Senator Hirono Questions Navy Nominee Admiral Caudle on Red Hill Spill and Dry Dock Project

Confirmation Hearing Questions

• 💡 Senator Hirono began by asking Admiral Caudle, nominated for Naval Operations Commander, standard questions regarding any past unwanted requests for sexual favors or harassment/assault of a sexual nature, to which he responded "No."
• 📌 She also inquired if he had ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to such conduct, to which he also responded "No."

Dry Dock Construction at Pearl Harbor

• 🚀 The Navy is undertaking a $4.5 billion dry dock construction project at Pearl Harbor for Virginia class submarine maintenance.
• ⚠️ This project has encountered significant issues, including an $834 million cost overrun and being four months behind schedule.
• 🎯 Admiral Caudle acknowledged the Navy's historical struggles with estimating costs and schedules for dry docks, stating his commitment to personally engage and work with the team to get the project back on plan and on schedule.

Red Hill Fuel Spill and Environmental Remediation

• 💧 The Red Hill fuel spill in 2021-2022 impacted over 90,000 Hawaii residents, necessitating ongoing resources for defueling and environmental cleanup.
• 🌍 Admiral Caudle committed to prioritizing the long-term environmental remediation at Red Hill and ensuring the Navy provides safe drinking water to the military and surrounding community.
• 🤝 He pledged to work personally with the Senator and his environmental team to complete all Navy responsibilities on time and to the maximum extent possible.

Military Engagement and Community Trust

• 🤝 The Red Hill incident created uncertainty regarding the military's commitment to Hawaii, impacting lease negotiations for Army and Marine forces.
• 💬 Admiral Caudle committed to prioritizing community engagement and sensitivity to rebuild trust and assure the people of Hawaii that the military will "do what is right."

UNCLOS and Maritime Security

• 🚢 Admiral Caudle expressed agreement from the Navy's perspective that the provisions of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) are important for maritime equities.
• 🌍 He believes ratification is overdue, especially given the activities of Russia and China, though he noted that ratification issues may involve concerns about sea mining and potential constraints on national capabilities, which he considers "outside my lane."