President-elect Donald Trump announced on January 17th his nomination of former U.S. Space Force commander Matthew Lohmeier to serve as the next undersecretary of the Air Force.
Lohmeier gained national attention in 2021 after being relieved of his command for publishing a book criticizing diversity initiatives in the military. If confirmed by the Senate, he will be the second-highest-ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force. His responsibilities would include overseeing policies related to the readiness of both the U.S. Air Force and the Space Force, a branch established during Trump’s first term.
This announcement follows Trump's selection of National Reconnaissance Office official Troy Meink to be the next secretary of the Air Force, completing the leadership team for the department under the new administration.
Lohmeier’s nomination will likely reignite discussion surrounding his controversial departure from the military. A 2006 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Lohmeier’s career began as a pilot, accumulating over 1,200 flight hours. In 2020, he transferred to the Space Force, commanding a space-based missile warning squadron.
In May 2021, he was relieved of command following the publication of his book arguing that Marxist ideologies were infiltrating the armed forces through diversity and inclusion training. The Space Force cited a loss of confidence in his leadership abilities as the reason for his removal.
Since leaving active duty in September 2021, Lohmeier has worked as a public speaker and consultant, remaining vocal on military culture and national security issues.