Lloyd Austin
Secretary of Defense
Lloyd James Austin III was born in August 1953 in Mobile, Alabama. He earned an undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and later earned an M.A. in counselor education from Auburn University’s College of Education. He received an M.B.A. in business management from Webster University and is a graduate of many military-provided educational opportunities.
His military career began as an infantry officer after graduating from West Point, then he was part of a parachute regiment, serving in the 10th Mountain Division and in several Airborne groups. He served in the multi-national corps in the Iraq war and was deployed to Afghanistan.
In 2010, Austin became Commanding General of United States Forces Iraq and oversaw the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom and combat operations to Operation New Dawn and stability operations focused on advising, assisting, and training the Iraqi Security Forces. He became vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army in 2012 and a year later was installed as the commander of United States Central Command.
He retired from the military in April 2016, after which he joined the board of Raytheon Technologies, a military contractor.
President Biden nominated Austin to be his Secretary of Defense. After his approval by the Senate, he was sworn into office in January 2021.
He is married to Charlene Denise Banner Austin. He has two stepsons. He is Catholic.
In the News…
The Pentagon has shifted the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers to the Middle East, leaving none in the Pacific’s 7th Fleet. The USS Ronald Reagan has returned to Washington state and the USS George Washington returned to San Diego and has not yet redeployed.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt are both deployed in the Persian Gulf region. The Pentagon initially sent the Lincoln to relieve the Roosevelt. The Defense Department opted to have both carriers and their strike groups remain in the area after the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel increased.
