U.S. Strategic Command Commander Gen. Robert Kehler said yesterday he has recently seen improvements in the relationship between the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Defense, but said that “significant issues” remain and he is undecided on potential changes to NNSA governance. Kehler’s remarks come as a Congressionally-mandated NNSA governance panel gets set to explore reform of the agency. “I think it’s a fair question about what we should do and whether this will serve us well if we make some improvements to the way we work together. And that’s what I haven’t quite made my mind up about. I just don’t know yet what I think about this,” Kehler said yesterday in response to questions following a speech at the Capitol Hill Club.
But Kehler emphasized that the relationship with NNSA has improved, in part due to efforts by the Nuclear Weapons Council addressing interagency activities related to the stockpile. “I think that over the last year I’ve seen a tremendous change in the way that NNSA and DOD work together for sure. I think that what has come before the Nuclear Weapons Council has changed quite a bit in terms of the way that those two organizations are working together. I’m encouraged by that,” Kehler said. But he added, “I understand that there are some significant issues about this relationship for the future.”
