before going the nsa, matthew olsen directed the task force overseeing the administration's detainees at the guantanamo bay. a vote is not expected until the senate returns from its august recess. this is an hour and 35 minutes. >> the hearing will come to order. the process will be as follows. i'll make remarks, the vice chairman makes remarks, and then we'll call on the distinguished senator from south dakota for remarks, and then we will proceed. i trust that is agreeable with everybody. the committee meets today to consider the president's nomination of matt olsen to be the director of the national counterterrorism center. here's currently in the security agency holding a number of senior positions in the department of justice including the national security division and the federal bureau of investigation. mr. olsen appeared as a witness before this committee previously and briefed members and staff over the last several years. i'd like to welcome him back to this committee. i'd like to begin today by discussing the current terrorist threat and the role of what we call nctc, whic