Who is Dakota Meyer? Hegseth's war hero pick

Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer has been tapped by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to lead efforts to improve military barracks after reports of troops sleeping in cars and facing poor living conditions, including mouldy rooms, broken air conditioning and a lack of hot water and showers. Dakota Meyer served on active duty in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2010.

After War Secretary Pete Hegseth assigned him to address decades of neglect, Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer has visited more than eight Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps installations. Dakota Meyer, a senior adviser to the Pentagon’s Barracks Task Force, has found that some US troops have gone a year without hot water, while others sleep in their cars to escape barracks without air conditioning. In an interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday, Meyer said only a couple of the barracks he had seen were in good condition, adding that he plans to visit 30 before the year comes to an end.

He even found that some US troops are asking for little more than drywall, spackle and paint so they can make repairs themselves. "I would tell you that there's only a couple that I've seen that are good," Meyer told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday. "What I thought was gonna be a professional job very quickly turned into personal," Meyer said.

Who is Dakota Meyer?

Dakota Meyer is a US Marine Corps veteran and Medal of Honor recipient who is being tasked with helping fix poor living conditions in American military barracks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has turned to Meyer to address complaints about mouldy rooms, broken air conditioning, a lack of hot water and troops sleeping in their cars because of poor accommodation.

Meyer, who received America's highest military decoration for bravery during a 2009 battle in Afghanistan, has spent much of his life working with fellow service members and veterans. He served in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2010 before returning to the military in 2025 after a 15-year break.

Who is Dakota Meyer? Early life, military career and Medal of Honor

Born on June 26, 1988, in Columbia, Kentucky, Meyer grew up on his father's farm in Green County. His parents are Felicia Gilliam and Mike Meyer. He developed an interest in outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing, and played football at Green County High School.

His grandfather, who served in the Marine Corps, influenced his decision to join the military. After graduating from high school in 2006, Meyer enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 18.

His military career included deployments to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2009. He became known for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, in Afghanistan's Kunar Province.

On Sept. 15, 2011, former President Barack Obama presented Meyer with the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony.

Meyer was 21 and serving as a corporal when US and Afghan forces came under attack from more than 50 Taliban fighters. Despite heavy enemy fire, he repeatedly entered the ambush zone to rescue wounded soldiers and recover the bodies of fallen service members.

His actions helped save 36 lives, including 13 Americans and 23 Afghan personnel. Five US service members died during the battle.

Meyer's bravery earned him the Medal of Honor. Former US President Barack Obama presented the award to him at a White House ceremony on September 15, 2011.

Meyer said he accepted the medal to honour his fallen fellow service members. Reflecting on the battle, he spoke about the importance of standing by fellow Marines, saying: "It's your family, your brothers, your Marines — that's what you do for a brother."

He left active-duty military service in 2010 but continued to work with veterans and military communities.

Dakota Meyer's life after military service and return to Marine Corps

After leaving active duty, Meyer briefly worked in construction before becoming involved in veteran advocacy and community service. He joined the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, supporting educational opportunities for children of Marines and Navy corpsmen.

He also became a volunteer firefighter in Kentucky and used his public platform to speak about the challenges veterans face after returning from combat.

Meyer has been open about his struggles with post-traumatic stress and his recovery. He has participated in public speaking engagements and visited military installations to share his experiences with service members.

He also co-authored two books. Into the Fire recounts the Battle of Ganjgal, while The Way Forward focuses on resilience, mental health and adjusting to life after military service.

Through the US Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes initiative, Meyer also worked to connect veterans with employment opportunities and help them transition into civilian careers.

In April 2025, Meyer returned to the Marine Corps Reserve after a 15-year break in service. Hegseth administered his oath during a ceremony at the Pentagon on April 17, 2025. Meyer retained his previous rank of sergeant and returned to serve as an infantryman in the Reserve.

Hegseth praised his decision, saying his example showed that people could continue contributing to the military even after years away from service.

His latest assignment puts him at the centre of the Pentagon's efforts to improve barracks conditions. Meyer has said that he wants the task force to have the authority to make decisions and direct funding rather than simply identify problems.

He has also said that progress should be measured by whether service members have basic facilities, including hot showers, working lights, secure doors and rooms free of mould.

For Meyer, the issue is personal because of his years in uniform and his experience working with fellow service members. He has said he is prepared to take responsibility if the conditions are not fixed.

Dakota Meyer calls it "absolutely heartbreaking"

At one installation during his visit to Pentagon's barracks , Meyer recalled asking a 19-year-old service member what she would change about her living conditions if she could "wave a magic wand." "If she could just have a hot shower," Meyer recalled. "It's absolutely heartbreaking." A 2023 investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found serious health and safety hazards in US military barracks.

The probe also highlighted major gaps in the Defense Department's oversight, including a lack of reliable data on barracks conditions and how much money was being spent on their upkeep. As of 2026, 12 of the GAO's 31 recommendations were still pending.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has since moved to bring the effort under a department-wide task force to speed up repairs. Meyer said Hegseth expects him to deliver results rather than simply document the problems. “He expects me to fix it,” Meyer said. “And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” He added that he had asked Hegseth to give the task force an “authoritative role”, allowing it to make decisions, direct funding and ensure money reaches service members faster.

Meyer also criticised previous Pentagon leadership, arguing that barracks had been neglected despite years of spending and reform initiatives. He said Hegseth had made improving military housing a personal priority. Meyer has even said he would take responsibility if conditions fail to improve. Asked what a successful overhaul would look like, he offered a simple benchmark: “People are living in places that I would be okay for my daughters living in.”