 | This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. (November 2024) |
Lloyd Austin | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| 28th United States Secretary of Defense | |
| Assumed office January 22, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | David Norquist (acting) |
| 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 August 8, 1953 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Charlene Banner (m. 1980) |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1975–2016 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Full list |
Lloyd James Austin, III (born August 8, 1953) is a retired U.S. Army officer and current civil servant who has served as the 28th United States Secretary of Defense since January 22, 2021.
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]
- ^ "Lloyd J. Austin III". www.defense.gov. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen (March 22, 2013). "General Lloyd Austin picked for top job at US Central Command". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nominationwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Nobles, Miranda (October 2, 2017). "Retired Army general, Auburn trustee to speak at This is Auburn Speaker Series event". Auburn University. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Lloyd James Austin, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Defense)". U.S. Senate. January 22, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Hassler, Becky (May 23, 2017). "2017 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients". West Point Association of Graduates. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.