take the helm of a Navy that is facing a major modernization challenge, while struggling to maintain a 300-ship Navy under the constrained future years defense program. Additionally, like all our military services, the Navy has fallen short in the competition with the private sector for the quality personnel in our robust economy. Admiral Clark, you come before this committee with a reputation of getting the job done. I look forward to working with you, and have only one bit of advice: Do not hesitate to contact us when you need help, and do not wait to give us bad news. It never gets better with age.

I support your nomination, and look forward to working with you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[The prepared statement of Senator Thurmond follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT BY SENATOR STROM 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 take the helm of a Navy that is facing a major modernization challenge, while struggling to maintain a 300-ship Navy under the constrained future year defense program. Additionally, like all our military service, the Navy is falling short in the competition with private sector for the quality personnel in our robust economy.

Admiral Clark, you come before this committee with a reputation of getting the job done. I look forward to working with you and have only one bit of advice: "Do not hesitate to contact us when you need help and do not wait to give us bad news, it never gets better with age." I support your nomination and look forward to working with you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman WARNER. Thank you, Senator Thurmond.
Senator Hutchinson.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR TIM HUTCHINSON Senator HUTCHINSON. Admiral, Mr. Chairman, I do not even have one piece of advice, but I do welcome you today, and congratulate today on your nomination. I enjoyed the opportunity we have had to visit, and I look forward to working with you, and I look forward to your testimony.

Admiral CLARK. Thank you.

Chairman WARNER. The committee has asked Admiral Clark to answer a series of advance questions. He responded to those questions, and without objection they will be placed in the record for all to see.

Admiral, I am very delighted that you brought your wife today. She will become the first lady of the Navy. My experience has been through the years that the Navy wives are essential, absolutely essential to the overall mission of the United States Navy.

So, Mrs. Clark, we welcome you. You have an awesome task to take on yourself.

Admiral, you may proceed as you wish.

STATEMENT OF ADM. VERNON CLARK, NOMINEE, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

Admiral CLARK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to start by thanking you for your very kind introduction, Mr. Chairman. It is one thing to be introduced by the senior Senator from the State of

Virginia, my home on record and residence for over 20 years now; it is another thing to be introduced by a former third-class petty officer, a communicator, and a Marine, and it is another thing entirely to be introduced by a former Secretary of the Navy, and I greatly appreciate your fine introduction, sir.

Chairman WARNER. I thank you, sir.

Admiral CLARK. Let me start by saying that it is a real honor to be able to appear before this distinguished body today, and it goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, that I am truly honored to have been nominated to be the Chief of Naval Operations. I am humbled, too, especially when I think about and consider the long line of leaders who have lead our Navy for the last 225 years. I am humbled by the challenges that I know that we are going to face in the years ahead. I am humbled by the trust by the country and the trust that the Sailors of our Navy will place in me if I am confirmed to be the Chief of Naval Operations.

Mr. Chairman, I have to tell you that, back to your story, this day today is certainly far beyond anything that I could have imagined when I pinned on my ensign bars, an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve in Newport, Rhode Island in 1968.

Of course, it goes without saying, too, that I did not get here by myself. I am very grateful for the support and the encouragement of our leaders, the Navy institution, and the Department, Admiral Johnson, Secretary Danzig, certainly Secretary Cohen. I am thankful to the President for his nomination.

I am also thankful for the support of friends, a lot of my former shipmates, Sailors that I have been privileged to serve with through the years, obviously, far too many to name here today.

Chairman WARNER. I wonder if I might just interject. I have followed the nominating process very closely. It is not a role in which we, members of Congress, are consulted, and so forth. It is the province of the President.

But I did, in speaking with the Secretary of Defense on several occasions, learn that there were four or five outstanding candidates in the United States Navy, all very well qualified, and, therefore, the decision was a challenge for the Secretary.

I make that observation, because they were friends, and always will be friends and shipmates of yours, and how fortunate we are as a nation to have had perhaps four or five individuals, from which your name finally emerged as that the President and Secretary of Defense felt should take the helm. So I congratulate you, but also acknowledge the presence of those fine men.

Admiral CLARK. Thank you for that comment, and I do believe that it is true to say, fair to say that we are blessed with a rich group of senior leaders in our Navy, and I am very proud to be associated with them.

Mr. Chairman, you mentioned this pretty lady seated behind me. I appreciate you recognizing her. She represents our family here today. We have two sons that are laboring away in the vineyard out in Arizona. But my wife, Connie, she is right here with me today, just like she has been for almost 36 years. Actually, 10 days from now will mark the 36th year.

Since I have been serving for almost 31 years, Mr. Chairman, it means that she was here when I joined the Navy and made that

first appointment. It means that she was here when, in fact, I terminated my initial service, and she encouraged me to rejoin following broken service, and she has been an invaluable partner to me ever since.

Now, to speak briefly about the Navy. I mentioned the humbling challenges, and there certainly are a few. First, we must maintain a force that is ready at a moment's notice to respond to the taskings of the National command authority, and to be prepared to go to sea and fight to win.

This means to me current readiness is a top priority. It means simply taking care of the Navy that the American people have already invested in.

Second, we must optimize the capabilities that we already possess, and to me, that means near- and mid-term modernization. Third, we have to recapitalize our Navy, making sure that the Navy after next is, in fact, the Navy that this nation truly needs. This, of course, will require a firm commitment to a sound investment strategy.

The fourth and most important, and Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your reference to my focus in this area, we must recruit and we must retain the bright, ambitious young Americans that have made this Navy the very best in the entire world.

We know that nothing is possible without them. We cannot do readiness, we cannot successfully complete missions, we cannot win, we cannot be victorious without them. So nothing is more important to me than them.

We are living in days of incredible economic prosperity and optimism, and it is common knowledge, and I am hearing it from the CEOs in business and industry, they say it like this, they say we are at war for people, and it is for this reason, as the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet that I make people the manpower equation the number one item on my own personal top five list as the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet.

I am convinced that the requirement, the imperative to attract and to retain Sailors is, without a doubt, the Navy's biggest and most crucial challenge. Now, these challenges, they are difficult, but they are not insurmountable, and if I am confirmed, I am going to need the help of this committee to overcome it, the help, I might add, similar to that that you have provided to the predecessors who have had this job.

With respect to our Navy and my experience in it, I will say to you, Mr. Chairman, my parents taught me a long time ago that for life to be meaningful, life had to be full of purpose. This has been more than a calling to me than a career. The most fulfilling aspect, though, of my entire Navy experience has been leading the young men and women of the United States Navy.

We Navy leaders need to make sure that we walk the walk, that we deliver on our promises, that we respect the naval people, that we are fair, and we are truthful. In short, naval leaders must ensure that the Navy is not only honorable, that certainly is a requirement, but it must be seen, it must be seen as honorable. I want to covenant with the Sailors of our Navy to that end.

So from these considerations come my vision for the future, and Mr. Chairman, this is the 30-second version. First is the hard-won

preeminence of the United States Navy, and there are others who have gone before me that have helped to win that, people like Admiral Jay Johnson, and his predecessors, and the people he works for, and the men and women, the distinguished men and women of this committee, who have given themselves to this task.

Second, our people are the foundation to our future success. If you confirm me, I want to lead a Navy that holds quality of service for our Sailors as a top priority in mission and combat readiness. So Mr. Chairman, if I am confirmed, I will devote all of my energy and my experience to attaining that vision. I welcome the opportunity and the privilege of guiding the United States Navy, the greatest Navy ever, into the 21st Century.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to your questions.

Chairman WARNER. Thank you, Admiral. That is a very humble and excellent statement. I am delighted that you also referred to Admiral Jay Johnson, the current CNO of the Navy. He has done an extraordinary job under tough conditions.

Admiral CLARK. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. He was among those chiefs that came before this committee on several occasions, gave their personal opinions, and laid a foundation for the first increase in defense spending that this nation has had in about 12 to 13 years, and that was last year. We had an increase in the authorized level, and this year, again, due to the Chief's courage to speak out, I hope we have an increase in authorized and appropriated levels. That remains to be seen. But Jay Johnson was at the very forefront of these initiatives by the Chiefs in helping those of us in Congress to recognize the need for additional defense spending.

Witnesses who have testified before this committee in your position have all answered these questions. Have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations government conflict of interest? Admiral CLARK. Yes, sir, I have.

Chairman WARNER. Have you assumed any duties or undertaken any actions which would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process?

Admiral CLARK. No, sir, I have not.

Chairman WARNER. Would you reaffirm your written response that you agree to appear before Congressional committees when requested and to provided your personal opinion when asked, even though that could be at variance with that of the administration which you serve?

it.

Admiral CLARK. Yes, sir, I will, Mr. Chairman. You can count on

Chairman WARNER. Knowing you, I know that to be the case. Will you ensure your staff complies with deadlines established for requested communications, including questions for the record and hearings?

Admiral CLARK. I will do my very best, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and briefings in response to Congressional requests?

Admiral CLARK. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal for their testimony, should it be at variance, or in any other way, in conflict with the administration?

Admiral CLARK. Yes, sir.

Chairman WARNER. I thank you very much, Admiral. Admiral, let us turn to the question of retention of your officer corps, as well are the experienced enlisted. To what do you attribute today the fact that we, the best I can determine, are just hanging in at the bare margins of the numbers that we believe can sustain the Navy for the next 2 or 3 years, in terms of experience, particularly in the middle grade officer and enlisted.

Now, this morning's reports, and we are all glued to the news, is what the Fed is going to do because of the burgeoning economy of the United States, and we are rejoicing for that, as a nation. But clearly that is one factor.

These magnificently trained officers and the senior enlisted are the very persons that this economy needs to keep it going, and going strong, but what other factors are out there, in your judg ment, and what could the Congress do to assist you as Chief of Navy, and the other service chiefs, to get these retention, and, indeed, the recruiting levels up to satisfactory standards?

Admiral CLARK. Well, thank you for that question, Mr. Chairman. Let me say first that I think that the factors that affect that are both internal and external to the Navy.

You have referred to one of the most important external matters, and that is the robust economy of the United States of America. So that provides opportunities, and I can cop out and say, well, it is all outside, and I do not want to do that.

Chairman WARNER. Well, it is factually not the case.

Admiral CLARK. It is not the case. I guess what I would like to talk about quality of service, Mr. Chairman. I mentioned it in my opening comments. I have divided quality of service into two parts. The first part is quality of life, and the second part is quality of

work.

I think that our young people today, some of them are frustrated by the circumstances that they face, and most of those circumstances have to do, frankly, with current readiness issues.

They work hard. Our force is committed. The OPTEMPO that we have in our Navy today is significant. What is really unique about our Navy today is that on routine deployments, not professional deployments, but on routine deployments, they find themselves committed at a level and a rate that is virtually unprecedented, unprecedented in this regard, that even on routine deployments they find themselves pressed into duty in combat operations.

That is significant. They work hard. The aging force means that it is more difficult to keep our force ready. It is more difficult than it was in years' past.

What is frustrating to them, Mr. Chairman, is the lack of those things that they need, the tools that they need to get the job done. So it is as the chiefs have talked to you about it, and you mentioned it early in your comments, that we have to pay special attention to these kind of things to make sure that we provide them the tools so that they can do the job. It is frustrating to them when they are committed to the task, they are willing to serve, they want to serve, and then they do not have the tools that they need to get the job done.