DOD advisory committee to hold meeting on North Korea, Russia in May

A Defense Department advisory committee will hold a two-day meeting next month to discuss countering weapons of mass destruction issues related to North Korea, Russia and other countries.

The classified May 4-5 meetings of the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee -- to be held at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's offices in Herndon, VA, as well as at the Pentagon -- will cover "CWMD issues related to North Korea, Russia and emerging chemical threats from state and non-state actors," according to a Federal Register notice posted this morning.

Additionally: "The TRAC will receive a classified briefing from United States Special Operations Command on reachback and CWMD capabilities. The TRAC will hold a working lunch to hear from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological (NCB) Defense Programs, Dr. Arthur Hopkins on updates from the NCB Program and the implications for DOD's CWMD mission."

Further, the committee will discuss "feedback received on the Russia study from senior DOD leadership. The TRAC will hear from [former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairs Joseph] Benkert and Dr. [Melissa] Choi on the status of the China study. Next, the TRAC will discuss new studies proposed by the TRAC's sponsor, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) including the Unified Command Plan CWMD mission change."

On May 5, the committee "will first review observations and discuss next steps for the TRAC in calendar years 2017-2018 based on the sponsor's guidance and direction," the notice states, adding: "The TRAC will then receive a classified brief from COL McAlpine, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters, on the nuclear posture review and the implications for the TRAC's work on Russia, China and North Korea. The TRAC will hear from Dr. [Christian] Hassell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense Program, on the chemical and biological program. The TRAC will then hear from [U.S. Special Operations Command] on the implementation of the CWMD mission. This discussion will continue through lunch. The TRAC members will then transition to the Pentagon where they will provide [acting Pentagon acquisition chief James] MacStravic with a brief on the North Korea, and China studies from the previous day's meeting. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Chair will adjourn the 40th Plenary."