Under Secretary Visits Minot Air Force Base
Matt Lohmeier met base leaders as the Air Force reviews progress on the Sentinel ICBM transition at Minot.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Military
Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier visited Minot Air Force Base on October 27-28. The visit assessed progress on the transition to the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program.
Why it matters
Minot is the only location with two legs of the nuclear triad, and Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III fleet there when fully operational. Modernization is intended to keep the nuclear deterrent credible, ready and effective for decades to come.
Minot AFB operates the B-52H Stratofortress and the Minuteman III ICBM and maintains 24/7/365 alert status. Discussions with base leadership addressed military construction projects and regional utility corridor surveys tied to bringing Sentinel online.
The players
Matt Lohmeier
Under Secretary of the Air Force who oversees the service's acquisition and modernization priorities.
Minot Air Force Base
Air Force installation in North Dakota that hosts the B-52H Stratofortress and the Minuteman III ICBM.
The details
Lohmeier met with leadership from the 5th Bomb Wing, the 91st Missile Wing and Minot's Sentinel Task Force Detachment 12. The visit included a review of the training pipeline and technical demands of the Sentinel transition.
Timeline
October 27-28, 2026: Under Secretary Lohmeier visits Minot Air Force Base.
Roadmap
The visit marks a checkpoint in the Sentinel program, which is replacing the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile fleet at Minot. The Air Force is assessing transition readiness at the base that operates two legs of the nuclear triad.
Residents near Minot Air Force Base may see ongoing military construction and utility corridor surveys tied to Sentinel. The transition affects the base workforce and the regional infrastructure that supports it.
The takeaway
The Sentinel transition at Minot is a multi-year effort to modernize the nation's land-based nuclear deterrent. Local infrastructure and workforce planning are central to keeping the base ready through the change.
Further reading
Explore more Military coverage for context on nuclear deterrence and base operations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Minot Daily News.
