OMAHA Gathering

Gen. Robert Kehler, head of U.S. Strategic Command, will convene an advisory panel in early November to examine a wide range of policy issues including space, intelligence and cyber operations, an assessment of the nuclear weapons stockpile, global strike, command and control, and missile defense.

Kehler, an Air Force officer who assumed command of the Nebraska-headquartered command in January, will meet with the STRATCOM Strategic Advisory Panel on Nov. 1-2 in a closed session at Offutt Air Force Base, NE, according to a notice in the Federal Register last week.

“The purpose of the meeting is to provide advice on scientific, technical, intelligence, and policy-related issues to the commander, U.S. Strategic Command, during the development of the Nation's strategic war plans,” states the Aug. 23 notice.

No further specifics about the meeting are available, according to a spokesman for the body. An identical agenda was published this spring in advance of a April 7-8 meeting of the advisory group, the 85th plenary meeting of the body.

Retired Gen. James McCarthy, professor at the Air Force Academy, headed a panel on Nuclear Enterprise and Global Strike that focused on command and control (C2); planning; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; execution; and, mission assessment, according to minutes of the April meeting. "In order to maintain the current level of security, we need to engage in a robust analytical assessment of our C2 capabilities leading to a modernization program," the panel reported to the advisory group.

Priscilla Guthrie, chief information officer in the Office of the Director for National Intelligence, this spring delivered a report of a panel assigned to examine the authorities, responsibilities, and relationships needed for an effective joint approach to conduct STRATCOM's missions in, through, and from cyberspace.

"The panel's recommendation was to develop relationships and interfaces with USG policy-development components similar to those for Strategic Deterrence and Space, recognizing that the USG cyberspace policy landscape is evolving rapidly," according to the minutes of that meeting.

Former National Reconnaissance Office Director Keith Hall delivered a report on space operations, including an assessment of the feasibility of using a capability similar to the Space-Based Infrared System to substitute for radio-frequency systems for missile-defense trajectory tracking. "It was concluded that a SBIRS Low-like capability could theoretically replace RF systems for theater missile defense if deployed in sufficient numbers with adequate on-board and ground processing," according to the minutes.

Keith Payne, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for forces policy during the George W. Bush administration, and an outspoken critic of the priority President Obama placed in April 2009 of pursuing the eventual elimination of existing nuclear arsenals, presented a policy panel report. The panel presented a report on the "pros and cons" of completely jettisoning the bomb, according to the minutes:

They considered how much deterrence and assurance is needed and what has proven historically effective. What future threat do Russia and China present? What is the impact of proliferating weapons of mass destruction? How does human nature drive state nature? They recognized that there are no "universal truths" regarding how, what capabilities and how much deterrence and assurance is necessary to maintain stability. The panel recommended continuing a dual track capability to provide deterrence and assurance while working toward zero nuclear weapons.

Another panels, led by Joan Dempsey, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, headed a group that looked at how DOD's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets can better serve STRATCOM's priorities. According to the minutes:

The resources needed to focus on strategic issues do not exist. The intelligence community is not responsive to the needs of USSTRATCOM. Resources needed for strategic analysis are focused on direct support to on-going combat operations.