President-elect Donald Trump has announced his selection of Troy Meink to serve as the top civilian leader for the Air Force. Meink, a former Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft navigator and deputy of the National Reconnaissance Office, brings nearly four decades of experience in national security to the role.
Meink's extensive background includes managing some of the nation’s most sensitive satellite intelligence capabilities and overseeing the military’s space portfolio. In a statement on his online platform Truth Social, Trump expressed confidence in Meink's ability to work alongside Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth to ensure that the Air Force remains a formidable and effective force in the world.
If confirmed, Meink will take on the leadership of both the Air Force and the U.S. Space Force, which was established by Trump during his first term and recently celebrated its fifth year in existence. The two branches are actively working to enhance and modernize the nation's space capabilities in response to evolving threats.
With countries like Russia, China, North Korea, and the U.S. developing new technologies to disrupt or defend against satellites, safeguarding these critical assets has become a top priority. Meink's experience in managing a multibillion-dollar budget for acquiring satellite capabilities at the National Reconnaissance Office positions him well to address these challenges.
Originally from Lemmon, South Dakota, Meink began his military career as an ROTC cadet at South Dakota State University in 1988. His track record in national security and space operations makes him a strong candidate to lead the Air Force and U.S. Space Force into the future.
