Pete Hegseth calls his job as the Secretary of Defense “the most important deployment of my life,” and it’s not his first.

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Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University in 2003 with a BA in politics. He led troops in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as guarding prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the War on Terror. He rose to the rank of major.

Hegseth’s military awards include two Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB).

Pete Hegseth was born June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2013. He was formerly head of the non-profit group Concerned Veterans for America. He is married with seven children.

Hegseth is probably best known as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, where, according to a Fox spokesperson, his “insights and analysis about the military resonated deeply with our viewers.” He became friends with President Trump through Trump’s regular appearances on his show.

As Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth is tasked with executing the Commander in Chief’s agenda.

A Bruising Confirmation Battle

Pete Hegseth faced an uphill battle for his confirmation in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Democrats and a few Republicans called him “unfit” and “unqualified” to lead the Pentagon.

In addition to questioning his lack of experience in managing a large organization such as the Defense Department with its three million employees, Democrats on the committee also accused him of excessive drinking (which he denies), and infidelity.

It’s no secret that Hegseth faced allegations of sexual assault in 2017. He denied the assault saying the encounter was consensual. After a police investigation no charges were filed, and he was cleared. He did pay a settlement to protect his family and his job from a potential lawsuit.

Hegseth admits to a messy personal life. He’s been married three times but declares that he is a changed man from his younger days. He gives the credit to his wife, Jennifer, whom he married in 2019, and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, saying…

“I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real. I have failed in things in my life, and thankfully I’m redeemed by my Lord and Savior Jesus.”

Hegseth was confirmed on January 24, 2025, following a 50-50 tie vote with Republican Senators Murkowski, Collins and McConnell voting no, along with every Democrat and Independent senator. Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. Hegseth was sworn in the next day and offered these brief remarks…

“We don’t want to fight wars. We want to deter them … and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home.”

His Christian Faith

Pete was brought up by Christian parents in a home he calls faith and family based. As a teenager, he gave his life to Christ, but acknowledges that he had a “Christian veneer, but a secular core.” He admits to being a Christian during his younger years as more of a habit than conviction.

It wasn’t until 2018 that faith became real when he and his wife, Jen, began attending Colts Neck Community Church in New Jersey. “The pastor spoke about his broken family past—I’m broken, you’re broken, we’re all broken and careening around not living our faith and not being deeply rooted,” Hegseth remembered. “Truly inviting Jesus into my heart—to command my life—has been edifying and liberating,” he adds.

Pete and his wife have seven children – five boys and two girls. His role of dad is his most important job. “I’ve got a bunch of kids and realize the only thing that matters is introducing them to Jesus Christ,” says Hegseth. “I spend time teaching them how to dribble a basketball or to love America—and those are all great—but they’re utterly insufficient. Fathers chart the course and lead the path for their families and kids; a path that should lead to Jesus Christ.”

His Number One Priority as Defense Secretary

President Trump’s primary charge to Hegseth is to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense. Hegseth’s top priorities as Secretary of Defense are to restore the warrior ethos, rebuild the military, and reestablish deterrence.

He and President Trump share the same goals for America’s military—”a ready, lethal military, the health and well-being of our troops, and a strong and secure America.”

His priority will be to the soldier, sailor, airman and marine – the ‘warfighters’ as Hegseth calls them. He plans on trimming the top-heavy bureaucracy saying, “We won World War II with seven four-star generals. Today we have 44. We need more warfighters at the bottom.”

He plans on identifying where the fat can be cut and to reallocate those resources to the warfighter.

Ending Wokeness in the Military

In 2024, Hegseth wrote a best-selling book called The War on Warriors, outlining the destructive DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) ideology infecting the military. These policies, according to Hegseth, distract from the military’s core mission to protect the American people and win wars. DEI also spreads division among the ranks and is championed by “woke” generals.

Who can forget Biden’s Joint Chief, General Mark Milly, defending in a Congressional hearing the teaching of critical race theory to military cadets and Ibram V Kendi’s book, How to be an Anti-Racist, as required reading in order to understand “white rage” and white “extremism”.

Secretary Hegseth has been on the receiving end of Biden’s “woke’ military. While serving in the National Guard, he was removed from the security detail for Biden’s 2021 inauguration. The reason given by his superiors was the Jerusalem cross tattoo on his chest was a symbol of Christian nationalist. He was labeled a potential “insider threat.” Hegseth left the Guard shortly after.

In his confirmation hearing, Hegseth declared there would be no more social justice, politically correct approaches to how wars are fought. His commitment is to lethality, meritocracy, and eliminating wokeness in the military.

Women in the Military

Hegseth has openly stated that “women cannot physically meet the same standards of men” in combat situations. He is concerned about the lowering of physical and readiness standards for women serving in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units.

But he maintains, if women can meet the combat standards of men than they can serve in combat. In his confirmation hearing, he stated that he supports women in the military, but he plans a thorough review of military standards to make sure they are not lowered for women.

“Politics has nothing to do with the battlefield.” Hegseth asserts. “This is about warfighting capability, setting standards high, and making sure we give our men and women everything they need to be successful on the battlefield.”

Challenges Ahead

In addition to restoring and rebuilding the military and establishing deterrence, Hegseth faces numerous conflicts on the global stage, including…

Outmaneuvering China

Hegseth agrees with President Trump’ assessment that America’s number one adversary is China. The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, released on March 26, concludes, “China poses the biggest military and cyber threat to the U.S. as well as wider global security.” China has the ability to hit the United States with conventional weapons; compromise U.S. infrastructure through cyber-attacks, and target U.S. assets in space. The report warns China is expanding its “coercive and subversive malign influence activities” to weaken the U.S. internally and globally.

“They want to supplant the United States,” Hegseth declared. “My job as the Secretary of Defense is to make sure we’re ready.” But, Hegseth insists that the U.S. is not looking to initiate conflict or create conflict with China, saying “We just have to remain strong in order to be in the best possible position.”

Supporting Israel

Hegseth “robustly supports” Israel and its war against Hamas in Gaza.

“I am a Christian and I robustly support the state of Israel and its existential defense and the way America comes alongside them as their great ally.”

“I support Israel in destroying and killing every last member of Hamas,” Hegseth confirmed. He also objects to a two-state solution and supports the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. He also says the U.S. military is far from sending troops to Gaza.

Fighting Iranian-backed terrorism

Iran is funding terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. On March 15, 2025, the president ordered airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen for attacking U.S. and other commercial ships in the region.

“The message is clear to Iran. Your support of the Houthis needs to end immediately. We will hold you accountable as the sponsor of this proxy, and I echo [the president’s] statement [that] we will not be nice about it,” Hegseth said.

The “Right Guy” for the Pentagon

In an interview with Megyn Kelly, Secretary Hegseth stated why he would be a good Defense Secretary, “I’m the right guy to be in the Pentagon. I understand what our young warfighters are going through, what we send them to do, what we ask them to do, tour after tour. Are we equipping them properly? Are they mentally prepared? Are we helping them on the way back? Were they used properly?

I can speak to that because I’ve lived it, not from a general’s perspective, not from an air-conditioned office in Washington DC, or from a think tank, but from dusty boots and pulling triggers, bullets whizzing by, and wondering if you’re ever coming home.”

“Tragically, many veterans never find the purpose for their next chapter and succumb to the bottle, depression or, worst of all, suicide. I understand what they are facing — because I’ve lived it, Hegseth says. “But by the grace of God, I took another path. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has renewed and restored my life. I am saved by His grace.”

This ‘boots on the ground’ experience and his faith help him define what love of country means, and why he considers the job of Defense Secretary to be the most important of his life. He said…

“To me, patriotism is not about love of government. It’s about love of our founding ideals that have pursued a more perfect union from the very beginning. It goes back to basics for me as a Christian: love of God and an understanding that my freedoms come from God—not from government—and that this nation was created as an experiment in self-governance and human freedom that every generation must perpetuate.”

“Being patriotic doesn’t just mean waving the flag or cheering for Team USA. It requires teaching, instructing, and celebrating. In the most difficult times, the best thing we can do is go back to basics: faith, family, freedom—shining a light on those values—what this nation was founded on. If not America, then who? then where?”

“Godlessness ends great nations. The one thing we can all do is get on our knees and pray,” says the 29^th Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

Let’s Pray for Secretary Pete Hegseth

Lord Jesus we pray for heavenly guidance and wisdom for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, as he leads America’s troops in conflict and peace. May every decision he makes be in the best interests of the American people to keep us safe. May his leadership in this endeavor that you have appointed him to for this time bring glory to You and may You be exalted among the nations.

Give Secretary Hegseth clear direction to revamp the culture of the Pentagon to be one of lethality when needed, mercy when appropriate, meritocracy always, and loyalty to the United States. We pray Lord that every woke policy and process that could be harmful to the men and women of our armed forces will be revoked. We pray Lord that the highest standards for military fitness and readiness be established under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership.

Lord, we pray you continue to draw Secretary Hegseth close to you. Anoint him with the power of the Holy Spirit. May he be rich in the gifts of the Spirit. Secretary Hegseth has been open about his faith in You and the redeeming grace he found in Jesus. Father, we pray that he never loses sight of You. Draw him Lord to daily, committed prayer in all things. May he follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. May his witness to the love and healing of his Lord and Savior bring many to Christ.

Give Secretary Hegseth endurance and holy purpose to deal with the politics of running the Pentagon, and the constant criticisms of the media and the opposing party in Congress. Pour on him the blessing of Colossians 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” May he approach all tasks, big or small, with enthusiasm and dedication, as an act of service to You.

May Secretary Hegseth pray daily for the peace of Jerusalem and do all that he can to bring peace to the region and be a staunch defender of Israel to their enemies. Give him wisdom and discernment, courage and fortitude, to deal with America’s enemies. May he be as Gideon following your direction in any conflict America may face.

Protect Secretary Hegseth and his family from all harm – physical, spiritual and emotional. Protect his marriage and family life from the great responsibility Secretary Hegseth faces every day that can take its toll on family life. May harmony and unity reign in his marriage and may the Hegseth family be bound together in the love of Christ.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: U.S. Secretary of Defense.