U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the employees of Oshkosh Corp. and pledged the Pentagon would “work at the speed of business,” when he spoke to a crowd assembled at a Wittman Regional Airport hangar Monday.
Hegseth made the stop as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour. Oshkosh Corp. Chief Executive Officer John Pfieffer introduced Hegseth.
“We don’t have the helmets without the hardhats. We are all in this together in the arsenal of freedom,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth, who served in Iraq, said the work of Oshkosh Corp. has saved the lives of American military members.
He called Oshkosh Corp. a model for other defense contractors because of the way it integrates both commercial and defense contracting capabilities.
“This administration knows that Midwest manufacturing doesn’t just build our trucks, our tanks, our airplanes – American manufacturing build the middle class,” Hegseth said.
Contracts for Rogue Fires and JLTVs were referenced as Hegseth said the administration of President Donald Trump is committed to further investments in the U.S. military.
Hegseth said he intends to cut the red tape and bureaucracy that has slowed defense contractors. He said the Pentagon will become more nimble to match the agility of manufacturers.
