases in North Dakota - the 319th Reconnaissance Wing and the 119th National Guard. He focused on the retirement of legacy systems with little to replace them and inquired whether Brunson's command has adequate access to ISR.

"If […] given the opportunity to serve as the Commander of the Tri-Command, I would do much the same: continue to assess the needs of ISR that's meeting the requirements that we have across domains, the physical domains, in the [Korean Theater of Operations]," said Brunson.

Combatant Commands are relying more and more on space-based capabilities for their ISR. Cramer asked Brunson if he could describe his relationship with General Stephen Whiting and General B. Chance Saltzman, how Space Force and Space Command can better support USFK, and whether or not the integration of space can fulfill ISR demands.

Cramer, co-chair of the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus, asked Reed what he sees as the greatest gaps in technology and modernization hindering his command's ability to beat our adversaries.

"As you look at your new mission or job soon, can you think of any gaps in technology or modernization demands?" asked Cramer. "What can we be helpful with, as Congress, when it comes to getting you what you need?"

"Being connected to the Joint Force is very, very critical," said Reed. "Not just to be able to talk to others and not just being able to make sure that they can talk to us, but the bottom line is that it equates to survivability. When the force is connected, and we're able to determine what's going on in this space, […] then we can make decisions at the speed of the war to actually out-maneuver the adversary. If [I am] confirmed, moving to TRANSCOM, there is certainly room to get the rest of the force connected, as well."

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