Trump taps ex-Space Force officer Matthew Lohmeier as Air Force under secretary

US President-elect Donald Trump announced former Space Force officer Matthew Lohmeier as the under secretary of the Air Force.

In Short

• Matthew Lohmeier is a former fighter pilot and Space Force commander
• He was dismissed in 2021 for criticising US military on a podcast
• Trump says Lohmeier served as 'proud graduate' of US Air Force Academy

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced former Space Force official Matthew Lohmeier as the next under secretary of the Air Force.

“Matt is a former fighter pilot, and Space Force Squadron Commander, who has devoted his life to serving our Great Nation,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, announcing his appointment.

"Matthew will work with the GREAT Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to end the devastating "woke" policies that have destroyed our Military, and make our Country STRONG AGAIN," he said in the post, adding that Lohmeier had served as "a proud graduate" of the US Air Force Academy.

Lohmeier, who started his military career as a fighter pilot, was fired from the Space Force in 2021, where he served as a lieutenant colonel, after criticising the US military on a conservative podcast.

Lohmeier appeared on 'The Steve Gruber Show' to promote his book which claimed that Marxism was spreading in the US military.

The US Defence department said it had lost “trust and confidence” in Lohmeier as the reason for his dismissal. However, his dismissal was met with outrage from Republican lawmakers, according to a report in The Hill.

He will serve along with Troy Meink, who Trump appointed to lead the Air Force earlier in the week.

Lohmeier thanked Trump for his appointment and said in a post on X, "Thank you, Mr. President! I’m grateful for your trust, and am very much looking forward to continuing my service to our great men and women in uniform."

"To all men and women with a desire to serve your country in uniform, come join us now! We want the best, brightest, and strongest of you at this critical juncture in American history," he added in the post.