Homeland Defense Nominee

Continuing to reduce Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, concentrating on the Defense Department's planning for major weather events like Super Storm Sandy and building up the Pentagon's cyberspace workforce are among the major challenges Eric Rosenbach expects to confront if the Senate confirms his nomination to become assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense.

According to Rosenbach's prepared remarks submitted before today's hearing:

If confirmed, my primary challenge and top priority would be to continue and improve the outstanding efforts the Department of Defense has devoted to protecting the homeland from a major terrorist attack. I would be particularly focused on preventing an attack using a weapon of mass destruction and on planning and preparing for the response to catastrophic incidents in the United States, including weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

One of the most pressing challenges that I would immediately face, if confirmed, once duties of OASD (GSA) are transferred to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, would be managing the Department's efforts to help eliminate Syria's chemical weapons.

I believe that DOD has a crucial role in planning for complex catastrophic incidents; thus, I would devote extensive attention to the Department’s preparations for catastrophes like Super Storm Sandy.

If confirmed, I would also devote special attention to the challenge of building the cyberspace workforce, growing DOD's operational capabilities, and continuing to rationalize the complex funding streams that support cyberspace initiatives.