DOD Watch Applauds New Leadership at DOWEA

WASHINGTON – DOD Watch issued the following statement applauding the new leadership at the Department of War Education Activity (DOWEA):  

“DOD Watch welcomes recent leadership changes at the Department of War Education Activity (DOWEA), including the appointment of Paul Craft as Director and Tiffany Hoben as Chief Academic Officer. These selections signal a positive shift toward strengthening civics education, patriotism, and academic excellence for military-connected students. As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted, Craft is ‘the right leader to swiftly reorient DOWEA towards patriotic values and classical learning,’ consistent with a renewed focus on merit, standards, and excellence.

“For too long, DOWEA appeared to be focused on priorities that many military families felt were misaligned with core educational goals. Concerns were raised that previous leadership placed undue emphasis on ideological initiatives, including DEI programming, rather than maintaining a clear focus on academic rigor, civic understanding, and unity. This leadership transition represents an opportunity to return to fundamentals that best serve students and their families.

“DOD Watch is encouraged by the Pentagon’s stated commitment to the fundamentals of quality education, including parental transparency, high expectations, strong teachers, and rigorous curriculum. Military families have increasingly voiced concerns about ideological content in classrooms, and these changes present an opportunity to restore trust by prioritizing shared American values, civic understanding, and unity over divisive political agendas.

“There is significant promise in Tiffany Hoben’s role advancing patriotism and civics education across DOWEA schools worldwide. DOD Watch remains hopeful that this new leadership will refocus the system on serving students and families with excellence, accountability, and a renewed emphasis on the principles that underpin both education and national defense.” 

About DOD Watch: DOD Watch is dedicated to examining and informing the public about wokeness in the Department of War. By increasing public awareness of radical policies and practices infiltrating the Pentagon, DOD Watch aims to return the U.S. military to its mission of national defense through the traditional values of strength, excellence, and unity.

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