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Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, a former #AirForce and #SpaceForce officer who was relieved of command in 2021 after publicly criticizing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 29th Under Secretary of the Air Force, placing a former fighter pilot and Space Force Guardian into the department’s No. 2 civilian leadership post. The Senate vote, which reflected sharp partisan divisions, elevates Lohmeier to a role responsible for organizing, training and equipping the Air Force and Space Force and overseeing more than $200 billion in assets and the welfare of hundreds of thousands of service members and civilians. Critics note his earlier removal by the #Biden administration stemmed from public claims about ideological influence in the #military, while supporters praised his operational experience and outspoken stance on military culture, setting the stage for a contentious tenure shaping force policy and personnel priorities. See less