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Lt. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus answered questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee Sept. 12 regarding his nomination to be the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Nordhaus said he will make sure the Guard is manned, trained and equipped to "meet any mission anywhere" if he is confirmed.
As NGB chief, Nordhaus would be responsible for guiding the Guard and advocating for its 430,000 Guardsmen.
"For the last 388 years, the incredible men and women of the National Guard have risen to every challenge and proven themselves on the battlefield and in our communities," he said. "They are, and always will be, my highest priority."
Nordhaus is currently the commander of the 1st Air Force — or Air Forces Northern — and the head of NORAD’s Continental U.S. Command Region.
An F-16 pilot, Nordhaus is an Air Guardsman who has commanded a Guard squadron, detachment and wing.
He has also served as the commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center and as NGB’s executive assistant and director of operations.
"These unique leadership experiences have made me acutely aware of the security challenges we face and tough decisions ahead," he said.
Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Stubbs is currently serving as NGB's acting chief until the bureau's permanent chief is confirmed.
Nordhaus addressed the Guard’s recruiting, noting Army and Air Guard leaders each expect to miss their branch's end strength goals by 700 to 800 Guardsmen for fiscal 2024.
The Army Guard ended fiscal 2023 with an assigned personnel strength of 324,993 Guardsmen, just seven soldiers short of its authorized strength of 325,000, according to NGB.
The Air Guard had an even tougher year, filling just 7,120 slots towards its goal of 11,745 recruits.
But the Air Guard's recruiting figure for fiscal 2023 was better than it was in fiscal 2022.
Nordhaus stated both military branches have turned a corner regarding recruiting in schools following the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also addressed recapitalizing the Air Guard’s fleet last week, saying that he will work with Gen. David W. Allvin, the Air Force chief of staff, to ensure the Guard has the right balance between older and newer aircraft to combat potential threats from China or Russia.
He plans on collaborating with Allvin and Gen. Randy A. George, the Army chief of staff, to see the Guard is well integrated into the Total Force’s plans for global conflict.
"If I’m confirmed, I will work with General George and General Allvin to make sure we continue that and make sure that we’re always ready and always there to mobilize quickly and meet the needs of our nation," Nordhaus said.
Nordhaus additionally committed to evaluating the Air Guard's full-time leveling initiative, which would enact nationwide manpower changes to the component starting Oct. 1.
Lawmakers from several states — including Alaska, New Hampshire and Michigan — have expressed concern over the initiative, noting manpower shortages that would affect their states’ Guard missions.
The Alaska Air Guard was granted an indefinite exemption from the full-time leveling initiative in August after Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both R-Alaska, and Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola, D-Alaska, wrote to Maj. Gen. Duke A. Pirak, the acting director of the Air Guard, about the initiative impacting or eliminating nearly 80 Active Guard Reserve positions in their state.
Nordhaus provided written responses to advance policy questions from the SASC before last week’s hearing.
He called TRICARE and TRICARE Reserve Select "vital to the health and well-being" of Guardsmen and their families before noting his predecessor’s work on health care.
"My predecessor, [General] Hokanson, has also stated up to 60,000 of our soldiers and airmen do not have insurance," Nordhaus said, referencing retired Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, NGB's 29th chief.
"If confirmed, I will work with the Department, the interagency, and this committee to find creative solutions to these challenges," he added of the Defense Department.
Nordhaus also mentioned "access" to health care and credentialed providers remain challenges for Guardsmen.
President Joe Biden nominated Nordhaus as NGB’s 30th chief July 24.
The SASC will next vote on whether to advance Nordhaus’ nomination before a vote potentially occurs in front of the full Senate.
— By Donald Lambert
