Hearing of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee - Opening Statement of Sen. Heinrich, Hearing on The Importance of Technology Transfer and Ways to Move Technologies and Systems More Rapidly Into the Hands of Operational Forces

Hearing

Let me begin by thanking Senator Ernst for holding this important hearing on technology transfer and the ways we can move technologies and systems more rapidly into the hands of operational forces.

It has been almost two full months since you were confirmed for this job, so you may not have fixed everything yet .

But I do hope that today's hearing will help us better understand the barriers to the smooth transition of next generation technologies, whether they are funding, legal, regulatory, cultural, or otherwise.

We know that we are in a race to build future technologies and systems that our military will need to execute its missions against peer threats and emerging threats.

We also know that the United States is still home to the world's most innovative companies, small businesses, research universities, and government laboratories.

The state of New Mexico, alone, is proud to host two national security laboratories, Air Force Research Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, and a number of high tech small businesses, each employing some of the best and brightest minds in the country.

Yet, one of our nation's biggest challenges remains in determining how we can best connect those innovators to the real current and future challenges facing the military, and how to move the best new technologies into the hands of our warfighters as quickly and effectively as possible.

All of the members of this committee have heard frustrating stories of companies with great ideas, or universities and government labs performing cutting-edge research, that can't seem to get traction and fight their way through the Pentagon's arcane and bureaucratic procurement and funding processes - only to get stuck in what is referred to as the "Valley of Death".

This committee has taken a number of steps to help transition technologies, including strengthening science and technology prototyping efforts, emphasizing weapons of the future like directed energy, supporting the Small Business Innovation Research program, and trying to cut back on the red tape and bureaucracy that slows down government processes. But I think we can do more.

Tackling the issues that prevent the transition of technologies is a key emphasis of your work, Dr. Griffin, and you have an excellent opportunity to do so as our nation's Undersecretary for Research and Engineering.

Dr. Griffin, I hope we can hear today your early assessment of the biggest challenges to effectively transition technology, and learn what steps you are beginning to take to address them.

I also look forward to hearing what hurdles you are encountering in terms of setting up your organization and staffing in the Pentagon, and de-conflicting authorities with the services and other parts of the Pentagon.

Finally, I hope to learn what steps this committee and other committees in Congress can take to help in your efforts.

Our military's technological edge may not depend solely on your success, but your success can greatly alter the ability of our military to stay ahead of our adversaries.

I look forward to your testimony and to hearing how we can help you do so.

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