It’s been a busy year for Hegseth, Trump’s unconventional pick for Secretary of Defense, notes an explainer published in the Sydney Morning Herald. Now, with the war in Iran, he’s firmly in the spotlight. Where did he come from? How is he performing so far?

USSC's CEO Dr Michael Green, Associate Professor David Smith and Non-Resident Senior Fellow were quoted in the article on Pete Hegseth and his role in the current US administration.