Under secretary champions authentic leadership, deliberate learning in AFSA speech on the Cognitive Weapon System

Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier used a keynote appearance at the Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen’s Conference to press for continuous personal growth, authentic leadership, and deliberate intellectual development—casting cognitive readiness as central to future combat power.

Framing his address around Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David R. Wolfe’s “Why Series” essay on deliberate learning, Lohmeier read passages aloud to underscore the role of the mind in modern warfare. “The most decisive advantage is no longer just physical or technological; it’s cognitive,” Lohmeier said, quoting Wolfe’s text. “For members of the United States Air Force, the mind isn’t simply a supporting asset; it’s a primary weapon system, and like any weapon system, it must be deliberately developed, maintained, and strengthened.”

He also addressed the military’s adaptation to artificial intelligence while emphasizing the enduring human edge. “AI will soon do things that even some of our best minds cannot,” Lohmeier said. “But your minds, your values, and your psyche should be capable of doing things that AI will never accomplish. If we fail to do that, then we are failing as an Air Force, as an institution, and as human beings.”

Lohmeier said his views are informed by routine conversations with frontline Airmen during installation visits, where he meets in small groups over meals to gather feedback for senior leaders. “Overwhelmingly, I have received positive feedback from our youngest Airmen about the NCOs that they work with, our senior NCOs, and their chain of command,” Lohmeier shared. “One of the things I’ve learned in my time meeting with these Airmen is that they resonate with authentic leadership. They crave authenticity in the workplace. When they get it, they respond appropriately, and they’ll give you everything that they have to solve the tough challenges we’re facing.”

To illustrate leading from the front, the former fighter pilot and Space Force officer recounted a playful pull-up contest with student pilots after a physical training session at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma—an episode he said reinforced the power of example. “I share that to say that I think they’re inspired by your examples,” Lohmeier told the conference attendees. “Our Airmen do best when they’re led by NCOs and senior NCOs who are out leading in the front. You need to hold them accountable to the standards that we’ve set. It has to do with leaders and how they lead, serve, and set an example.”

A self-described avid reader, Lohmeier urged Airmen to treat rigorous study as a component of readiness and character, not a box-checking exercise. He joked that younger Airmen are “big video gamers, but they’re not big readers.” He tied intellectual discipline to the service’s first core value, Integrity First. “Without this disciplined effort to read deeply, it’s not entirely possible to become the most authentic version of yourself,” Lohmeier explained. “If you’ve not accomplished the work that is necessary to fully develop yourself and fully discover and ground yourself in the values that define you, how can you ever truly have integrity? Rigorous study isn’t just about intellectual stimulation; it’s about values, about character development, and about pursuing the best version of yourself as you lean forward and serve others.”

He added that such preparation underpins resilience against disinformation and manipulation by adversaries. “As leaders, our job is to foster a culture that values and makes room for continuous learning,” Lohmeier said. “Organizations that encourage Airmen to invest in their cognitive readiness create a force that is agile, innovative, and prepared—transforming learning from an individual effort into shared strength.”

Following his remarks, Lohmeier joined Wolfe for a fireside chat, where Wolfe announced the CMSAF Leadership Library: August 2026, his latest reading list for the force.

Lohmeier closed by underscoring the influence enlisted leaders have on the service’s future. “You are the beating heart of the Air Force,” Lohmeier said. “If I questioned it before this job—and I really didn’t, because I was a squadron commander once too, I truly do believe that you are the beating heart. Your leadership is important, and your personal development is absolutely important as we try and shape the minds and hearts of those that you lead and serve.”