A former fighter pilot will be the next U.S. Air Force deputy secretary, President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday night.

Former U.S. Space Force commander Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier appeared on Fox News in July to discuss military preparedness after claiming he was fired for criticizing the Space Force. “Marxist” DEI complex.

Lohmeier, graduated in 2006 United States Air Force AcademyBefore joining the Space Force in 2020, he had served in the military for more than ten years, specializing in missile warning systems.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lommel (U.S. Congress)

Space Force commander says he lost pension for criticizing DEI in military, admits he was ‘betrayed’

Less than a year later, he was fired and lost his pension, after appearing The Steve Gruber Show Discussing his best-selling book Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goals of Conquest and the Destruction of the American Army.

Lohmire was relieved of command and subject to an inspector general investigation initiated by the Pentagon, according to a biography posted on a congressional website.

After retiring from the Army in September 2021, he became a public speaker and consultant on “issues such as Marxist ideology and strategy, CRT, military culture, and the maintenance of freedom,” according to the biography.

Matthew Lohmeier (Buckley Space Force Base)

Trump praised Lohmire in his nomination announcement, writing that Lohmire “has dedicated his life to serving our great country.”

“Matthew will work with a great nominee for Secretary of Defense, Peter Heggs“Make our country great again by ending the destructive ‘woke’ policies that are destroying our military,” Trump wrote on The Truth Society. “Congratulations Matthew!”

Lohmeier responded on X, thanking Trump for the nomination.

“I thank you for your trust and very much look forward to continuing to serve our great men and women in uniform,” he wrote. “To all the men and women who aspire to serve our country in uniform, join us now! At this critical moment in American history, We want the best, the brightest, and the strongest among you to join us.”

According to Lohmeyer’s biography, he holds master’s degrees in the art and science of military operations and military strategy. He lives in Idaho with his wife and children.

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The U.S. Space Force and the Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Hannah Grossman and Alba Cubas-Fantazi contributed to this article.