Opening Statements

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the Department of Defense's progress on cybersecurity and efforts to strengthen the security and performance of the Department's digital infrastructure. 


Rep. Bacon's Statement As Prepared For Delivery:

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today’s hearing on the information technology posture of the Department of Defense.
 
To edit a quote from Don Rumsfeld—you fight with the network you’ve got.

We conduct command and control with the networks we have.

We pay our warfighters with the business applications we have.

We plan and conduct operations on the desktops and laptops that we have.
 
We fight at the speed of data, and the underlying IT has never been more important.
 
What I want to hear today is simple—what is the state of these critical IT networks?
 
I am interested in hearing more about the Department’s plans to modernize our networks, provide access to secure cloud environments at all security levels, and ensure the cybersecurity of our DOD and industrial base assets.
 
While we will be addressing DOD’s major artificial intelligence developments at the upcoming Research and Engineering posture hearing, it is critical to note that none of that technology works without the foundation provided by IT.

If the networks don’t work, nothing else will.
 
With that, we’re joined today by Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Ms. Kirsten Davies, who joined the Department from industry in December.

She brings two decades of experience leading large-scale cybersecurity and enterprise technology efforts for major global companies.

Ms. Davies, thank you for being here and for your willingness to serve.