(USAF) Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier visited Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to see firsthand the long-range strike mission being accomplished by the 28th Bomb Wing and the preparations for the B-21 Raider while meeting with Airmen and local civic leaders Oct. 26 & 27, 2026.
During his visit, Lohmeier received in-depth briefings on unit operations, active operations and the base’s B-21 beddown efforts, all intended to provide him with a clear understanding on how Ellsworth is balancing its current B-1B Lancer mission with preparations for the world’s first sixth generation bomber.
“The Airmen of Ellsworth carry an important responsibility: executing the B-1 mission today while preparing to operate and sustain the B-21 for decades to come,” Lohmeier said. “That is not an easy task. Our responsibility as leaders is to ensure they have the training, resources and support to accomplish both. The strength of our bomber force depends on getting that balance right.”
Lohmeier was also briefed about the activation of Eighth Air Force’s B-21 Integration Detachment 1, which occurred on Sept. 9 of this year. The detachment was established to coordinate and synchronize the Raider’s integration as its first main operating base (MOB 1), focusing on the efforts required for the transition as Ellsworth continues supporting its existing bomber mission.
“Bringing a new aircraft into service takes more than just delivering the platform,” Lohmeier said. “It takes trained Airmen, prepared facilities and organizations working toward a common purpose. A coordinated approach to B-21 integration is essential to turning that investment into combat capability.”
Throughout the visit, Lohmeier interacted with many of the Airmen focused on making the transition a reality, as well as many of the civic and community leaders whose unwavering support has been instrumental in helping ensure tomorrow’s future bomber force is ready to answer the call.
Additionally, Ellsworth leadership and Under Secretary co-hosted a lunch with members from the Black Hills Military Council and Global Strike civic groups to thank leaders for their investment and longstanding support of the base.
Lohmeier added that a key part of Ellsworth’s ability to remain ready is the tremendous support its Airmen and their families receive from the local community.
“Our Airmen make readiness possible,” Lohmeier said. “Their professionalism and commitment are on full display, here, at Ellsworth.”
USecAF Matt Lohmeier visits Minot AFB during ongoing modernization (USAF)
Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier visited Minot Air Force Base Oct. 27-28, assessing progress on the installation’s multiple modernization efforts, including the transition to the LGM-35A Sentinel program, the nation’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile.
During the visit, Lohmeier met with leadership from the base’s 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing, as well as Minot’s Sentinel Task Force Detachment 12.
The engagements provided an opportunity for the Air Force’s second-highest civilian leader to see firsthand how the base maintains 24/7/365 alert status operating the B-52H Stratofortress and the current Minuteman III ICBM, while simultaneously preparing for Sentinel’s future.
“Few missions carry a responsibility as profound as safeguarding our nation through strategic deterrence,” Lohmeier said. “I was greatly impressed by the exceptional Airmen whose discipline, technical expertise, teamwork and commitment ensure the force is ready whenever called upon.”
When fully operational, Sentinel will replace the 91st MW’s existing Minuteman III ICBM fleet.
Throughout the visit, discussions highlighted progress and planning tied to military construction projects as well as the regional utility corridor surveys bringing Sentinel online. Meetings with leadership emphasized the dual-track training pipeline and the unique technical demands of the transition.
The visit also provided Lohmeier with a deeper understanding at how Sentinel’s modernized command-and-control and advanced infrastructure aims to dramatically enhance real-time operational awareness and mission readiness across Minot’s missile field.
“I was able to see firsthand how the Minot mission is more than operating advanced weapon systems — especially as the only location with two legs of the nuclear triad — they are preserving peace, protecting our nation and carrying a responsibility that few will ever fully understand,” Lohmeier said.
Engagements with installation leadership also provided an opportunity to discuss the role Airmen play in maintaining readiness while modernizing. From the Warbirds conducting bomber operations and supporting the 91st MW to the Rough Riders sustaining the Minuteman mission, Airmen across Minot AFB are crucial to executing nuclear defense responsibilities and managing the transition to the future weapon system.
“Modernization is essential to ensuring our nation’s nuclear deterrent remains credible, ready and effective for decades to come,” said U.S. Air Force Col. John Burrell, 5th BW commander. “As we continue advancing the B-52H Stratofortress toward its next generation of capabilities and prepare the infrastructure needed for the Sentinel ICBM, our focus remains on delivering today’s mission while building the force of tomorrow.”
As the Air Force continues to prioritize Sentinel’s modernization, visits with operational units provide senior leaders with firsthand perspectives on the transition’s progress, resources and local challenges. Direct engagement with Airmen and leadership helps inform an understanding of how strategic nuclear modernization priorities translate into daily operations, ensuring the Air Force meets its critical strategic deterrence requirements now and in the future.
Cramer, Air Force Under Secretary Lohmeier Visit GFAFB and Point Defense Battle Lab
(Cramer Press Release) As small drones reshape modern warfare and espionage, Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) in North Dakota is attracting national acclaim for its work developing and testing technologies to counter these threats and strengthen national defense. Air Force Under Secretary Matthew Lohmeier became the latest Pentagon official to tour the base when he accompanied U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) on a visit to the Air Combat Command’s Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL) today.
“Small drones are changing the battlefield, but Grand Forks Air Force Base is helping our military stay ahead of our adversaries’ threats,” said Cramer. “Having Under Secretary Lohmeier here underscores the importance of this mission and gives Department of War leadership a look at the capabilities North Dakota is bringing to the fight. The Point Defense Battle Lab brings together the people, technology and real-world testing needed to strengthen installation security and protect our warfighters. North Dakota has an extensive history of supporting our nation’s defense, and this mission builds on our legacy while positioning our state at the forefront of counter-drone innovation.”
As the second highest-ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force, Lohmeier provides senior leadership, oversight, and policy support for service-wide initiatives, including base defense and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) efforts.
The PDBL held its ribbon-cutting ceremony in April and has quickly become a premier hub for testing, tactics development, and real-world experimentation. Cramer, who advocated for the site’s selection from his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), recognized Grand Forks’ counter-small UAS ecosystems made it the logical home for the advanced exercises required to develop and test capabilities to protect military installations from small-drone threats.
Today’s visit comes as North Dakota expands its role in counter-drone technology development. “We sense the obligation we have to the security of this nation,” Cramer said at a recent defense forum highlighting North Dakota’s role in national security. The U.S. Department of War (DOW) recently brought government and industry leaders to the state for a Technology Readiness Experimentation event, showcasing emerging technologies and capabilities.
GFAFB is also one of four installations selected for a federal counter-drone pilot program announced in May. The program will test technologies such as high-powered microwaves and lasers. The effort was authorized in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which Cramer helped shape through his work on SASC.
Lohmeier is a veteran of both the Air Force and the Space Force. A 2006 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he served on active duty as a fighter pilot, flying over 1,200 hours in the T-38 and F-15C. Lohmeier has two postgraduate degrees, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science and a Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, one of DOW’s premier strategy schools.
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