Military Ex-Space Force Official Named for Air Force Undersecretary Position

Dodging the Diversity Debate: Ex-Spaceforce Officer Lohmeier's Rise as Trump's Air Force Pick

Donald Trump looks to rock the boat once more with his nomination of controversy-courted Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier for the Under Secretary of the Air Force position. If green-lit, this former Space Force commander will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump's Secretary of Defense nominee, Troy Meink.

Lohmeier burst into the limelight in 2021, slamming his self-penned book and subsequent podcast appearances for claims asserting Marxist ideology seeping into the military. This salespitch decried the Pentagon's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs as a silencing force against conservative voices among senior leaders.

The then-Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting booted Lohmeier from his post as 11th Space Warning Squadron commander, citing a drip of confidence in his leadership abilities. According to sources, this decision was primarily driven by Lohmeier's podcast comments. Whiting now commands U.S. Space Command, one of the 11 combatant commands within the U.S. military.

Following his dismissal, Lohmeier severed ties with the military. His post-military life saw him front a personal podcast and frequent multiple others, keeping his barbs pointed squarely at the military leadership.

Now, Lohmeier is on the precipice of heading back to the Department of the Air Force. Trump hinted that the "woke" policies Lohmeier has repeatedly criticized will be scrapped. "Matthew will work with the GREAT Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to end these disastrous 'woke' policies that have gutted our Military, and make our Country STRONG AGAIN," Trump wrote.

Should Meink and Lohmeier bag their respective confirmations, the Department of the Air Force will boast top civilian leaders with deep space expertise. While some senior leaders have dabbled in the space domain, Meink and Lohmeier could potentially form the most steeped space-focused duo in history.

Lohmeier, an Air Force Academy graduate in 2006, kicked off his career as a pilot, flying the T-38 and later the F-15C. By 2015, he embarked on his initial space-centric assignment, and by 20, he joined the Space Force. His command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron saw him responsible for worldwide missile warning and tracking.

Trump's endorsement of both Meink and Lohmeier may signal that the burgeoning Space Force may receive more attention during the new administration. Trump made the creation of the Space Force a priority during his first term, and as the service braces for its first-ever budget cut in 2025, leaders have implored the need for additional resources and personnel to keep up with an expanding mission set.

The Red Star ControversyLohmeier's nomination stirs up memories of his podium-pummeling book, "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military." With allegations that Marxism has wormed its way into the military, Lohmeier has caused quite a stir.

On social media, the former Air Force officer has been noted for equating anti-racism literature with Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," and his scorn for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives stems from concerns about them promoting "anti-western, anti-white, anti-conservative, and anti-merit views."

As people question the political leanings of the military, Lohmeier, Trump's nominee for Under Secretary of the Air Force, has openly criticized the Pentagon's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In his self-penned book and subsequent podcast appearances, Lohmeier raised concerns that Marxist ideology is seeping into the military, claiming that these DEI programs are silencing conservative voices among senior leaders.
If confirmed, Lohmeier could form a unique partnership with Troy Meink, Trump's Secretary of Defense nominee, both having ties to the space domain through their military careers and space-focused assignments.
In today's general news and political debates, Lohmeier's nomination has resurfaced discussions surrounding the influence of Marxist ideas in the military, as seen in his book, "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military."
The red star controversy surrounding Lohmeier's nomination rekindles concerns about the security and defense of the nation, lurking in the intersection of space-and-astronomy, politics, and military affairs.