Lloyd Austin
28th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1953) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953) is a retired United States Army four-star general who has served as the 28th and current United States secretary of defense since January 22, 2021.
Lloyd Austin | |
---|---|
28th United States Secretary of Defense | |
Assumed office January 22, 2021 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Deputy | |
Preceded by | Mark Esper |
12th Commander of United States Central Command | |
In office March 22, 2013 – March 30, 2016 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Jim Mattis |
Succeeded by | Joseph Votel |
33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army | |
In office February 8, 2012 – March 8, 2013 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Peter W. Chiarelli |
Succeeded by | John F. Campbell |
40th Director of the Joint Staff | |
In office August 9, 2009 – June 30, 2010 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Stanley A. McChrystal |
Succeeded by | William E. Gortney |
Personal details | |
Born | Lloyd James Austin III (1953-08-08) August 8, 1953 (age 70) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
Spouse |
Charlene Banner (m. 1980) |
Education | |
Occupation | Manufacturing executive, military general, politician |
Profession | Army officer |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1975–2016 |
Rank | General |
Commands | |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Full list |
Before retiring from the military in 2016, Austin served as the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), beginning in March 2013.[1] Prior to that he served as the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army from January 2012 to March 2013, and as commander of United States Forces – Iraq from September 2010 to December 2011. He is the first African American to hold each of these positions.[2] After retiring from the armed services Austin joined the boards of Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, and Auburn University.[3][4] On December 7, 2020, he was nominated for defense secretary by then-President-elect Joe Biden and was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 2021, by a vote of 93–2.[5]
Austin holds the unique distinction of having commanded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at the one-, two-, three- and four-star levels, and was the first African American to command a division, corps, and field army in combat. He is a recipient of the Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for valor, for his actions during the Iraq invasion, as well as five Defense Distinguished Service Medals.[6]