Mike Mullen

The national debt is the single biggest threat to national security, according to Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Tax payers will be paying around $600 billion in interest on the national debt by 2012, the chairman told students and local leaders in Detroit.

“That’s one year’s worth of defense budget,” he said, adding that the Pentagon needs to cut back on spending.

“We’re going to have to do that if it’s going to survive at all,” Mullen said, “and do it in a way that is predictable.”

He also called on the defense industry to hire veterans and become more robust in the future.

“I need the defense industry, in particular, to be robust,” he said. “My procurement budget is over $100 billion, [and] I need to be able to leverage that as much as possible with those [companies] who reach out [to veterans].”

Mullen highlighted the unity of purpose between the government and industry as well, in working to solve national security issues.

“I have found that universally, [private-sector workers] care every bit as much about our country, are every bit as patriotic and wanting to make a difference … as those who wear the uniform and are in harm’s way,” he said.

Photo: Defense Tech

In a video message released today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the Defense INVEST Program, which is designed to solicit ideas from DoD employees and service members on ways to reduce costs.

During a briefing held Aug. 9, Gates said he is looking for military and DoD civilian personnel to think outside the box on ways to reduce costs at the DoD. Specifically, he is soliciting ideas that will eliminate duplication of effort and overhead, ways to save resources and places where the layering of organizations can be reduced.

“Within the department, we are launching an online contest for the purpose of soliciting and rewarding creative ideas to save money and use resources more effectively,” he said. “I would encourage all DoD employees to visit ‘www.defense.gov’ on the Web to learn more.”

Adm Thad Allen

Admiral Thad W. Allen, the commandant of the Coast Guard, was relieved by Admiral Robert Papp yesterday. Adm. Allen will continue to serve as National Incident Commander for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“It has been an honor to serve as your Commandant for the past four years and I am confident in Admiral Papp’s ability to lead the Service during a period of tremendous changes, challenges, and opportunities,” Allen writes in a blog post addressed to ‘Guardians’. “The value of the U.S. Coast Guard has never been greater than it is today and it is the men and women of our great Service who truly make it all possible.”

Allen became commandant in 2006 and, during his tenure, transformed the acquisition process, created a new support structure for the Reserve Forces, enhanced its marine capabilities, stood up the Force Readiness Command and Deployable Operations Group and created the Maritime Enforcement Rating. Allen also strengthened the Coast Guard’s relationship with the Department of Homeland Security.

“The common thread connecting each of these of initiatives and actions, and my overarching goal as Commandant, was for the Coast Guard to become more change-centric – to sense changes in our operational environment and have the courage to make course corrections before problems overwhelm us or we have terms dictated to us externally,” Allen writes. “To do that we must become more diverse, adapt to new technologies, and embrace social media as well. I believe we have become more change-centric and a learning organization that capitalizes on lessons learned.”

Allen concluded his remarks by thanking the men and women of the Coast Guard for their hard work and dedication.

“I am incredibly proud of all our active duty members, reservists, civilians and auxiliarists,” he writes. “No matter how fiercely the winds of change swirl around us, our people stabilize the Service. You are America’s Maritime Guardians and your country needs you now more than ever. It has been my extraordinary honor to have been your Commandant and I am excited to see where you will take the organization in the future.”

“The conventional wisdom for years has been that al Qaeda’s preferred method was a spectacular attack like 9/11. But the defining characteristic of today’s threat seems to be its diversity,” they said in a prepared statement.

To highlight the growing diversity of the threat, Hamilton and Kean discussed the recent attempted terror attacks against the United States, including the attempted bombing of Times Square and the “underwear bomber” attempt on a flight to Detroit late last year.

“In both of these cases, al Qaeda affiliates thought previously as regional or local threats demonstrated their ability to reach the United States. We’re well aware of the threat emanating from the tribal regions of Pakistan,” they said. “We’ve also come to appreciate the increasing threat of homegrown terrorism as some Americans have become radicalized.”

As the threat landscape changes, Kean and Hamilton advocate for a new approach to the problem, with new policy recommendations. Also, recent events have only accentuated the need to continue with intelligence reform, according to Hamilton and Kean.

“There has been good work done since September 11, 2001, but we need to continue down the path toward further integration and insist on a greater level of effectiveness within the intelligence community,” they said.

That reform also needs to alter the Intelligence Community’s methods of handling intelligence, according to Kean and Hamilton.

“The Intelligence Community must become more competent in obtaining and using appropriate information on people who cross borders and may have nefarious intent, including Americans,” they said.

Read the full text of the testimony here

During a hearing earlier this week, Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force, and General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff, testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on the Air Force’s FY2011 Budget. The budget, a proposed $119.6 billion, is spread out between meeting the current and future needs of the Air Force.

In prepared testimony, Donley outlined four key areas the Air Force was targeting: winning today’s wars, preventing and deterring future conflicts, preserving and enhancing the all-volunteer nature of the Air Force and preparing for future conflicts. The testimony also outlined the core functions of the Air Force, such as air superiority, special operations, superiority in cyberspace, nuclear deterrence and space superiority, among others.

As a means to ensure the Air Force maintains air superiority, it is requesting $12.5 billion, which will be used in aircraft modifications and building up radar capabilities. To maintain its nuclear deterrence capabilities, the Air Force is requesting $295 million to invest in both the ICBM and airborne bomber fleets.

“America’s ability to operate across the spectrum of conflict relies heavily on space capabilities developed and operated by the Air Force,” according to the statement.

Donley is requesting $10.9 billion to improve space-related systems. In perhaps one of the more important areas, cybersecurity, the Air Force is requesting $150 million, $31 million of which will be used to expand the cyber acquisition capabilities. The rest will go towards U.S. Cyber Command and expanding the cyber professional workforce.

The proposal also includes $6.7 billion in support of special operations, largely related to delivery platforms such as the CV-22.

“The Air Force continues to rapidly increase its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability and capacity to support combat operations,” Donley said. “Air Force ISR provides timely, fused, and actionable intelligence to the Joint force, from forward deployed locations and globally distributed centers around the globe.”

Currently 90 percent of the Air Force’s ISR capabilities are deployed.

The Air Force also plans to expand its partnerships throughout the world.

“In FY11, we will expand our capabilities to conduct building partner capacity (BPC) operations with partner air forces,” Donley said. “Past experience has shown us that we are more effective trainers when we operate the same platforms as our partners.”

This coincides with a request to provide budgetary assistance to purchase platforms that are used by Air Force partners.

“Balancing requirements for today and tomorrow determined our recapitalization strategy,” Donley said.

“We chose to improve our existing capabilities whenever possible, and to pursue new systems when required. This recapitalization approach attempts to keep pace with threat developments and required capabilities, while ensuring stewardship of national resources,” he added.

Adm. Gary Roughead

During a Service Chiefs’ Panel at the Navy League Sea Air Space 2010 Exposition in Maryland this week, Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) told the audience that the current pace of operations in the Navy is incredibly busy due to current commitments and pointed to the need to increase affordability.

Discussing the Navy’s versatility, Adm. Roughead said that the Navy should be on the forefront of ballistic missile defense and he expects that the current multi-national anti-piracy mission will continue.

“Even as we’re engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, we continue our normal activity, our normal presence, our normal assurance [and] deterrence in so many other places around the world,” Roughead said. “Whether it’s the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific, Africa or South America, we continue to keep watch in those areas.”

He also discussed the need to make processes and material more affordable. He stated that protests following the awarding of a contract are disruptive and are “an inhibitor for building the fleet.”

“We need to look at every way to improve affordability. Common hulls, common components, open architecture are key,” said Roughead.

Finally, Roughead discussed the future needs of the Navy. In addition to current projects and goals, Roughead sees a future focus on anti-submarine operations, ballistic missile defense and moving more into the world of unmanned vehicles.

In a blog post on the White House website, Chopra and Kundra outlined three major findings from reviews of the plans submitted by agencies against the requirements of the Open Government Directive. These findings include that there is more still to be done, practices for open government should be reviewed and most agencies are on board with the open government concept.

While Kundra and Chopra praised the agencies for completing the process, includng some agencies not specifically bound by the directive. However, more work needs to be done for the agencies to meet the standards outlined in the initiative.

“Only three of the cabinet and other key agencies won a green flag for across-the-board excellence. All the others – including our own offices of OSTP and OMB – have more work to do before the Plan fully satisfies every requirement in the Directive,” they write. “With your feedback, we are keen to improve upon these living documents to fulfill the letter and the spirit of the Directive.”

NASA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation were the three agencies to achieve approved status across the board.

“This is a partnership that is absolutely vital to U.S. interests, but it’s also complex,” Flournoy told members of the House Armed Services Committee. She also said that Pakistan is a vital ally in the region and not just for it’s support for counter terror efforts.

Pakistan is increasingly helpful in dismantling the insurgency taking place in the Af-Pak region, Flournoy said. Also, a string of terrorist attacks on Pakistani cities has helped to swing support of the Pakistani people behind the counterinsurgency efforts.

“It galvanized the population to see this as more than just a U.S. fight,” she said, “but one in which they have a vital interest.”

Not only is the U.S. providing support in the realm of counter terror but also in providing critical needs like potable water and energy.

“Their assessment of our staying power is changing,” Flournoy told the committee. “We’ve been extremely responsive to their needs in funding and other support. I think they are starting to believe that we are committed to the greater security of the region and that extends their willingness to work with us.”

While the Pakistani government has made considerable gains since the offensives into Swat and Southern Waziristan, intelligence and military officials have noticed a “trickling in” of Taliban fighters into previously secured regions, according to Paxton. The U.S. must continue to support Pakistan’s military and civilian efforts to keep the Taliban from regaining a foothold in cleared areas.

“It is imperative that we support Pakistan,” Paxton said. “Their fight is directly aligned with our goals in the region. We must remain steadfast in developing their abilities.”

In a blog post, Kundra writes “This change means that agencies will be able to identify vulnerabilities faster and actively protect against attacks. The new approach is the result of many months of work by an interagency task force that reached out not only to agency officials but also to the private sector. The group identified best practices and innovative approaches that will make our cybersecurity efforts more effective and efficient.”

Previously, government agencies were forced to spend significant time and capital on producing paper based reports.

“The State Department alone, in the past six years, spent $133 million amassing 95,000 pages of security documentation for about 150 major IT systems. This works out to roughly $1,400 per page in reports that were often outdated days within being published,” Kundra writes.

The ultimate goal of moving away from the paper based system is to implement solutions that work to enhance security, rather than focus on generating paperwork.

“In order for the government to focus on the necessary automation and continuous monitoring of the security status of all systems, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide operational support to all federal agencies,” Kundra writes. “DHS will monitor and report agency progress to ensure the effective implementation of this guidance.”

Kundra also highlighted the need for collaboration in the cybersecurity arena and he believes that the groundwork being laid now will yield security dividends in the future.

“A secure, trusted computing environment in the federal government is the responsibility of everyone involved. It requires employees, contractors, and the American people working together to create a culture of vigilance and security so we can efficiently leverage the power of technology while respecting the privacy and civil liberties of the American people,” he writes.

Asked to report on DOJ’s work, priorities and goals, Holder detailed thwarted terrorist plots and mentioned how the DOJ detected and disrupted a plan to attack the New York City subways. He also mentioned securing a guilty plea from David Headley for assisting the attacks in Mumbai in November 2008, as well as obtaining the cooperation of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to bomb an airliner landing in Detroit last Christmas.

At a time when questions have been raised about the role of U.S. courts, it is important to note most of these convictions came during the last administration, which made the criminal justice system an integral component of its counterterrorism strategy, Holder said. The former administration used the criminal justice system to interrogate, prosecute and incarcerate terrorists for the same reason the Obama administration has: It is an extremely effective tool to ensure justice and protect the security of the American people, Holder continued.

Speaking about the prosecution of those charged with plotting the 9/11 attacks, Holder said no final decision has been made about the forum in which Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants will be tried.

“It should be clear to everyone by now that there are many legal, national security and practical factors to be considered here,” he said. “As a consequence, there are many perspectives on what the most appropriate and effective forum is. In making this decision, I can assure you that this administration has only one paramount goal: to ensure that justice is done in this case. In the pursuit of justice, we will enforce the law and protect the American people.”

When Holder attended an awards dinner for the Constitution Project yesterday, he commented on the proposal by some members of the Congress to ban the use of civilian courts in prosecutions of terrorism-related activity and said it would harm national security.

“Without civilian law enforcement and civilian courts, we would be denied the use of what has been our most effective weapon for disrupting, dismantling and defeating terror plots,” Holder said. “It would hinder our ability to secure actionable intelligence, and to enlist international cooperation, in our fight against terrorism. It would deny us the means to punish the guilty and deter those who would commit crimes against us. And it would be a disservice to the history of our civilian justice system. There’s no question that if such a plan advances, it would seriously harm our national security.”