Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the press upon his arrival at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza) Hegseth highlights ‘Iron Dome for America’, other first priorities as new SecDef Pete Hegseth briefed a small group of reporters at the Pentagon for the first time as the secretary of defense on Monday. Jan 27, 2025 By Brandi Vincent