Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
7/17/2015
Nuclear capabilities would be one of three areas of “particular emphasis” for the nominee of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if he is confirmed, according to in testimony he submitted in advance of his Tuesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. “If confirmed as Vice Chairman, I would focus on finding the balance between capacity, capabilities, and readiness for the Joint Force in order to best prepare for current and future threats,” stated Gen. Paul Selva, currently commander of U.S. Transportation Command. “Our cyber, space, and nuclear capabilities will be an area of particular emphasis.”
How Would Selva Address an Influx of Retirements of Expert Personnel?
Selva’s testimony also indicates concern about the looming retirements of a “significant wave” of stockpile experts, and expresses an urgency to keep those positions well-staffed. “As a significant wave of personnel begins to retire over the next decade, we must recruit and retain the next-generation of nuclear weapons stewards capable of certifying the stockpile without underground testing,” Selva stated. The testimony also states that Selva is “concerned” that completing nuclear modernization in the current budget environment will be “a challenge” as the U.S. over the next five years looks to start replacing or start studies to recapitalize all of its strategic delivery vehicles. Plans call for the U.S. to sustain the nuclear enterprise while undergoing wide-ranging nuclear modernization for the next 15-plus years. Selva pledged to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of modernization programs.
“If confirmed, I will give full attention to these programs as they develop and mature,” he stated in written testimony. “Modernizing the strategic delivery systems and sustaining the strategic nuclear enterprise are vital to maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent, which is essential to deterring potential adversaries and assuring our allies. As with any funding choices, we will make decisions that balance fiscal prudence with appropriate risk to provide the best possible capabilities.”
‘Significant Changes’ to Fortify Nuclear Enterprise
Selva agreed with and said he would work to implement the recommendations of the Pentagon’s internal and external reviews of the nuclear enterprise released last year. Selva said that while nuclear forces continue to meet mission demands, “significant changes” are required to ensure the safety, security and effectiveness of the future force. “[I]f confirmed, I will devote significant attention to the state of our nuclear deterrence enterprise and will ensure the appropriate corrective actions are implemented,” he said. Recently, several Pentagon officials have fervently pushed modernization of the aging U.S. nuclear arsenal and its support equipment, have formed internal auditing bodies to examine the state of nuclear forces, and have pledged to bolster nuclear force morale through implementing hundreds of recommendations generated from one external and one internal Pentagon review of the nuclear enterprise.
