“The United States is currently defended from existing intercontinental missile threats posed by countries such as North Korea by the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). If confirmed, I would assess ongoing efforts to improve national missile defense, with a particular focus on improving discrimination capabilities and sensors for the detection of both ballistic and hypersonic missiles.”

“The missile threat posed by China is increasing. If confirmed, I look forward to developing a deeper understanding of U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific region and to working with allies and partners to enhance missile defense efforts in the region. Cooperation strengthens deterrence and provides assurance essential to U.S. allies threatened by missile coercion and potential attacks.”

Last Thursday, the Honorable Kathleen Hicks, was confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) to be the 35th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. In a historic confirmation, Hicks will also be the first woman confirmed by the United States Senate to hold this powerful position for the Department of Defense.

In her testimony, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks made reference to the recent op-ed written by General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the U.S. Air Force chief of staff, and General David H. Berger, the U.S. Marine Corps commandant, in echoing General Brown and General Berger’s call for ushering in a new understanding of military readiness, stating that “the biggest challenge is the balancing of the readiness for challenges of today and preparing for the future”.

Deputy Secretary Hicks’ confirmation comes at a time the U.S. faces an increasingly formidable growing missile threat both regionally and strategically over the past year of 2020.

Our Nation and the World looks forward to Deputy Secretary Hicks’ competence and experience in addressing these most pressing challenges.