Hegseth expressed that traditional qualifications for Pentagon leadership have not been effective, stating, 'We've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly the right credentials...where has it gotten us?'
In his opening remarks, Hegseth emphasized a shift toward military readiness, saying, 'First and foremost, we will defend our homeland—our borders and our skies.'
Hegseth addressed his lack of traditional credentials by asserting, 'It is true that I don't have a similar biography to Defense secretaries of the last 30 years,' advocating for 'someone with dust on his boots.'
Pledge to restore the warrior ethos: 'The primary charge [from Trump] was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense,' highlighting a focus on warfighting and meritocracy.
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