Pete Hegseth, the Army combat 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.

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.

Hegseth is set to begin confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. In his opening statement obtained by NBC News, he leans into his outside perspective. “It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm,” he is expected to say. NBC’s Ryan Nobles reports for "TODAY."

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.”

Pete Hegseth vowed to restore “warrior ethos” to the military Tuesday even as President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial Defense Secretary nominee faced tough grilling from Democrats at a Senate confirmation hearing.

Pete Hegseth vows to bring “warrior culture’” to the military if confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick. The former combat veteran and TV news show host faces senators who determine whether he is fit to lead the U.