Hegseth Swears In Air Force General After Vaccine-Mandated Early Retirement

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed Air Force Brig. Gen. Melissa S. Cunningham back into the Air Force during a swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon. Cunningham was forced to retire from service in 2022 after declining to take the military's then-mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. <br /> <img alt="A man in a business suit and a woman in a dress military uniform stand in an office with their respective right hands raised. The woman has her left hand on a book being held by another man in a business suit." src="https://media.defense.gov/2026/Oct/27/2004020993/300/300/0/261023-D-VS137-9798.JPG" /> <br />