Biden sees it as an appropriate time for the Pentagon’s first black commander, amid Congressional concerns.

President-elect Joe Biden called this the “right time” in American history for his candidate for the post of Secretary of Defense, retired General Lloyd Austin, despite some concerns about a man just graduated from military service. assuming a civil role.

Austin, if approved by Congress, will be the first black American Secretary of Defense.

Austin’s election requires Congress to exempt him from a law that requires senior military officers to leave the military for at least seven years before leading the Pentagon. Austin, 67, retired in 2016.

In announcing his selection in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden described Austin as “the right person at the right time for this job.”

The Democratic president-elect said: “I would not have asked for this exception if I did not think that this moment in our history requires it, and if I did not have this confidence in Lloyd Austin.”

Biden vowed to elect a government that reflects the diversity of America. His list of candidates has so far included some of the so-called “firsts,” including Janet Yellen, who will be the first woman to occupy the Treasury, and Alejandro Mayuras, who will be the first immigrant to take over the Department of Homeland Security.

At least two Democratic senators said they would oppose the waiver for Austin. The last time that exemption was made was retired Gen. Jim Mattis, President Donald Trump’s first secretary of defense.

Adam Smith, the Democratic chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was not rejecting Biden’s election despite his concerns about a new waiver.

Biden has assured that his candidate will respect the principle of civilian leadership of the United States Army.