Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller deliver remarks while meeting with National Guard troops positioned at Union Station as part of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, Washington, D.C., Aug. 20, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

U.S. Tech. Sgt. Brian Williams, Aviation Detachment, 52nd Operations Group NCO in Charge of client systems from the hometown of Ocean Springs, Miss., receives a hand shake from U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Jan. 31, 2014, at Powidz Air Base, Poland. The Av-Det’s mission supports Poland’s continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with the Minister of Defence for Mongolia Nyamaagiin Enkhbold at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., April 2, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense inducts U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II into the Hall of Heroes during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2, 2018, after being awarded the Medal of Honor by the President. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan arrives in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 29, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

Challenge Coin: VCSA William Crouch

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with fighter squadron members at Osan Air Base, South Korea, June 3, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with Chinese Minister of Defense Wei Fenghe, at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2019, Singapore, May 31, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

U.S. Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Robert M. Gates, met with coalition troops at ISAF Joint Command headquarters June 7 in Kabul. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Oct. 4, 2013) - A U.S. Army helicopter carrying U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel lands at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY). Hagel is visiting CFAY as part of a weeklong trip to the region aimed at fostering key alliances. (U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Michael D. Kennedy)

Gen. Dempsey congratulates Robert Hale.

18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey joined Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and guests to say farewell to outgoing Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer Robert Hale in the Pentagon Auditorium, July 7, 2014. DoD photo by SSG Sean K. Harp, USA

Vice President of the U.S. Joseph R. Biden Jr. gives remarks during the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in Honor of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Jan. 28, 2015, in Conmy Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. U.S. President Barack H. Obama hosted the ceremony with co-hosts Biden and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Rachel Larue)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks to Blue Origin employees as part of his Arsenal of Freedom Tour, Cape Canaveral, Fla., Feb. 2, 2026. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) David L. Norquist, and Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provide testimony on the DOD posture and fiscal year 2019 budget request to the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. April. 26, 2018. DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro

Washington, D.C. (January 17, 2021) Acting Homeland Security Secretary Pete Gaynor and Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller tour the U.S. Capitol building and interact with National Guard Soldiers assigned to ensure security ahead of the Presidential Inauguration.

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan receive a border security update from Acting Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner John Sanders at the McAllen Border Patrol Station, McAllen, Texas, May 11, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan receive a border security update from Acting Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner John Sanders at the McAllen Border Patrol Station, McAllen, Texas, May 11, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan delivers remarks at the 35th Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 9, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey joined Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to address the media during a press briefing in the Pentagon, Aug. 21, 2014. DoD photo by SSG Sean K. Harp, USA

Challenge Coin: 101st Airborne Division Commander

Washington, D.C. (January 17, 2021) Acting Homeland Security Secretary Pete Gaynor and Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller tour the U.S. Capitol building and interact with National Guard Soldiers assigned to ensure security ahead of the Presidential Inauguration.

US Air Force Senior Airman Shabree Heasell sits in front of a camera, Tuesday September 1, 2015 on Kapun Air Station, Germany. SrA Heasell was apart of the Secretary of Defense's Worldwide Troop Talk. (US Army photo by SGT Ricky Bowden/Released)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos, Department of War leadership, U.S. cogressmen, and senior executives pose for a photo at Blue Origin, as part of Hegseth's Arsenal of Freedom Tour, Cape Canaveral, Fla., Feb. 2, 2026. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Acting Principal Deputy Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Kim Joiner, and Veterans Affairs Executive Director, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Gary Tallman, lay a wreath to honor the second anniversary of National Vietnam War Veterans Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., March 29, 2019. The Department of Defense will also support more than 1,600 events in several states across the nation to recognize, honor and thank U.S. Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

Washington, D.C. (January 17, 2021) Acting Homeland Security Secretary Pete Gaynor and Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller tour the U.S. Capitol building and interact with National Guard Soldiers assigned to ensure security ahead of the Presidential Inauguration.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work answers questions from a panel of military dependents during the Military Child Education Coalition National Training Seminar in Washington, June 28, 2016. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley/Released)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan speaks with reporters at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2019, Singapore, May 31, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work shakes hands with a California Highway Patrolman before boarding a plane at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Ventura County, Calif., returning to Joint Base Andrews, Md. to end a three-day trip to Arizona and California, Dec. 4, 2016. (DOD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with the Minister of Defence for Mongolia Nyamaagiin Enkhbold at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., April 2, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with the Minister of Defence for Mongolia Nyamaagiin Enkhbold at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., April 2, 2019. (DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

President of the U.S. Barack H. Obama gives remarks during the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in Honor of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Jan. 28, 2015, in Conmy Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Obama hosted the ceremony with co-hosts Vice President of the U.S. Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Rachel Larue)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan receives a gift from Colombian Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez after talks at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 7, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and other world defense ministers convene for the 31st Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 15, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Challenge Coin: Deputy SECDEF Paul Wolfowitz

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan meets with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 9, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan lmeets with South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 2019. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Challenge Coin: SMA Gene McKinney

A flower rests on one of 184 benches during the 21st 9/11 Pentagon Observance Ceremony on Sept. 11, 2022, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., in remembrance of the 184 lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attack at the Pentagon (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participated in a Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of Chuck Hagel, Twenty-Forth Secretary of Defense, at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 28, 2015. Hagel served as the Secretary of Defense for two years and present for the ceremony was President of the United States Barrack H. Obama, Vice President of the Untied States Joseph R. Biden, and General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cody Wes Torkelson)

151105-N-KU391-216

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 5, 2015) – Two MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to the Medium Tiltrotors of Marine Squadron (VMM) 265, land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations as part of a worldwide deployment en route to its new homeport in San Diego to complete a three-carrier homeport shift.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josh Petrosino/Released)