NOMINATION OF ADM. VERNON E. CLARK, USN, FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE OF ADMIRAL AND TO BE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2000

U.S. SENATE,

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES,

Washington, DC.

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:03 a.m., in room SR-222, Russell Senate Office Building, Senator John Warner (chairman) presiding.

Committee members present: Senators Warner, Thurmond, Snowe, Hutchinson, Levin, Robb and Reed.

Committee staff members present: Romie L. Brownlee, staff director; Scott W. Stucky, general counsel.

Professional staff members present: Charles S. Abell, Charles W. Alsup, John R. Barnes, William C. Greenwalt, Gary M. Hall, George W. Lauffer, Patricia L. Lewis, and Thomas L. MacKenzie.

Minority staff members present: David S. Lyles, staff director for the minority; Daniel J. Cox, Jr., professional staff member; Creighton Greene, professional staff member; Gerald J. Leeling, minority counsel; Peter K. Levine, minority counsel.

Staff assistants present: Beth Ann Barozie, Kristin A. Dowley, Michele A. Traficante.

Committee members' assistants present: Walter E. (Skip) Fisher, assistant to Senator McCain; Margaret Hemenway, assistant to Senator Smith; Gregory C. McCarthy, assistant to Šenator Inhofe; George M. Bernier, III, assistant to Senator Santorum; Thomas A. Vecchiolla, assistant to Senator Snowe; Robert Alan McCurry, assistant to Senator Roberts; Douglas Flanders, assistant to Senator Allard; Michael P. Ralsky, assistant to Senator Hutchinson; Arch Galloway, II, assistant to Senator Sessions; Menda S. Fife, assistant to Senator Kennedy; William K. Sutey, assistant to Senator Robb; Andrew Vanlandingham, assistant to Senator Cleland.

Senator HUTCHINSON [presiding]. The committee will come to order to consider the nomination of Admiral Vernon Clark to be the Chief of Naval Operations. [Pause.]

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN WARNER,

CHAIRMAN

Chairman WARNER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. A day I shall long remember, a petty officer, third-class radioman intro

ducing the Chief of Naval Operations. I guess that is what it is all about in America. It can happen. [Laughter.]

We have before us today a very distinguished American citizen, who has been selected by the President and Secretary of Defense, and I commend both, to take on the most important post in the largest Navy in the world. Admiral Vernon Clark is to be the next Chief of Naval Operations, subject only to confirmation by the United States Senate.

I would like to take a moment on personal privilege here to say that I first met Admiral Clark some time ago, I guess it has been about 2 or 3 years ago, we came to the Joint Staff, and I went over for one of my regular biweekly briefings on the Joint Staff, in connection with the early preparation for the Kosovo operations, and we were visiting together and I asked him about his early career, and he said, "Well, I, of course, started in my first glimpse into Navy combat operations in the Vietnam War, serving aboard the U.S.S. John W. Weeks, DD-701, and the U.S.S Gearing, DD-710," a strict black-shoe Navy, as we called it in the old days.

I said to him in my rather office way, "Do you recall who was Secretary of the Navy at that time?" He promptly said, "I knew the name of my commanding officer, and that is about as high as I went." [Laughter.]

You can see my fame and reputation in the fleet at that time. Do you remember that day?

Admiral CLARK. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and was raised in the heartland of America, sharing time in the States of Nebraska and Missouri. Now, one must ask, how do you go from the landlocked heartland of America to Annapolis? So I think that is a key question for you to address today.

But it is so typical of the story, how young men, and now young women, come from all corners of our great nation to join the services.

I also had visited with his lovely wife, Connie, this morning. Connie, if you will stand so that everybody here can recognize you. Mrs. CLARK. Good morning.

Chairman WARNER. I sort of again inquired that when this union of many, many years started, it was started 4 years before they went into the United States Navy as a team, so perhaps you can address that. As a matter of fact, that union started before you were old enough to vote, is that correct?

Admiral CLARK. That is right. [Laughter.]

Chairman WARNER. On the serious side, I have had long discussions with the Admiral about this post he is about to undertake, and I was impressed with his priorities.

They are not ones that are going to make headlines, but to this committee, they are vital, and that is retention and recruiting, and recruiting and retention, and things like spare parts.

In preparation for his undertaking this hearing, and preparing to assume the post of CNO, he traveled extensively to naval facilities and bases throughout the United States, so that he could firsthand talk to the men and women in uniform, and, indeed, the civilian force, gaining knowledge of the problems as they start on the cutting edge of our Navy.

He recounted the stories of going into aviation hangers, where the planes being prepared had to be covered in plastic, and the test equipment had to be covered in plastic, because of the imperfections in the roofs, and the birds flying in and out.

When you stop to think of the value that the American taxpayers put in our aircraft and other pieces of equipment, and yet we do not had adequate facilities to properly enable the men and women of the armed forces to repair those pieces of equipment, particularly aviation pieces, as well as the spare parts that have to go in. So, I am very pleased today, and, indeed, honored to sit beside this great American, and I now say you are on your own. Good luck.

Senator Levin.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN

Senator LEVIN. Mr. Chairman, let me join you in welcoming Admiral Clark to the committee this morning.

Admiral, you have an outstanding career of leadership and service to the Nation. We are all grateful to you and your family for your willingness to continue that service as Chief of Naval Ŏper

ations.

If you are confirmed by the full Senate, which I expect you will be, and hopefully promptly, you are going to be taking charge of the Navy at a critical time in its history. The Navy has historically dealt with the day-to-day strains of deployment and high operating tempos. More recently, the Navy has also had to reshape itself from focusing on fighting and winning wars on the high seas to supporting in some more direct manner our national objectives on land. The efforts of the Department of the Navy to reshape itself to respond to this new security environment can only succeed with the strong leadership of our nominee today. The task of charting a vision, and getting the men and women of the services to really buy into that vision, strongly depends on you and our other service chiefs.

I applaud you, Admiral, on your work to date. I encourage you to continue to exercise that strong leadership to make these reformation efforts a reality.

We rely heavily on our service chiefs to give us their opinions, as well as to take the kind of actions which are needed. We want the views delivered in a straight-from-the-shoulder way representing your own personal views, as requested by the committee.

I want to thank our Chairman for convening this hearing so promptly, and for his effort to get this nomination to the full Sen

ate.

Congratulations to you and your family.

Admiral CLARK. Thank you.

Chairman WARNER [presiding]. Thank you very much, Senator Levin.

Senator Thurmond.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR STROM THURMOND Senator THURMOND. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I join the committee in congratulating Admiral Clark on his nomination to be the next Chief of Naval Operations. Admiral Clark will