Rear Adm. Mike Smith: Hegseth’s Pentagon Policies Could Undermine Military Trust

Interview
Written By David Petri

Adm. Mike Smith, USN (Ret.)

BBC News

October 1, 2025

Following reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to impose lie detector tests and NDAs on Pentagon officials, retired Rear Admiral Mike Smith (USN) speaks with BBC News about the risks of politicizing the U.S. military. He explains why these measures target the wrong people, how real leak prevention should work, and why proposals to use American cities for military training alarm senior leaders.

David Petri

Dave Petri is a marketing and sustainability professional with 30 years of leadership experience across multiple industries. Since 2010, Dave’s professional experience has primarily been in the Outdoor Industry, including industry-wide leadership roles. He launched Cynosura Consulting in 2019 and is the principal consultant, providing his expertise to various companies and organizations in the manufacturing, hospitality, and event management sectors.

https://www.cynosurallc.com
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