Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher W. Grady Opening Remarks on the Department of Defense F.Y. 2025 Budget Request

STAFF: OK. Good afternoon, everybody. I want to thank everyone for joining us for this kickoff event as we roll out President Biden's F.Y. '25 budget request for the Department of Defense. This afternoon, we have joining us the 35th Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks, and the 12th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher Grady. Deputy Secretary Hicks will provide some opening comments and then she'll be followed by Admiral Grady, who will also provide a few comments. Once they're finished, I'll call on members of the audience for questions. And with that, I'll turn it over to Deputy Secretary Hicks. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE KATHLEEN HICKS: Terrific. Thank y...