The Defense Department this week brought on new leadership in both the Air Force and Navy and simultaneously hosted a group of high schoolers who may one day become future leaders.
The Air Force filled its top leadership role when Matthew Lohmeier, who served as a commissioned officer in both the Air Force and Space Force, was confirmed by the Senate to serve as undersecretary.
"Congratulations again to Undersecretary Lohmeier on his confirmation, and we are looking forward to seeing all the amazing things he accomplishes for our Air Force and for our country, right here in the Pentagon," said Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson during DOD's Weekly Sitrep video.
Nominated for the position by President Donald J. Trump, Lohmeier is a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and, while in uniform, he racked up over 1,200 hours in both the T-38 Talon and F-15C Eagle aircraft and also commanded a space-based missile warning system squadron.
"I'd like to welcome Matt to the team. His prior service makes him an excellent fit to help us strengthen the readiness and warrior ethos of the Air and Space Forces in order to defend our nation," said Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink. "I'm impressed by his dedication and focus on service culture and grateful for his advocacy for department resources and modernization, and I know he will be a great asset to our total force airmen, guardians and military families."
While testifying during his nomination hearing before the Senate in May, Lohmeier told lawmakers he would advocate for a larger and better-funded Air Force, was on board with the president's peace through strength agenda and supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plans for reshaping the Defense Department.
"Secretary Hegseth has said his priorities include restoring the warrior ethos and a focus on warfighting, rebuilding the military and re-establishing deterrence," Lohmeier said. "I am firmly aligned with those priorities, and there are unique ways in which they must be accomplished in the Air and Space Forces ... all of my efforts will be nested within that framework."
There is also new leadership inbound at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
"President Trump nominated Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte to be superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy – this is the first time someone from the U.S. Marine Corps is overseeing the Naval Academy as superintendent, congratulations," Wilson said.
Borgschulte, a 1991 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, most recently served as the Marine Corps deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs. He is an aviator who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Outgoing superintendent of the school, Navy Vice Adm. Yvette M. Davids, will take over the role of deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, strategy and warfighting development at the Pentagon.
While the department announced new leaders to its ranks, the defense secretary took time to meet with some young Americans who may one day be leaders themselves.
"One hundred bright young men from the great organization, Boys Nation, visited us at the Pentagon to hear words of advice from the secretary," Wilson said. "Freedom endures when leadership is passed to the next generation, and the future is looking bright!"
High schoolers from the American Legion's Boys Nation program visited the Pentagon as part of a weeklong tour of Washington. They attended a meeting with Hegseth, who discussed with them his leadership role at the departmentand the importance of their own roles as future leaders.
"One of the missions I've appreciated of the American Legion for a long time is the mission of Americanism, of love of God and country, of fostering that spirit amongst the next generation," Hegseth said. "I'm looking out at [an] incredible group of young men here who have a chance to be a part of shaping that next generation."
Before meeting with the secretary, Boys Nation participants toured the Pentagon and laid a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
Also this week, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced that for the first time, NASCAR will host races at Naval Base Coronado in Southern California.
"The Navy will be opening the gates of their iconic institution for the American people in June 2026; we are so excited," Wilson said.
The "NASCAR San Diego Weekend" will include three events, June 19-21, 2026.
"NASCAR embodies the very best of the American spirit through speed, precision and an unyielding pursuit of excellence," Phelan said. "Hosting a race aboard Naval Air Station North Island, [Coronado], the birthplace of naval aviation, it's not just a historic first, it's a powerful tribute to the values we share: grit, teamwork and love of country ... we're proud to open our gates to the American people, honor those who serve, and inspire the next generation to step forward and serve something greater than themselves."
Also this week, Hegseth strengthened U.S. partnerships with allies in the Pacific and Europe.
"He held a bilateral meeting with Philippines President Marcos and a quadrilateral meeting with his counterparts in the Baltics — the ministers of defense from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania," Wilson said.
Hegseth hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Pentagon, July 21, 2025, and the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. They also discussed shared security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as recent advances in the long-standing U.S.-Philippines alliance.
"Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today," Hegseth said. "Together, we remain committed to the mutual defense treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard, anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea."
Today, as part of a quadrilateral meeting, Hegseth welcomed to the Pentagon three of his NATO counterparts from Eastern Europe. Included were Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds and Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė.
During that meeting, Baltic state leaders pledged to meet the target of 5% of their gross domestic product for defense spending, while Hegseth reaffirmed the American commitment to NATO.
"The United States remains fully committed to NATO, and together, we're achieving peace through strength in Europe by setting the conditions for negotiated lasting peace in Ukraine, establishing sustainable deterrence and increasing ally capabilities and interoperability," he said.