WASHINGTON - President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate retired Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, a former commander of U.S. military efforts in Iraq, to be the next Secretary of Defense, according to the NY Times. If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would become the first African-American to lead the Pentagon apparatus and its 1.3M active-duty troops. Austin, 67, was born Aug. 8, 1953, in Mobile, Ala., and raised in Thomasville, Ga. For years, he was seen as a formidable figure at the Pentagon, known as a battlefield commander, but less for his political instincts. He may get some pushback from lawmakers who feel strongly about civilian control of the military. Austin has been retired four years – three less-than-required by U.S. law from transition to civilian life. Like Jim Mattis, President Trump’s first SECDEF, Austin would have to get a congressional waiver to serve. It’s not a slam dunk he’d get that waiver. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, had indicated after Mr. Mattis’ confirmation that he would oppose future waivers for the post. Austin was reared in Thomasville, Ga., the same town that produced Henry O. Flipper, who was born a slave and in 1877 became the first African-American graduate of the academy. He graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1975. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University in 1986. (Source: NY Times 12/07/20) Biden Plans to Tap Lloyd Austin, Former Iraq Commander, as Defense Secretary - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
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