Overview

• President-elect Donald Trump has selected Matthew Lohmeier as his nominee for undersecretary of the Air Force, the second-highest civilian role in the department.
• Lohmeier was dismissed from his Space Force command in 2021 after publicly criticizing diversity and inclusion training, which he described as rooted in critical race theory and Marxism.
• His removal from command was attributed to a loss of trust and confidence in his leadership, following remarks made during a podcast promoting his book on military culture.
• If confirmed, Lohmeier would oversee policy and readiness for both the Air Force and Space Force, alongside Secretary of the Air Force nominee Troy Meink.
• The nomination reflects Trump's broader focus on reversing 'woke' military policies, a key theme of his administration's agenda.