Central ND News

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) convened today to review the nominations of Lieutenant General Randall Reed for Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson for Commander of United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

TRANSCOM is responsible for globally integrated mobility operations, supporting national objectives by sustaining the Joint Force. USFK aims to deter aggression and defend the Republic of Korea (ROK), maintaining stability in Northeast Asia through joint ROK-U.S. forces and United Nations Command multinational forces.

Senator Cramer highlighted two significant airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) bases in North Dakota—the 319th Reconnaissance Wing and the 119th National Guard. He expressed concerns about retiring legacy systems without adequate replacements and questioned whether Brunson’s command has sufficient access to ISR.

“If […] given the opportunity to serve as the Commander of the Tri-Command, I would do much the same: continue to assess the needs of ISR that’s meeting the requirements that we have across domains, the physical domains, in the [Korean Theater of Operations],” said Brunson.

Combatant Commands increasingly rely on space-based capabilities for their ISR needs. Cramer asked Brunson about his relationship with General Stephen Whiting and General B. Chance Saltzman, how Space Force and Space Command can better support USFK, and whether integrating space capabilities could meet ISR demands.

As co-chair of the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus, Cramer also queried Reed on technological gaps hindering TRANSCOM's ability to counter adversaries effectively.

“As you look at your new mission or job soon, can you think of any gaps in technology or modernization demands?” asked Cramer. “What can we be helpful with, as Congress, when it comes to getting you what you need?”

“Being connected to the Joint Force is very critical,” said Reed. “Not just to be able to talk to others and not just being able to make sure that they can talk to us, but it equates to survivability. When the force is connected [...] then we can make decisions at war speed to out-maneuver adversaries. If [I am] confirmed moving to TRANSCOM, there is certainly room to get the rest of the force connected.”