Hearings to examine the nominations of Michael Powers, of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary, Amy Henninger, of Virginia, to be Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, David Denton, Jr., of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy, and Benjamin Kohlmann, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, all of the Department of Defense.
2025-07-31
Source: Congress.gov
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The hearing will come to order. I thank our witnesses and guests for being here today, and I welcome our nominees and their families. I'm grateful for their willingness to serve our nation. The United States faces a very dangerous threat environment. We need people like them to step up and serve, so we thank you for your willingness. Mr. Michael Powers has been nominated to serve as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense in the Office of the Comptroller. If confirmed, he would oversee the Department of Defense's financial management and budget execution. Crucially, he would oversee efforts to achieve a clean audit, ensuring taxpayer resources are allocated effectively to support our troops and national security priorities. Mr. Powers will face challenges, including the need to address persistent audit deficiencies and the need to modernize the department's budgeting system. The Congress has set a statutory deadline for the audit, and the reconciliation bill provides a historic bucket of funding to accelerate auditing efforts. I look forward to hearing Mr. Powers' plans to implement that funding and to assist in modernizing the Pentagon's budgetary process. Dr. Amy Henninger has been nominated to serve as Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. This critical role ensures our weapons systems are effective and reliable for field operations. Two months ago, Secretary Hegseth initiated a reorganization of this office with a goal of right-sizing the workforce. Some of my colleagues questioned that decision, so we'll talk about that today. I believe it properly refocused the office on its original statutory purpose rather than the excessive bureaucratic obstacle it had evolved into. The committee understands the need to modernize the test and evaluation process. Our NDAA proposes an agile pathway to provide the director with more oversight
across a system's life cycle, while at the same time preserving the independence of the Test and Evaluation Office. So I look forward to hearing Dr. Henninger's vision for navigating this transition. Mr. David Denton has been nominated to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy. He currently serves as the principal deputy performing duties of the Undersecretary of the Navy for Policy. He has had a distinguished career serving as a counsel in the Department of the Navy, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and an associate at the law firm of Sidley Austin. I look forward to hearing his perspectives about what the Navy's Office of General Counsel is doing right, and I'd also like to hear what he may do differently if confirmed. And finally, Mr. Benjamin Coleman has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. If confirmed, he would play a key role in recruiting, retaining, and supporting high-quality sailors and Marines. This committee has worked hard to expand the tools and authorities needed to improve quality of life, health care, and readiness operations. Mr. Coleman will be expected to build on that work and deliver measurable improvements that strengthen the force and enhance the quality of life for those who serve. These factors are critical to retention and readiness across the fleet. I look forward to hearing his vision for supporting our service members, civilians, and families. We began 15 minutes earlier than we usually do because quite a number of our members have other committee responsibilities to attend to at the top of the hour. And so people will be coming and going. But with that, I turn to my colleague and friend, Ranking Member Reid.
Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for beginning the hearing early. I am one of those that have to go to appropriations. We are considering, among other things, the defense appropriations bill, so I think my presence over there is justified. Good morning to our witnesses, and congratulations on your nominations. I would like to welcome you and your family members also. And I'd also like to welcome Representative Rob Whitman, who's just arrived, Representative. He will be introducing Dr. Henninger. Mr. Powers, you are nominated to be the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller. The Office of the Comptroller is instrumental in preparing and executing the Department's budget, ensuring the resources that Congress provides are allocated to troops efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the Comptroller is a key player in the Department's efforts to achieve a clean audit and to modernize its financial management system. Mr. Powers has confirmed there are significant challenges you will need to address. This year, the Department of Defense delivered a budget request that was nearly half a year late and assumed incorrect amounts in reconciliation funding, creating large discrepancies and shortfalls across many programs. From your previous experience in Army financial management, I would like to know how you would direct the Department to track and manage reconciliation funds separately from traditional appropriated funds, Additionally, the Department is in the midst of implementing several reforms to its planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process and is working to achieve a clean audit, something that is required in law.
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