Washington D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), today announced his appointments to the National Defense Panel.

Smith’s nominations are Former Representative Norm Dicks, and LTG Frank Kearney (ret.), United States Army. 

“Norm Dicks and LTG Frank Kearney have a varied and wide range of experience that will greatly benefit the panel,” said Ranking Member Smith. “Together, Dicks and Kearney will significantly contribute to the deliberations and outcome of the panel’s work and help to ensure that our military’s long-term strategy fully addresses the breadth and scope of our national security challenges.”

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 requires that Smith, as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, nominate two members to the National Defense Panel.  The panel is a bipartisan congressional panel charged with conducting an assessment of the assumptions, strategy, findings, and risks described in the Department of Defense’s Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). In order to serve on the committee, both nominees must be “recognized experts in matters relating to the national security of the United States.”

In addition to the two panelists appointed by the Secretary of Defense, eight members will be appointed by the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is a legislatively-mandated review of Department of Defense strategy and priorities. The QDR will set a long-term course for DoD as it assesses the threats and challenges that the nation faces and re-balances DoD's strategies, capabilities, and forces to address today's conflicts and tomorrow's threats.

 

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