Lloyd Austin

Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953) is an American retired four-star general. He was the 28th United States Secretary of Defense from 2021 to 2025 during the Joe Biden administration. He was an Army officer and was the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Austin was the first Black commander of CENTCOM.

On December 7, 2020, Austin was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to be Secretary of Defense. His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 2021 which made him the first Black Secretary of Defense in American history.

In early January 2024, Austin was hospitalized in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after having surgery. The surgery was kept private and was made public a few days later to much controversy. On January 9, 2024, it was revealed that Austin had surgery to treat prostate cancer and had a urinary tract infection.

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Category:1953 births
Category:Living people
Category:American generals
Category:African-American politicians
Category:Military people from Alabama
Category:Politicians from Mobile, Alabama
Category:African-American military personnel
Category:United States Secretaries of Defense
Category:Politicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:American military personnel of the Iraq War