Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) has retained his position as Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee for the 118th Congress. The SASC is responsible for overseeing the US Department of Defense, all military services operating within the domains of land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space, and all DoD agencies, including their budgets and policies, and national security aspects of nuclear energy. Each year, SASC is responsible for producing and passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

Reed, a West Point graduate, served in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and in other assignments. 

During Reed’s 26 years in the Senate, he has typically set aside partisan politics to support the men and women of the US military, and US allies and friends. The Rhode Island senator has also given every indication of being unbiased on topics of interest to simulation and training stakeholders. 

This January, the SASC chairman voiced his agreement with the Biden Administration’s recent efforts to bolster its support of Ukraine in its war with Russia, including the commitment of $3.75 billion worth of military weapons and other aid to Ukraine and its neighbors impacted by Russia’s invasion, and more robust US-conducted training for members and units of the Ukrainian military forces. Responding to some Republicans’ agenda to cut aid to Ukraine, Reed said, “that would be extremely short sighted,” and further explained, “The Ukrainians are fighting our fight, because if they fail, if the Russians succeed, they won't stop at Ukraine, and they will endanger NATO allies, which could pull us into a direct conflict with Russia. That would be a disaster.”

In September 2021, Reed similarly noted that “In order to boost our military advantage, the Armed Services Committee created the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, or PDI, to better align DoD resources in support of military-to-military partnerships to address the challenges posed by China. PDI will remain a priority for the committee as we seek to provide additional funding for required military capabilities; strategic forward-based military posture; and enhanced training infrastructure and opportunities.”