Pete Hegseth admits he's an unorthodox pick to lead the Pentagon — but says it's "time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm," according to his opening statement, obtained by Axios, for his confirmation hearing Tuesday.

AT HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING on Tuesday, defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth pledged to “restore the warrior ethos.” He told the Senate Armed Services Committee: “When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.”

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Fox News host Hegseth to be the new Secretary of Defense. His hearing Tuesday, Jan. 14, was the first in a series of confirmation hearings to vet the incoming president's top choices for key leadership roles.

Pete Hegseth, the Army vet that President-elect Donald Trump has tapped to be defense secretary, is set to argue during his confirmation hearing Tuesday that it’s time to “give someone with dust on his boots the helm.