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WASHINGTON: Retired Army General Lloyd Austin (pix) He made history yesterday by becoming America’s first black defense secretary, arriving at the Pentagon minutes after his Senate confirmation to a busy schedule that included a call with the NATO secretary general.
“See you on campus,” Austin, 67, said as he greeted reporters on the Pentagon steps.
After being sworn in, Austin received his first intelligence report as head of the Pentagon. He later chaired a meeting on the coronavirus pandemic with top Defense Department leaders, many of whom joined virtually, the Pentagon said.
The pandemic, and its death toll of more than 400,000 Americans, was the subject of Austin’s first message to members of the military. He noted the military’s support for America’s healthcare professionals, saying, “You can expect that mission to continue.”
“But we must help the federal government move faster and faster to eradicate the devastating effects of the coronavirus,” Austin said, without detailing the additional assistance.
Austin’s first call with a foreign leader as defense secretary was with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, underscoring the importance the Biden administration places on the alliance. Former President Donald Trump lobbied NATO by regularly admonishing allies for not spending enough on defense and tried to punish Germany for a dispute by withdrawing US forces.
Austin and President Joe Biden have repeatedly pledged to improve diversity in the U.S. military, America’s largest employer, which is largely white and male at the top, though the ranks lower are diverse.
Austin has been a pioneer for much of his professional career. As a lieutenant colonel, he became the first black soldier to be named an operations officer for the 82nd Airborne Division.
Austin was the first black soldier to command both an infantry division and an Army Corps in combat; the first black officer to become an Army Deputy Chief of Staff; and the first to lead the United States Central Command, overseeing the American military forces in the Middle East.
“There’s a kind of sad comment here, and that is that it shouldn’t have taken us that long to get here. There should be someone who precedes me, ”Austin said in a video posted to Twitter earlier this month.
Austin’s appointment as secretary of defense required congressional approval of a waiver because Austin, who retired in 2016, had not been out of uniform for seven years, the minimum required by a law intended to ensure civilian control of the military. .
After approving the resignation on Thursday, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to confirm it yesterday in a 93-2 vote in the 100-member chamber.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a former Army National Guard helicopter pilot who lost both legs when she was shot down in Iraq in 2004, voted to confirm Austin, even after voting against the waiver out of concerns about civilian control of the armed forces.
“His confirmation is another historic step in his barrier-free career, and I look forward to working with Secretary Austin to protect our troops and safeguard our nation,” said Duckworth, who is Thai-American.
– Reuters
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