15 July 1998
Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul1998/b07151998_bt366-98.html

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

No. 366-98

(703)697-5131(media)
(703)697-5737(public/industry)

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen announced today the establishment and inaugural meeting of the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee (TRAC). This committee, a panel of distinguished defense experts, is commissioned with providing advice and initiatives on implementation actions as directed by the Defense Reform Initiative in the consolidation of four threat reduction organizations. Today's meeting was hosted by Cohen and chaired by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, Dr. Jacques Gansler. Deputy Secretary of Defense, John J. Hamre and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Walter B. Slocombe also participated in today's meeting.

The committee will review and advise the Cohen on the transformation of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

The existing organizations, the Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA), the On-Site Inspection Agency (OSIA), the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) and elements of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, will become part of DTRA. Additionally, the new elements of DTRA will include an Advanced Systems Concept Office and the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee.

In his opening remarks Wednesday, Gansler said: "We are asking this new agency to deal with threat reduction in the broadest sense. We want it to address every conceivable approach to reducing the threat from weapons of mass destruction... to prevent the spread of these weapons, to deter their use, to protect against them if they are used, to identify who is responsible for such use, and to support an appropriate response."

He added: "We expect to clarify the whole of what needs to be done to carry out (DTRA's) various mission elements, and to take the initiatives needed to ensure that no essential capabilities go unmet."

The TRAC is chaired by Gen. Larry Welch (USAF, ret.) and includes the following experts in defense and security issues:

Norm Augustine, Princeton University and former chairman of Lockheed-Martin;

Ashton Carter, Harvard University and former assistant secretary of Defense;

Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper, (USAF, ret.) and Booz-Allen & Hamilton;

John Deutch, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;

Theodore S. Gold, Institute for Defense Analysis;

Jamie Gorelick, vice chair, Fannie Mae;

Dr. Joshua Lederberg, president emeritus, Rockefeller University;

Dr. Ronald Lehman, Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory;

Mr. Verne Lynn, consultant;

William J. Perry, former Secretary of Defense, Stanford University;

C. Paul Robinson, president, Sandia National Laboratory;

James R. Schlesinger, Center for Strategic and International Studies;

Harold P. Smith, consultant and former assistant to the Secretary of Defense;

Rich Wagner, Los Alamos National Laboratory;

George Whitesides, Harvard University;

Frank Young, minister, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Md., and

Paul Wolfowitz, Johns Hopkins University.

Ex officio members of the committee include:

Rose Gottemoeller, Department of Energy;

Don Kerr, Federal Bureau of Investigation;

Eric Newsom, Department of State;

Ted Warner, Department of Defense; and

John Lauder, director, Central Intelligence Nonproliferation Center.