Pete Hegseth is an American government official currently serving as the 29th United States Secretary of Defense since January 2025. He is also an author, former television personality, and a former Army National Guard officer. Hegseth studied politics at Princeton University and earned a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University. He served in the Army National Guard with deployments in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals. After his military service, he became an advocate for veterans' issues, worked as a contributor and co-host on Fox News, and wrote several books including "The War on Warriors" (2024). He was nominated and confirmed as Secretary of Defense by President Donald Trump in late 2024 and early 2025, respectively. Hegseth has been involved in some controversies but remains a prominent figure in US defense and media circles.