EARTH, Laniakea Supercluster—Matthew Lohmeier, a former F-15C pilot and veteran of the Space Force, has officially been confirmed as the Under Secretary of the Air Force. In a 52-46 vote on July 24, the Senate gave him the green light as the crucial role of the Air Force's second highest civilian administrator charged with shaping the future of both the Air Force and the Space Force.

Lohmeier isn't just any Air Force Academy grad. He holds an advanced degrees in military strategy, has logged over 1,200 hours flying fighter jets and trainer aircraft, and previously commanded a missile warning squadron in the Space Force. He also openly speaks claims to have seen something strange in the sky.

In an interview on the Before Skool podcast in January 2025 months before his recent appointment, Lohmeier recounted a childhood experience in Arizona, describing a "ball of light" that "seemed to be buzzing with life, but it wasn't man-made."

"It was very well organized very spherical and it seemed to be very conscious of the two of us that were sitting there in the Arizona mountains, like it was observing us and it was a distinct impression that I had that I was being watched, observed. That there was a level of interest from the orb to us and it frightened us. So we we got up and we ran to the car and we ran away and that thing zipped up and disappeared in the sky."

Lohmeier later stated that he now believes it could have been a “ball lightning,” the incident still perplexes him and makes him wonder about the universe. The interview highlights a growing trend: more and more former and current military personnel are willing to discuss strange sightings and experiences in public. This shift comes at a time of renewed interest from Congress after whistleblower testimonies during congressional hearings in 2023 and 2024 led increased calls for transparency.

During his confirmation hearing back in May 2025, he didn't mince words about the need to modernize our nuclear capabilities and build resilient space systems. As he put it, "The modernization of the nuclear portfolio… is not an option; it is the very foundation of our national security strategy.”

Lohmeier's confirmation marks a significant comeback after he was relieved of his Space Force command in 2023 for making partisan remarks while in uniform. Now, as Under Secretary, he'll be helping to manage a massive $200 billion annual budget, oversee 685,000 personnel, and guide the overall strategic direction of U.S. air and space power.

It remains to be seen whether his past comments on on the mysteries of the universe will have any impact on policy. But one thing is for sure: they add an intriguing layer to one of the Pentagon's most prominent new leaders of the Air Force, making him a figure to watch in the ongoing conversation about what's really out there.