Matthew Donovan, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told senators that the Department of Defense must “attract and retain people with the right skills” to address emerging threats, DoD News reported Tuesday.

Donovan said to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that service members deserve the best equipment and training to operate in new domains such as cyber and space.

He noted that military recruitment challenges are a national issue and the Pentagon is working with industry and academe to add suitable personnel to its cyber workforce.

"But as we look toward the future, toward the imperatives of the National Defense Strategy, then we're seeing that we're going to need to attract those skills that are in so much demand on the outside as well," said Donovan.

Senate is currently evaluating Donovan’s nomination to serve in his role on a permanent basis.