Senior Air and Space Force Leaders Discuss Defense of Homeland

Feb. 25, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

The War Department's 2026 National Defense Strategy, released Jan. 23, prioritizes defending the homeland as its first line of effort.

Yesterday, during a panel on homeland defense at the Air and Space Forces Association's annual warfare symposium in Aurora, Colorado, three senior Air and Space Force generals discussed how their respective combatant commands are working to do just that.

Space Force Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command; Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command; and Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael J. Lutton, deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, spent just under 45 minutes discussing what they view as the biggest threats to the homeland and how they foresee the development of the Golden Dome for America missile defense system, among other topics.

Regarding the threat assessment to North America, two of the three leaders agreed that cyberattacks from U.S. adversaries are near the top — if not at the top — of the list.

"The cyber threat is the most persistent and present threat that we have. I'm often asked when doing congressional testimony, 'What's our next attack going to be?' And I say we are under attack right this second in cyber[space] from nation states and proxies to them, trying to get into our systems to the tune of hundreds of millions [of] attempts a day," said Guillot, whose combined NORAD and Northcom commands focus on homeland defense in all domains.

Lutton, whose command conducts global operations to deter strategic attacks — particularly nuclear — and employs tailored forces to guarantee the security of the nation and its allies, concurred with Guillot's assessment.

"With respect to cyberspace, the ability of cyber to disrupt or deny or degrade — that has a different tempered dimension, if you will, than a ballistic missile [and] there's potential ambiguity with cyber that is very much a focus of [Stratcom]," Lutton said.

As commander of Spacecom — the command responsible for conducting, planning and integrating joint military space operations with allies to deter aggression, defend national interests, and defeat threats in, from and to space — Whiting said his primary concern is Russia's reported development of a space-based, nuclear-powered anti-satellite capability designed to destroy or disable satellites, particularly in low Earth orbit.

"If Russia were to launch that, of course, it would violate the Outer Space Treaty that they're a signatory to, [and] it would be an incredibly destructive and indiscriminate weapon that would hold all nations' space capabilities at risk," Whiting said.

"And, of course, that's just something that we wouldn't want to tolerate," he added.

In terms of the development of the Golden Dome — which President Donald J. Trump authorized via Executive Order 14186 on Jan. 27, 2025 — all three leaders said their respective commands are working closely together and with Space Force Commander Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, the director of the Golden Dome mission.

Guillot said that as soon as Guetlein was confirmed to lead Golden Dome, he flew out to meet with Guillot and Whiting to begin basic planning for the program.

"And the three of us left the room, without any exaggeration, 100% aligned with what we thought Golden Dome for America should look like," Guillot said.

He added that the program is moving along at such a clip that it might have demonstrable capability much faster than initially anticipated.

"When Golden Dome first was discussed, I think some thought it would be a 2040 … type of capability [but] it's not; it's much closer, and a lot of the capabilities are [already] there," Guillot said.

Acquisition Reform Means a Focus on Warfighter Success

Feb. 26, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

The War Department aims to modernize how acquisition — the buying of weapons and other materiel from manufacturers — is done to ensure American warfighters get the best tools, at the right price, and as quickly as possible. 

In November 2025, for instance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a reorganization of the existing program executive offices into portfolio acquisition executives. 

"The acquisition chain of authority will run directly from the program manager to the PAE," Hegseth said at the time. "Each PAE will be the single accountable official for portfolio outcomes and have the authority to act without running through months or even years of approval chains. And they'll be held accountable to deliver results." 

The secretary said PAEs will be empowered with authorities to make decisions on cost, schedule and performance trade-offs that prioritize time to field and mission outcomes.  

During a panel discussion yesterday as part of the Air and Space Forces Association's warfare symposium in Aurora, Colorado, Air Force Gen. Dale R. White, director of critical major weapon systems, said that effort will be transformational in the acquisition community. 

"I think now we take it down to the next level and just think about where we are with our [program offices], what we're doing with the PAEs, giving them authority to make decisions in real time, make trades, and be able to do probably the most important thing with this whole transformation," White said. "[And that] is not measure ourselves against acquisition outcomes but measure ourselves against mission outcomes, allowing that PAE to look at the operational problem and work to figure out a solution to that problem and be able to have the decision space to do so." 

White said it's not just PAEs that must be empowered to do their job, but the acquisition enterprise as a whole must be aligned to make acquisition success about meeting mission requirements for the warfighter, not just a positive business outcome. 

"We're just not empowering PAEs; the idea is you get unity of command," he said. "You get unity of effort. You allow that contracting officer to have a voice in solving that operational problem, that [financial management] person, that engineer; you change the cultural mindset of how we look at what we're doing." 

There are plenty of examples, White said, of where there was acquisition success that didn't result in operational mission success. 

"We may have done well on the acquisition side, but how well did that align to the operational need and what we're trying to do," he asked. "It is really that hard reset. It's the empowerment piece and changing the dynamic by which we study the problems that we have." 

For acquisition professionals, White said, acquisition reform will require them to lead with conviction. 

"Lead with vision, lead ruthlessly and lead with an intent to solve the operational problem," he said. "If you want to know what acquisition as a warfighting function means, it means come together as a team, the operational team, the acquiring team, and deliver on the outcome. Sometimes that means you're going to make some tough decisions that you have to have courage to make; make the decision, drive for the outcome."

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Travels to Arkansas for 'Arsenal of Freedom' Tour

Feb. 26, 2026 |

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will depart tomorrow for Camden, Arkansas, to visit General Dynamics and L3 Harris. Secretary Hegseth will also administer the oath of enlistment to new recruits.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is concluding his nationwide "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, a call to action to revitalize America's manufacturing might and reenergize the nation's workforce. The tour's message will emphasize that our national security and the peace of the world move at the speed of our Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and rely on the hard work of our American workforce.

The tour will highlight the urgent need to rebuild our Defense Industrial Base to ensure that we continue President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Hegseth's peace through strength agenda.

American manufacturing is the bedrock of American strength. The men and women fueling this work are on the front lines, alongside our warfighters, furthering the nation's efforts every day they show up to work.

The tour will champion a new approach to defense acquisition, one that prioritizes and awards speed, innovation, and a "commercial-first" mindset.

This includes cutting bureaucratic red tape, empowering program leaders, and providing the stable, long-term contracts necessary for industry to invest and expand.

The goal is to create a defense ecosystem that is more agile and accountable, capable of delivering the tools our warfighters need, when they need them.

The "Arsenal of Freedom" tour is more than a series of speeches; it is a movement to restore our nation's industrial prowess and secure our freedom for generations to come. It is a reminder that the strength of our nation is not just in our military, but in the ingenuity and spirit of the American people.

Hegseth: National Guard Aligned With National Defense Strategy – Homeland First, Borders Secured, Peace Through Strength

Feb. 25, 2026 | By Army Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, National Guard Bureau |

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed National Guard leaders today at the Herbert R. Temple Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Virginia, where he underscored the War Department's top priorities: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence.

In attendance were: the National Guard adjutants general — the senior Army and Air National Guard officers representing each state, three territories and the District of Columbia; along with Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, National Guard Bureau chief,  and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines; as well as Army Gen. Thomas Carden, National Guard Bureau vice chief. 

During the meeting, Hegseth outlined the guard's critical alignment with the 2026 National Defense Strategy — the War Department's guiding document for implementing the core pillars of President Donald J. Trump's National Security Strategy: America first, peace through strength and common sense. 

Hegseth praised the "great work being done" by the National Guard in support of the NDS, which prioritizes homeland defense first, deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region through strength rather than confrontation, increasing burden-sharing with allies and partners and supercharging the U.S. defense industrial base. 

"This group is central to reestablishing the United States' deterrence," Hegseth told the adjutants general. "That charge fell quickly to the National Guard, which has been instrumental in establishing 100% operational control of our southern border — the baseline of our deterrence. The guard fills gaps as we are layering more effects to close them."  

Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. cannot be a sovereign country without control of its own borders. Since January 2025, more than 18,000 National Guardsmen have supported operations on the southern border, contributing to the lowest level of U.S.-Mexico border crossings in over 50 years. 

The secretary also highlighted cities like Memphis, Tennessee, New Orleans and Washington, which have each seen sharp reductions in violent crime, due in part to a uniformed National Guard presence working alongside law enforcement partners, as Trump spotlighted in yesterday's State of the Union.

"I salute those who embraced coming alongside law enforcement agencies to make our cities safer," Hegseth said. "It's just like in the aftermath of natural disasters — the guard adds huge value, and they make people feel safer where they live. Their incredible professionalism goes a long way." During the State of the Union, Trump awarded two West Virginia National Guardsmen, Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, the Purple Heart, following the attack in Washington that took Beckstrom's life while both were on duty as part of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

"President Trump showcased our best warriors, past and present," Hegseth said. "They don't do it to be recognized." 

The secretary reminded the generals that the National Guard is vital to homeland defense.  

Army Guardsmen in Alaska, California and Colorado operate the department's only capability to defeat intercontinental ballistic missile strikes with defensive interceptor missiles. Sixteen of the 17 Aerospace Alert Control sites are operated by Air Guardsmen in conjunction with North American Aerospace Defense Command, to launch fighters at any time to intercept, inspect, influence and defeat potential airborne threats, 24/7. National Guardsmen also sustain enduring missions in counter-drug operations and cyber defense. 

With 435,000 total service members, the National Guard provides 20% of the U.S. joint force at about 4% of DOW's budget. Regarding force strength, the Army Guard constitutes 40% of the Army's operational force, fielding eight full divisions, while the Air National Guard provides 30% of the Air Force's operational forces across 90 wings. Hegseth applauded the National Guard's integral role in high-profile missions such as Operation Midnight Hammer, which showcased exquisite warfighting capabilities and combat experience. 

"I don't have to remind you all of that," he said. "[Midnight Hammer] and Operation Absolute Resolve demonstrated the ripple effect of American power. You have to prove you can TKO again and again." 

Hegseth, a former Army National Guard infantry officer who served in units across six states, noted the unique skill sets that reside in the National Guard, where members balance civilian careers with service.  

He stressed the guard also advances both the second and third pillars of the NDS — deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region through strength rather than confrontation and increasing burden-sharing with allies and partners — through DOW's National Guard State Partnership Program. The SPP now encompasses partnerships with 116 nations linked to the National Guard of a state, territory or D.C. Of those, 18 are in the Indo-Pacific area of operations, and 30 are in Central and South America, supporting counter-narco-terrorism efforts and enabling partners to lead regionally. 

Globally, the U.S. is enabling allies and partners to "step up and take the lead" in their own defense. Hegseth applauded the guard's partnerships in the Western Hemisphere, where he said the department has "only just begun to counter narco-terrorists and cartels." 

"Military-to-military partnerships pay off in spades, and the SPP is a bedrock of that," he said. "Countries are ready to go when they see we are with them." 

He noted the ingenuity of guard soldiers and airmen in leveraging skills and experience to help shape future warfighting equipment.  

"We welcome your feedback and bottom-up input from the troop-level to know we're fielding the right systems, when and where we need them." 

On the personnel side, Hegseth said one facet of restoring the warrior ethos is to reduce or eliminate unnecessary "mandatory" trainings and slideshow briefings and instead, empower commanders and noncommissioned officers to lead lethality-focused training. 

"We hope it makes drill weekend and annual training a little better," he said.

Hegseth Inducts Naval Aviator, Medal of Honor Recipient Into Pentagon Hall of Heroes

Feb. 25, 2026 | By Office of the Navy Chief of Information |

Last night, retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams received the Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. Today, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle inducted Williams into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes for his heroic actions during the Korean War.

"Capt. Royce Williams did what warriors are called to do when the moment comes — he stood his ground, took the fight to the enemy and protected his fellow Americans. Outnumbered, outgunned and alone in the sky, he prevailed through sheer skill, courage and will," said Hegseth. "Today, we honor not just a remarkable dogfight, but a lifetime of quiet strength and service. Capt. Williams embodies the fighting spirit of the United States Navy and the warrior ethos that keeps this nation free."

Williams was joined by an audience of family, friends, fellow Naval Aviators and senior Navy leaders.

"Capt. E. Royce Williams represents the very best of the United States Navy," said Phelan. "On Nov. 18, 1952, flying from USS Oriskany and outnumbered in the skies over North Korea, he chose to engage to protect the ships of Task Force 77 and the sailors aboard them. In a 35-minute dogfight, he shot down three MiG-15s and severely damaged a fourth one. For decades, much of this story remained classified, but the facts never changed. His courage, airmanship and devotion to duty saved lives and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval service. Today, we are proud to formally recognize a Naval Aviator whose example will endure for generations."

Yet when reflecting on that historic day and the recognition it brought, Williams did not speak of skill or courage, but of humility and faith.

"I know how momentous this moment is, and I never imagined myself or allowed myself to think it was going to happen to me," Williams said. "I imagined it as God reaching in and dipping his hand in to pick somebody up for the most unusual reasons and displaying him in front of his fellow citizens."

He continued, emphasizing that the honor was never something he expected or sought.

"And to be entirely amazed and appreciative for the accommodations and accolades. But that's so unusual that you don't fool around thinking that it's ever going to come your way," he said. "This is God doing something usual, with his finger in the pie and with his influence. And what did I have to do with it? Well, I was the principal, in a way, that is receiving the recognition, but maybe some of that recognition misses the influence that really caused this special recognition."

Williams was born in Wilmot, South Dakota, and enlisted in the Army at 16 years old in Ortonville, Minnesota. Upon completion of basic training, he returned to Ortonville to train with his unit in a reserve status until he finished high school. Once he turned 17, Williams was eligible for the Naval Aviation Cadet program and joined the Navy, where he began flight training in 1943. Among many other aviation platforms, Williams learned to fly the F9F-5 Panther jet and was assigned to active duty in the Korean War, during which he flew 70 missions. Williams went on to serve in the Vietnam War, flying over 110 missions in the A-4 Skyhawk and F-4 Phantom from the USS Kitty Hawk. Williams later served as commanding officer of the command ship USS El Dorado from September 1969 to January 1971. He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1980.

His Medal of Honor is an upgrade of the Navy Cross he was previously awarded in January 2023, which was an upgrade to the Silver Star Medal he was previously awarded while assigned to the "Pacemakers" of Fighter Squadron 781 in 1953.