SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Southern California Friday for an event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley this weekend.

Hegseth is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum, where top military officials, members of Congress, defense industry executives and national security officials will gather.

Hegseth will also travel to Santa Ana to meet with defense industry leaders in the area, according to a statement from the Pentagon.

The embattled Cabinet chief is facing criticism for the military's deadly airstrikes on suspected drug boats .

Earlier this year, he became embroiled in Signalgate as he and other top U.S. officials used the popular Signal messaging application to disc

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