Jennifer Hegseth, born in 1980 in Towson, Maryland, was a long-time television producer at Fox News who rose to vice president, eventually marrying Pete Hegseth in 2019. As the wife of the 29th US Secretary of Defense (since 2025), she has acted as a powerful unofficial advisor, influencing media strategy and sitting in on official bilateral meetings like a 2025 discussion with the UK's defense secretary. In August 2026, she was appointed the first chair of the Presidential Military Spouse Commission, established by executive order. Her name surfaced in the 2025 "Signalgate" scandal, where she was reportedly included in a group chat about strikes on Houthi targets, though the Pentagon insisted no classified material was exposed. She now navigates a complex blended family life, raising a combined household of seven children with her husband.