During the Senate confirmation hearing of Deputy Secretary of Defense nominee Kathleen Hicks, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee questioned Hicks on issues including cybersecurity, Pentagon budget, and issues of sexual harassment within the military.

Responding to ongoing issues of sexual assault and harassment in the military, in addition to issues of racial equality, Hicks said, “If confirmed, I will assist [Defense] Secretary [Lloyd] Austin in bringing enduring, consistent focus to total force health and quality…We must root out violent extremism, systemic racism, sexual assault and harassment, and other inhibitors to readiness.”

Hicks, who would be the first woman to hold the deputy defense secretary position, said she would be “proud to put another crack in the glass ceiling” in the department she been serving in most of her life.

Budget was another topic of discussion during the Senate hearing. Hicks said she supported a reduction in the budget for 2022, insomuch it didn’t conflict with the national security or responding effectively to COVID-19.

“Whether that’s a slightly higher top line or a slightly lower top line, personally I think is less relevant than are we delivering the capabilities we need for the defense we should have,” said

Hicks also weighed-in on the Pentagon’s cybersecurity strategy of “Defend Forward.”

“I am supportive of the approach,” she said. “I think, if confirmed, what I would like to understand better is exactly how the authorities are being executed, what kind of oversight is involved, how we are consulting with allies and partners, whose systems we might operate on.” Navy Times provides further insight on the 2018 cybersecurity strategy.

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Photo by EJ Hersom/DoD