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| Dr. Janine Davidson |
It may strike some readers as odd that someone with the political views that I have would publicly advocate confirmation of a first team member of the Democratic Party national security apparatus. And while it is not a completely a natural impulse, it is in this case, as I have known and worked with Dr. Davidson for nine years. In that time, I have come to admire her competence, her command of the facts, and her no-nonsense toughness. As I consider her nomination to this post and the fact that it has been empty for nearly two years, I find myself wondering why it was that it took so long to settle on such an excellent choice. She is exceptionally talented, fully qualified, and additionally, a good friend.
The days of Service Under Secretaries being appointed largely as a reward for political loyalty are over. As the Chief Operating Officer of the Service, the position requires a great deal of vision, a deep knowledge of the Pentagon Bureaucracy, and a fundamental understanding of the Service mission and importance to national defense. I have personally seen each of these qualities in Dr. Davidson—up close. A former Air Force pilot, this early mistaken career choice by the daughter of a Navy Officer can be chalked up to the fumbling of an NROTC recruiter who informed a young Davidson that she could not fly in the Navy. History now has a chance to be righted, and this skilled leader can help guide the Navy at a time when such guidance is sorely needed.
I look forward to her confirmation hearing, and then when the Senate has rendered its good judgment, to working with her to improve American Seapower.
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