Senate confirms Lloyd Austin as Defense Secretary
Lloyd Austin has been confirmed by the Senate, making him the first Black defense secretary in U.S. history. The Senate approved President Biden’s nomination for Pentagon chief with 93-2 vote.
General Austin, a retired four-star Army general, was granted a special waiver by the House and Senate to hold the post, as federal law requires requires military officials to wait seven years after retiring from active-duty service before holding the role of defense secretary.
Austin said in a tweet that it was “an honor and a privilege” to serve as defense secretary, adding that he was “especially proud” to be the first African American to hold the position.
When Biden officially named retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as the Secretary of Defense nominee, he said: “Gen. Austin shares my profound belief that our nation is at its strongest when we lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.” Biden described Austin as someone with demonstrated exemplary leadership, character and command.”
“He is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises we face in the current moment, and I look forward to once again working closely with him as a trusted partner to lead our military with dignity and resolve, revitalize our alliances in the face of global threats, and ensure the safety and security of the American people,” Biden said.
After Austin’s appointment, President Joe Biden said that “His confirmation is historic” and that Lloyd Austin is the right person to lead the U.S. Department of Defense.
Who is the new US Defense Secretary?
Austin, 67, is the only African-American to have led U.S. Central Command. During his 40 years career in the Army, he held key posts in military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. He was the first African American general to command a theater of war in Iraq.
Austin, a 1975 graduate of West Point, retired from the military in 2016 after serving as the commander of U.S. Central Command since 2013.
