WASHINGTON (US) – Retired Army general Lloyd Austin changed history on Friday by becoming the first Black Defense Secretary of the US. He arrived at the Pentagon minutes after his Senate confirmation to a busy schedule.
“See you around campus,” said the 67-year-old as he greeted media persons on the steps of the Pentagon.
After assuming charge, he received his first intelligence briefing as Pentagon chief. Later, he chaired a meeting on the pandemic with top Defense Department officials, according to the Pentagon.
The theme of Austin’s first message to the armed forces was the pandemic and its death toll of more than 400,000. Making note of the military’s support to the health professionals, he said, “You can expect that mission to continue.”
“But we must help the federal government move further and faster to eradicate the devastating effects of the coronavirus,” Austin said.
As defence secretary, Austin’s first call with a foreign leader was with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and stressed the importance the new administration of Joe Biden places on the alliance. In contrast, former President Donald Trump had frequently chided allies for not spending enough on defense and sought to punish Germany over a dispute by withdrawing US troops.
Austin as well as President Joe Biden have repeatedly vowed to increase diversity in the armed forces, the largest employer in the country which is largely white and male at the top despite having diversity in the lower ranks.
In his professional career, Austin has been a trailblazer. When he was a lieutenant colonel, he became the first Black soldier to be named operations officer of the 82nd Airborne Division.
He was the first Black to be at the helm of both an infantry division and Army Corps in combat. Austin was also the first Black officer to become vice chief of staff of the Army and the first to lead the US Central Command, which oversees the troops in the Middle East.
“There is kind of a sad commentary here, and that is it shouldn’t have taken us this long to get here. There should have been someone who preceded me,” Austin said in a video.
His appointment had to be approved by the Congress as he retired only in 2016 and has not been out of uniform for seven years.