PDP Co-Director Testifies in Confirmation Hearing for Nomination to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (AT&L)

Press Release

March 26, 2009

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Preventive Defense Project

Washington, DC -- President Barack Obama has nominated PDP Co-Director Ashton B. Carter to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (AT&L).

President Obama has pledged to “restore honesty, openness, and commonsense to Pentagon contracting and procurement,” and asked Carter to oversee more than $100 billion in annual arms purchases, as well as a research program worth roughly $70 billion.

On March 26, Dr. Carter testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he pledged to bring “iron discipline” to the military acquisition system.  In written and oral testimony, Carter outlined the steps he would take to obtain realistic cost assessments, link acquisitions to defense strategies, and ensure technological readiness in the procurement process.  Carter assured the committee that he would go “program by program” to better identify those programs that are over budget or behind schedule.

The Armed Services Committee approved his nomination on April 1, 2009, and forwarded the nomination to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.  If confirmed, Carter will replace John Young, who has been in the position since November 2007.

The webcast of Carter’s confirmation hearing is available here.

Carter’s written responses to the committee’s Advance Policy Questions are available here.

For more information about this publication please contact the PDP Associate Director at 617-495-1412.

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