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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Jan. 17 that he will nominate 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 serve as the second-highest-ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force. His portfolio 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 in 2019.
The announcement came one day after Trump selected National Reconnaissance Office official Troy Meink to be the next secretary of the Air Force, rounding out the leadership team expected to guide the department under the new administration.
A polarizing figure
Lohmeier’s nomination is likely to draw renewed attention to his controversial departure from the military. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2006, Lohmeier began his military career as a pilot, accruing more than 1,200 flight hours in the T-38 trainer aircraft and the F-15C fighter jet. In 2020, he transferred to the newly formed Space Force, where he commanded a space-based missile warning squadron in Colorado.
In May 2021 he was relieved of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base following the release of Lohmeier’s self-published book that argued that Marxist ideologies were infiltrating the armed forces through diversity and inclusion training programs. His removal from command was due to what the Space Force characterized as a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.
After leaving active duty in September 2021, Lohmeier transitioned to a career as a public speaker and consultant, maintaining a vocal presence on issues related to military culture and national security.
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