Subject: RE: Video Request: Tom Cotton, Senate Armed Serevices Committee, 10am
From: "Yoxall, Collin" <[email-masked]>
To: Research_D <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:42:02 -0700

Committee is in recess but Cotton has already done his questions. No flags

Witnesses:
Under Sec Frank Kendall
Director Michael Gilmore
Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan
Director Michael Sullivan

Cotton: Sen Donnelly asked about lessons learned w/f35. Would like to hear from Kendall and Bogdan.
Kendall: a combination of things. Starts w/ reasonable reqs, good management, adq. resources, and incentives to do the right thing. Right now we have a system that rewards optimism. Most of the issues I've seen have had to do w/people wanting things too fast and wanting things to do more. I've tried to put more reason into the office.
Bogdan: First, When you set up large acqusition you have to balance between industry and government. If not, you will get bad behavior. We didn't get that right when we started out. Second, we need leadership continuity. It takes a year to know what is going on.
Cotton: uniformed or civilian leadership?
Bogdan: both. But they have they have to be in place.
Cotton: With uniformed personnel is that an acquisition or manpower issue?
Bogdan: both sir.

Cotton: have heard from overseas partners that they worry about being "a plane with a country" not a "country with a plane". What is the risk partners RE: cost and planes sent to partners? How many JSFs need a country get to have meaningful contribution to defense?
Bogdan: it comes down to what country and its resources. Our smallest partners are looking at 2 squadrons. Without this collaboration, smaller countries could not afford a 5th Gen fighter.

Cotton: thank you.

From: Yoxall, Collin
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 9:55 AM
To: Research_D
Subject: Video Request: Tom Cotton, Senate Armed Serevices Committee, 10am

On the F-35.

http://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/16-04-26-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-program-

Collin Yoxall
Research Associate, DNC
Office: 202-863-8126 X8126
Mobile: 334-703-1690
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>