Lynn Vows to Reform Processes if Confirmed as Deputy Secretary

WASHINGTON --- William Lynn, the nominee to be deputy defense secretary, promised the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday that he will do his utmost to improve processes in the sometimes vast and unwieldy bureaucracy of the Defense Department.>> The committee held hearings for four nominees to serve in the Defense Department as part of the administration of President-elect Barack Obama. They are Lynn; Robert Hale as undersecretary of defense for financial management; Michele Flournoy as undersecretary for policy; and Jeh Charles Johnson as the departments general counsel.>> Lynn, who served as the departments comptroller in the Clinton administration, said he sees the deputy job as having co-equal responsibilities.>> On one hand, I'll work alongside the secretary to advance our national security strategy, he said. On the other hand, as the chief management officer, I will have primary responsibility for ensuring the smooth functioning of a vast and sometimes unwieldy bureaucracy.>> If confirmed, Lynn initially would focus on three challenges. The first is a smooth civilian transition, he said.>> I would work with the secretary and the Congress to assemble a top-quality cadre of civilian leaders, he said. As part of that effort, I would also place a high priority on strengthening the capabilities of the career staff who are essential to address the many near-term challenges as well as the longer-term tasks of the department.>> Lynn said he also would like to conduct at least three sets of major program and budget reviews in the next few months. These include a review of the 2009 supplemental appropriation, revisions to the draft fiscal 2010 budget and its timely submission to Congress, and the expeditious completion of the Quadrennial Defense Review.