02/06/2001 03:37 PM House MLV
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+ teleconferenced
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND
VETERANS' AFFAIRS
February 6, 2001
3:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Chair
Representative Lisa Murkowski
Representative Joe Green
Representative Pete Kott
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Joe Hayes
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Beverly Masek
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 72
"An Act relating to an assistant adjutant general for national
missile defense in the Department of Military and Veterans'
Affairs."
- MOVED HB 72 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 72
SHORT TITLE:ASST. ADJUTANT GEN. FOR MISSILE DEFENSE
SPONSOR(S): RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/17/01 0113 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/17/01 0113 (H) MLV, STA, FIN
01/17/01 0114 (H) FN 1: (MVA)
01/17/01 0114 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
02/06/01 (H) MLV AT 3:30 PM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
MG PHILLIP OATES, Adjutant General/Commissioner
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs
P.O. Box 5800
Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-0800
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the need for HB 72 and answered
questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-1, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR MIKE CHENAULT called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 3:37 p.m.
Representatives Chenault, Green, Kott, Cissna, and Hayes were
present at the call to order. Representative Murkowski arrived
as the meeting was in progress. Representative Masek was
excused.
HB 72 - ASST. ADJUTANT GEN. FOR MISSILE DEFENSE
Number 0259
CHAIR CHENAULT announced that the committee would hear HOUSE
BILL NO. 72, "An Act relating to an assistant adjutant general
for national missile defense in the Department of Military and
Veterans' Affairs."
Number 0329
MG PHILLIP OATES, Adjutant General/Commissioner, Department of
Military and Veterans' Affairs, testified via teleconference.
He began by describing that the main purpose of HB 72 is to send
a strong message to the President of the United States that
Alaska is ready to assume the significant responsibility of
manning, fielding, and operating the national missile defense
system. Alaska would be the first state in the Union to have an
Assistant Adjutant General for National Missile Defense (AAG for
NMD). It would also allow Alaska to participate with the
National Missile Defense Joint Program Office (NMDJPO) in
building, constructing, and fielding the system.
GENERAL OATES referred to the state position established last
year to leverage opportunities that may come to the state,
either directly from national missile defense activities in
Alaska or from the technology, research, and educational
opportunities that those activities may bring. That state
position has to be cognizant of the military program but is not
directly involved in the military program; this cognizance is
necessary in order to fully allow the state to leverage any
opportunities that come from the military program's development.
GENERAL OATES explained that in contrast, the position of the
AAG for NMD is a National Guard position; the person will begin
as a traditional National Guardsman, serving routinely one
weekend a month and two weeks a year on annual training. As
background, the federal Department of Defense (DOD) controls the
number of officers - with one exception, that of Assistant
Adjutant General (AAG) - that are established in the National
Guard. Those AAG positions are established through states and
through state statute, and then paid for and fielded by the
National Guard Bureau. As an example, some states have more
than an AAG for army and for air, such as an AAG for training.
Number 0472
GENERAL OATES explained that the position outlined in HB 72
needs the stature of a general officer because of the
significant weight of assuming this mission. The Alaska
National Guard will be first in the nation to man and provide
for the forces for national missile defense activities. That
individual will need to work closely with the United States Army
Space Command and Space and Missile Defense Command to ensure
that the right type of unit is built, and that the right type of
personnel policies are established.
Number 0600
GENERAL OATES pointed out that the general officer position
needs to partner with other states that will be engaged in the
national missile defense effort. Those states include Colorado,
which will be the higher brigade headquarters; New Mexico, where
area defense/artillery training takes place; Alabama, where
development of the system takes place; and California, a state
already involved in space [programs]. The stature of the
general officer's position is not only needed, but can be
achieved at no cost to the state by establishing it through
state statute and asking the National Guard Bureau to man the
position.
GENERAL OATES expanded on the benefit of creating this position.
He said it would open up an opportunity for the state to work
closely with the NMDJPO, and to allow this individual to be
their commander or director of the site activation command here
in Alaska. The NMDJPO has been informed that Alaska is
establishing this position. Furthermore, General Nance has
expressed interest in allowing the person [filling the position]
to be in charge of all the federal activities, including
building, constructing, and fielding this program here. He said
NMDJPO supports this because they do not have a general officer
position; a restricted number of general officers in the DOD
could be dedicated to this program.
GENERAL OATES offered that General Nance felt a general officer
was needed to lead this program and the site activation command.
There will be approximately 30 to 40 senior civilians and full
colonels developing the different aspects of this program. The
individual would work with the state issues of permitting and
the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to coordinate efforts so that an
operational system can be running by 2005 or 2006.
Number 0749
GENERAL OATES specified that the individual filling this general
officer position would be an Alaskan National Guardsman selected
by recommendation of the Adjutant General in consultation with
the National Guard Bureau and the NMDJPO. If not already a
general officer of the National Guard, after being approved by
the governor, he or she would need to come before the
legislature for confirmation.
GENERAL OATES explained that the type of individual sought is
one who fully meets the requirements for promotion and federal
recognition as a general officer; is a member of the Alaska
National Guard; is a graduate of the war college; and has
experience as a chief of staff of a general office level of
command, or a program manager at the current equivalent level.
Additional desirable qualifications include joint assignment
experience, working with all services at the lieutenant colonel
or colonel level; command as colonel; a graduate degree from an
accredited university; prior experience with national missile
defense activities; employment experience with the State of
Alaska; and experience as a spokesperson or supervisor of public
affairs activities. It is a significant individual they seek
because the position has very significant responsibilities.
This position is important to Alaska because it would ensure
that the ground units and unit structure are built to succeed.
GENERAL OATES explained that initially they would establish just
the traditional guard position, which does not require any
federal receipts. Submitted as a part of HB 72, however, is
language for legislative appropriation of federal money needed
for the position if and when it is established as also a
director of the site activation command. These would be federal
receipts only; no additional state funding would be required,
either currently or later. The $200,000 per year would cover
the pay and allowances at a brigadier general level, and would
also pay the retirement costs for the state.
GENERAL OATES told members, in conclusion, that HB 72 is an
indication to the President that Alaska is open for national
missile defense business, to the DOD that Alaska has a serious
commitment to this, and that Alaska is postured for success in
this very important mission area.
Number 1007
GENERAL OATES, in response to questions from Representative
Murkowski, explained the need for this position to be in
statute. In order for the position to be authorized by the
National Guard Bureau, it must be in statute. The language
specifying that the position be authorized for the duration of
development and deployment was crafted so that the position
would extend past just the development. He felt, with
concurrence of the military and General Schwartz, that because
of the significance of the position's responsibility, it should
be maintained for as long as this system is deployed in Alaska.
GENERAL OATES said another important point is that as a new
mission set for the National Guard as a whole, they can lead the
way in which the DOD and the National Guard perform these
missions. There is also a connection between this mission of
national missile defense and two other missions: the regional
air operations center for Alaska's (indisc.) region; and the
manning of Clear [Air Station] for space surveillance, and the
security of that installation. Since all of those missions are
interconnected, or leading the way, he feels the establishment
of a general officer position is the right way to go.
GENERAL OATES confirmed for Representative Murkowski that until
federal monies are appropriated, nothing would happen with this
position. The money will only be required if and when the
individual's duties are expanded according to the memorandum of
understanding developed with the NMDJPO. The President has not
yet made the decision to begin the deployment and fielding of
national missile defenses. Nevertheless, General Oates felt it
was important to push ahead with this issue because should the
Presidential decision come this summer, they could act on it
quickly.
Number 1211
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI referred to Section 1, lines 7-9, and
asked if this language had the approval of General Schwartz.
GENERAL OATES responded that it did meet with General Schwartz's
approval; they had coordinated on this language. A further
point was that neither he nor the National Guard work for
General Schwartz. Instead, they work for the state and for the
governor. The only exception would be when they are
"federalized."
GENERAL OATES noted that this mission set is different in that
they are forced providers, but they are forced providers to the
United States Army Space Command who, in turn, report to the
United States Space Command. This chain of command is similar
to that of Clear [Air Station]. Because the military members
involved in this project would be full-time, General Schwartz
would be very active in giving advice, counsel, and guidance,
but they would not be working for him. General Oates assured
Representative Murkowski that General Schwartz has had input in
every step.
Number 1320
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT commented that based on General Oates'
testimony and the fact that it would not cost the state, he felt
it to be a worthwhile endeavor and was in favor of getting it to
the governor as soon as possible.
Number 1351
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move HB 72 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 72 was moved out of the
House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
Number 1527
GENERAL OATES responded to a question by Representative Kott,
saying that currently they do not have a specific individual in
mind for this position. [HB 72 was moved out of committee.]
ADJOURNMENT
Number 1572
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 4:03 p.m.
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